UPDATE: Hi sweet friends! You moved me with your response to my devotion and your stories, questions and more. I’ve been praying for you as I read your comments. So many thoughts rush into my mind – things I’d love for us to process together. Please know I haven’t forgotten to come back and write more. Unfortunately, I caught my 2yr old’s cold and it slowed everything down. I’m better now but I have a project due to my publisher today for my book. With the weekend coming, let’s plan on meeting here Monday. And I’ll announce the winner of the book then too! If you haven’t entered to win, read this post and you’ll know what to do!
I’ve got a devotion today over at P31 and Crosswalk about becoming a woman who listens to God. If you’d like to read it, click here. In it, I shared how I used to wonder if I was hearing God’s voice or just my thoughts. Does that ever happen to you?
Well, before we jump into our talk about listening, I first wanted to “welcome” any new friends who are visiting for the first time from Encouragement for Today. We’re glad you’re here and hope you’ll stay a while! There is always a place for you.
One thing that helped me listen to God was learning how to capture my run-away thoughts that caused me to doubt my ability to discern God’s voice. Several years ago, I came up with a few questions I ask myself when I sense God is speaking to me, whether it be through scripture, an impression on my heart, circumstances or through His spirit in me. I always look for Biblical consistency:
- Is it consistent with God’s Word and God’s ways?
- Is it consistent with wise Biblical counsel I’ve sought?
- Is it consistent with God’s leading through doors He’s opened and closed?
- Is there a consistent theme I’m seeing in my life or hearing during my personal Bible study time, through sermons, Christian songs, conversations, etc?
There is a little more I wanted to share about increasing our confidence in our ability to recognize and respond to God’s voice, but I’m having technical difficulties as I try to pre-load this. So I’m pasting in the give-away I promised below, and will work on the rest behind the scenes. I’ll try to have it loaded later on Weds. Aster is home so I never know how my plans will go :-). Be sure to come back for more encouragement. I’ll add to this and leave the post up until Friday when I announce the winner!
If you want to become a woman who listens to God, and discover the adventure of faith He has for your life, you will want to read Lysa TerKeurst’s book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.
Today, I’m giving a copy away to one of you! Enter to win by clicking on the word “comments‘ right below this post and share your thoughts or questions about listening to God. Please include your email or friend me on Facebook so we can let you know if you win.
After you’ve entered to win, click here to download a great FREE resource from Lysa’s book with more ways to hear and discern God’s voice.
**To find out when this post is updated and to see if you are the winner, be sure to link up in the Google Friend Connect box orbecome a friend on Facebook!
This was a topic so applicable to my life right now. After having a baby 6 months ago, my husband changing jobs and me leaving mine to stay home, I feel like I am in a state of inter turmoil and self doubt. I am questioning if I was truly hearing God's voice or if my selfish desires. I feel as though I am a walking contradiction. One minute I feel as though God is calling me here….then the next day it is a complete 180. This post has given me some points to consider each time I feel anxious and frustrated. Thank you!
This is my first visit to your blog (via the P31 devotion) and I'm happy I've come. This is a question that plagues me constantly and consistently. Like you, I sometimes believe that I check in with God on a regular basis but, in truth, it's usually only with the 'big' things OR I seek Him but don't really listen.
Lysa has quickly become a favorite of mine and, judging by what I've read of your blog, I think you'll be added to that list 😉 I'm looking forward to reading more of your insights on recognizing and really listening to His voice.
I am also having a little hard time understnading/hearing the voice of God. I so want to, but my thoughts are so negative all the time that it is hard to focus that God even loves me. I am really working on this and hoping the book Made to Crave will help in this area too. I see God's work in my life, I just feel so lost right where I am. Thank you for your post Renee! And if anyone wants to pray for me today as I have two doctors appointments, I would really appreciate it. Nanci @ [email protected]
Thanks for this great article. I truly want to hear and obey God's leading in my life.
I have been struggling for almost 4 yrs. now. I was married for 20 yrs to a man I built a very large benevolence ministry with. It was our life, we raised our children in the ministry. Until I realized he had been unfaithful to me and started an affair with his very young assistant. My struggle is not with that situation or even the divorce but with trying to hear God and trusting Him. Since the affair we have lost everything. The ministry, my home, my career (the ministry) my husband of course. I have been in a virtual survival mode for almost 4 yrs. now. I can barely support myself I feel as though I've been in this strange holding pattern all this time. I can't find a job, I can't seem to hear God nothing is happening what do I do??? Dale
Renee,
As I've grown older, I've figured out what Paul meant by "What I want to do I don't do and what I dont want to do I do". I have "ideas" on what God wants me to do and I half work on them but it seems that I get distracted with family needs and work schedules and just helping other people out. I sometimes wish it would be the pillar of fire and cloud again and God would audibly speak. It gives me comfort though that the Israelites who had a God that was that physically present in everyday life still messed up and were accepted and loved by our Lord. Gives me hope :o) Thanks for the blog and all the encouragement that you have provided.
I always hear people saying…"God said, or he told me…" I have longed to hear those directions, and as I grow in my faith and in my walk I am learning to hear and more importantly listen to God. This was a very helpful post. Thank you!
This is a question I've been asking myself a lot over the past several months. I appreciate the 'how to know' questions, especially when reflecting over the past several months it's clear that YES, it has been the Lord trying to say something (well, many things) to me and I have recognized it 🙂 I would absolutely love to read this book! It has caught my eye for some time now and feel it's perfect timing to pick it up. Thank you for your words today.
Trying to discern what God is saying to my heart is at times one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I am learning to trust and believe what He says and is asking of me, but I am human with emotions, feelings, and doubts all the time. I know God knows my thoughts, but I still need to trust that His will is best, no matter how painful it is in the moment.
There have been so many times in my life that I wondered if God was speaking to me or was it me wishing God was there giving me directions. I appreciate your insight on this subject! Have a wonderful day!
Listening…..that has been my downfall lately. And I've justified it with the fact that I'm a single mother raising two children, one being a teenager, working full time, going to school, working to develop a side business and engaging in volunteer work. There is no time to listen but instead to move forward on what I believe to be His will. But is it really? How do I know this is what He wants for me. For my children? Today's devotional sang to my heart and came to the realization that I don't think I know how to hear Him. With that, my prayer was asking Him to teach me how to listen. To teach me how to calm my mind, set my sites on Him and His will, and to help me recognize when He is leading me and speaking to my heart. I also prayed that He help me listen to my children, my boss, my parents and the man who is dearest to me. Thank you for the devotional today and I thank Him for leading me to the work you do.
Good morning,
Thank you for your wilingness to allow God to use you to help others. Your blog as well your P31 encouragement has blessed me this day. My mind has really been racing with thoughts and emotions are once again riding the rollercoaster. It appears that I've reached crossroads in my life and need to turn …no it is my desire to go Gods way. Thanks again because you have helped me by your wise and Godly counsel.
Sometimes I find it hard to discern God's voice amidst all the other distractions in my life.
It is certainly a hard thing to recognize in a day without visions and writing on the wall, but God is so good to reveal Himself to us when we are in tune with Him. Something that a friend of mine recommends often is to make a 'Think On' list when you are fearful or doubting. Take Phil 4:8 and only think about what is true, honest, etc for that situation and it is a great way to realize which of your thoughts are coming from God and which ones are not. I wish I could say I am consistent about doing that, but as has been revealed lately in some family situations I have not been listening to God, but rather justifying my own thoughts. Thank you so much for this reminder and the great questions to use as a checklist. I am so thankful for your ministry. You have been a great encouragement to me time and time again.
Today's message on Proverb's 31 along with your blog message could not have had better timing. My life has been in somewhat a state of chaos since losing my husband to cancer 2 years ago. My faith was the biggest thing that got me through all those months both before and after his death. If it had not been for my belief in God and the fact that He knows best, it would have been so much harder to see him go. Since then, I have fought an internal battle as to what I need to do, where I should live, etc. I have been a student for most of that time but I need to go back to work, but I'm not sure what capacity that should be or at what. I have always relied on God to tell me or lead me in the direction I should go but sometimes as you say, I'm not sure if it is really God speaking or the internal thoughts of my brain just trying to convince me that's His way. I do need to really take the time to LISTEN to him. Thanks so much for your message.
I have continually struggled with knowing that I am hearing God's voice in my life. I know that I have heard Him speak to me and felt his pressing on me to do certain things for Him. But I still doubt that I hear Him. Recently, I was praying so hard when my son was in the hospital. I really heard in my spirit the Lord tell me that He was with me. Wow. That was definitely what I needed to hear, and I chose to believe that it was really His voice. Since then, I am believing that He does speak to me. I just need to learn how to listen. Thank you for your devotional and blog of encouragement.
Christie
[email protected]
I can so relate to this; I have to continually tune out "myself" and listen to the Holy Spirit—I know there are times I want so much to say this must be devine when in fact I realize it is Satan trying to get his hooks into me and my life; Satan only comes after the saved, he already has his hold on the lost—the more I seek the Holy Spirit direction the more I know there will be trials to try to sway me—-but I know I have the victory in Christ Jesus, He has already defeated the evil one and He has my heart and soul—Thank You Jesus!!!!!!!! Alberta
I am always confused about which voice is speaking to me. Is it God, my own voice or the enemy? This sometimes makes me fearful of making a decision at all because I dont know who is speaking. I want to know it is the LORD! I want to make decisions that are in God's will for my life, but never feel like I am doing the right thing becuase I don't know how to hear Him!
My sister and I were speaking on this exact thing yesturday. Its hard sometimes knowing Gods will. My recent issue has been about church. Our pastor has been guiding the church through a fast, but I have been having my doubts about it. I have been wondering if I really should be fasting at this time? Is my heart in the correct place? And I am having a hard time hearing God at this time.
I am always so confused about which voice I am hearing! It is my own, is it the Lord or is it the enemy. Sometimes ( a lot of the time) it paralyzes me from making a decision or acting on something at all. Or even worse, I make the wront decision because I listened to the wrong voice! I want to when the LORD speaks!!!
Let me tell you how much I can relate to this topic! Thank you for the reminders straight from the Scriptures!! ~Amy S.~
e-mail: [email protected]
Sometimes I wish I had a clear cut, "This is what you need to do next…" answer from God. Trying to discern if/how to have an uncomfortable conversation with my parents.
Wow! So timely, (of course!) We are doing a church-wide study on prayer. My biggest difficulty with prayer is knowing that my words are not just bouncing off the ceiling. And knowing that it is a two-way conversation. Learning to hear the other side of the conversation, that is definitely where I need to learn more and practice.
I know that there are times where my prayer/devotional life are not what they should be which means my fellowship with God is not what it should be. When I am not in sync with my Savior then I am not going to be hearing the still small voice of the Spirit giving me direction. I know that I need to listen more closely for HIS voice and direction in my life and I need to be closer to him do so. I am going to be working on this area of my life.
Thank you for the devotional and the reminder to follow God through an entire process (not just the parts I want to follow). I intend to find some time where I can commune with God through prayer today. It gets tough b/c of my health and my two very energetic little guys but I am not going to have that be an excuse, no I am going to find that time anyway with God's help! Feeling better this morning already even though things are about to get busy-the youngest is rattling the crib:)Bring on this day!
[email protected]
God IS AMAZING!!! Thank you for sharing your insights…I know without a doubt this is where God directed me today…and I believe God will allow you to post the remainder of your message in His perfect timing…I'm anxious to see what He has to share through you! I'm truly grateful that you have learned to listen and follow God's voice! Love, Kim
[email protected]
Wow! Your devotion today on Encouragement for Today is exactly! What I needed. I have some major decisions to make and have been asking for God to direct me and show me where He wants, but the key thing I was neglecting to ask for was, discernment! I would love to win a copy of Lisa's book and I thank you for sharing this devotion!
That's one question I have often asked myself and will probably ask for the rest of my life! 🙂 I have a tendency to "go out and do" even if it has been His voice and have gotten on the wrong track. Thank you for your column today – a big help!
I have learned to trust wholly in God, Prov 3:5-6. Whenever someone tells me how to live my life (to go back to work instead of being a SAHM), I know it's the devil trying to get to me. God gives me enough ammo against him and I know that God has placed me right where I should be.
I love the daily email from Prov 31 and really enjoyed today's message. I have added you as a friend on Facebook. My name is Heather Lundquist!
God bless,
Heather in Buffalo, NY
This is exactly what I needed to hear. God spoke to me through this devotion! His timing is PERFECT! I am grateful that He spoke to you with your thoughts and words and to post it for all of us to LISTEN! Thank you!
Renee,
Your words of Encouragement was exactly what I needed to hear this morning. But as always that is how God gets my attention and I know it's Him. I think about something and God says I hear you and I Am right here. He is wonderful about speaking softly in my ear and patiently waiting for me to say"Y es Lord"? were you taking to me? Doesn't He ever grow tired of constantly chasing after us?
I remember being the Mommy of 4 small children under the age of 7 : ) I remember constantly moving and telling them Yes, No, Wait, Hurry Up, and Slow Down that I felt completely exhausted and would collapse into my bed at night. At that very moment I would snuggle into my pillow and thank God that I was not Him.
I don't want to follow my own path and make my own decisions and I want to hear His voice in my ear through out the day. But, I have a hard time because I'm never quiet enough to hear it. So, beginning today I am waking earlier than usual to spend time with him : ) Thank you Renee for listening closely to Him for your post to come exactly when I needed it in my life. Ahhhhhh yes, Gods timing is the best timing! Amen!
This is exactly what I'm going through right now…His voice or my thoughts. I've been driving myself crazy! This is one of those struggles I thought I was alone in. Apparently not! This post couldn't be any more timely! Thank you!!!!! Thanks for the chance to win the book too.
Prayers to all!
Listening is one thing but HEARiNG is another. I realize that God speaks to me all the time. My struggle is to hear… really hear and do!
God does is showing me to slow down and not re-act to situations and to be patient with others and myself. Then He gently speaks and shows ways to solve problems. I make lots of mistakes and come down hard on myself. HE doesn't. He correctly compassionately and encourages me to do the same.
Wow, all I can is Wow God! Today is a Wow God Wednesday! I have been struggling to know what GOd's plan for my life is and really trying to daily walk closer with Him. Even though I sm still not quite sure what the whole path is, I know and am comforted in this deovtion today. I know that if i daily step by step follow Him and trust in Him that all the other pieces will fall together. It brings me such joy, just to know that and have that peace. Whew, it is going to be so great and exhilerating to see His plans unfold. Please pray that I truly drown out all the backround noise and continue to listen closely. Thank you for bein an inspiratio and obedient to God's calling.
Blessings and Hugs,
Marlene :O)
Well, here I am. I have been a stay-at-home mom for 10 yrs. now! Four boys ranging from 14 to 5 yrs. of age. Staying home has left me with a lot of questions about listening to God. A couple of years back I had finally realized it was God telling me to stay home. I had tried a few odd jobs out of the house, but they never felt right, or I would go for an interview "thinking" I was ready, and I wouldn't get the job. I finally 'fessed up and realized God said "stay home!" So, here I am at this point again. Things this fall are going to be changing as my youngest will be in kindergarten. All day! What does God have in store for me? I don't know, but it's time to start asking and listening again. I can only imagine!!
Renee,
I am listening to a "new" (to Knoxville, TN) Christian radio station, and one thing they are doing is a "word of the year" instead of a resolution. This is a word, that you use through out the year to expand your relationship with God. As I thought about it, I thought about the word BELIEVE, because I feel that in order to have a "good" life, you must believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Before I read Encouragement for Today, I prayed that God would show me if that was my word, or if my word was something else. I then read your devotional, and God showed me my work is LISTEN. I already believe, but I have a difficult time LISTENING!! Thank you for writing about listening today, as always, Encouragement for Today pertains to my life in very meaningful, timely ways.
Thank you for helping God tell me my word of the year, and thank you for helping me LISTEN to him!! 🙂
In Christ,
LisaAnne
Renee, We are in the midst of a very challenging time in our family. It is so hard to continue to trust each day and continue to seek God's voice when you feel at times that he is not there and not hearing you. I know that this is not true, but I feel like Satan is overpowering my thoughts right now. I really need to hear Jesus and I know that all my hope lies in Him. How do you keep your heart in the right place when you feel so defeated? Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Renee,
First of all, thank you for listening to God's voice with this devotional. I have been following P31 ministries for atleast a year now and every morning God shows me something through atlease one or all of you through this ministry! Last night I spent the better part of the night praying and crying trying to figure out if I have been listening to my own voice or God's for some pretty big decisions in my life. Six years ago I married a great man who is an unbeliever. I heard God's voice loud and clear telling me not to do it, however I rationalized it away because we had a baby girl and I couldn't understand how God would want me to be a single mom instead of married to my beautiful baby's dad. Since that day we've had another baby girl and while we have that family atmosphere we both wanted our girls to have, my heart is consistently in battle as I raise my girls in the christian faith and he does not agree with it. For the past year in a half, I have been back in school in a nursing program. My daughters are 6 and 4 and the program has me absolutely exhausted! While I know the program will put me in a great place financially, I don't know if I am doing it in for the right reasons anymore. I have been sensing God telling me to wait and focus on my family. Some have said that means taking a semester off and concentrate on my family others have told me it's just satan getting in the way of the path God has put me on right now. To be honest, I wonder if I started school as a safety net in a difficult marriage. I know I serve an amazing God, but doing what God would have me do right now is confusing because I can't tell if the voice telling me to take a break (which, by the way my husband is not a fan of at all) is my own or God's. Quite a bit of info for a blog comment I know but I'm asking, as a sister in Christ, for your prayers as classes begin again for this semester on Monday and I have no idea what I should do! Thank you for this beyond timely devotional, God has met me here this morning and I could not be more thankful for your obedience to Him to right it!! Thank you so much!
Angel
It's a shame how much I allow the "noise" of life to drown out the very voice I need to be following. I've set a plan in motion for this year to do more listening AND following knowing that time with my Savior is more valuable than checking off my to-do list.
I appreciate your words of encouragement in this area : )
Happy Day!
Pam
God truly knows what we need, when we need it. Your devotional from Encouragement for Today and this blog is so timely. Sometimes it's crystal clear when I hear God speaking (it's usually something I wouldn't do on my own), but then there are times when I really don't know. My prayer during my time of fasting has been to clearly know His voice. He said that his sheep know his voice and a stranger, they won't follow. I want to ALWAYS know His voice!
Hi am eliza from kenya
I have reading proverbs 31 since last year. now my question is who is entitled to enter and wine something in the blogs.I have tried in the past but my view is that is is only for those sisters in America given the cost of mailing the presents/gifts/awards. take for example the 5 $ star bucks voucer, i bet it would only be useful in US. Please let us know weather anybody can enter to win or it is only for some few
God bless
Eliza
LISTEN is my oneword resolution. Listening to God is first and foremost and I do believer that you hear him through your circumstances and people around you. I want to become so in tune with Him and become the best listener with Him. Just in the last few days He is showing me the peace you can have by just listening and being slow to speak. Thank you for being a good listener and providing this word of encouragement for today.
In Christ, Judy
Sometimes, I too, am confused as to whether it's God I'm hearing or just my own thoughts. I have made decisions in the past few years thinking it was God leading me and now I'm asking myself if it was just something I wanted to do because I'm questioning the outcome of my decisions! I truly want to be a woman God can lead and go in the direction He wants for me; by trying it myself, I keep messing up. I just found this website and Proverbs 31 but I know it was God that led me here because I don't remember how I found it! I don't have any close girlfriends to share with and am desperate to have just one or two other women to be able to open my heart to. Yes, I'm involved in my church but haven't been able to really make a "connection" as far as close, intimate relationships. I pray that God will open doors for me and use me.
I feel my biggest problem with listening to God is spending enough time. I wake up in the mornings with just enough time for a prayer, a quick devotional thought (sometimes) and there is no time for reflection to let the Lord talk to me. In the evenings I get to caught up with "stuff" that I don't take time with God again until I'm so sleepy that I fall into bed and say a quick prayer before falling asleep. God and I are working on it. Thanks for the encourangement!
I also sometimes wonder, "Was that God talking or just myself talking?" When I know I really need to hear from the Lord, I try to remove all distractions from my life, spend more time in prayer, and fast. I appreciate those questions you put and I look forward to reading the other insights you post later today.
I love when God has someone, unknown to that person, reconfirm to me something that He has also told me. It's just such a neat feeling of peace and joy when you realize how close God really is and how much HE cares for ME!
"How Do I Know if it's God Speaking to Me?" I thought He forgot about me, but I am hearing Him right now! Thanks for helping me to tune into My Jesus!
Blessings,
LORI
It's really hard for me to know when God is speaking to me. I pray and pray but I'm never sure if it's God speaking or me just wanting him to tell me what to do so I assue it's him. This has happened many times over the year and I become frustrated and anxious. How do you know for sure that it's God speaking. I'd really like some help on this. I love Provebs 31 and have shared it with many people. You all do a great job together. Thank you for sharing. Jean
This devotion is very timely for me. I am trying to discern the voices in my head as to whether they are from God or of Satan. I am so confused right now. Trying to come out of a long burnout period in my church. I know Satan has me engaged in a spiritual warfare b/c I am trying to become closer to God. Right now my mind is filled with so many conflicting thoughts and so much hurt and disappointment and I don't know how to discern the voice of God. I am desperate for guidance. I feel so alone and scared. I know this is Satan and I am trying so hard to put him in his place. I am so confused about mercy and grace and how it relates to accountability and responsibility. Trying so hard not to lose my faith in organized religion and the church. I just don't know my role and purpose anymore. I have been jaded by the humanness of the church and trying to understand how to live and witness to others and deal with rejection and hurt. Trying to figure out if it is me that is the rel problem or if the church I am in is where I am supposed to be. Please help me understand how to discern the difference. i need a safe place to explore this and support. I don't know how to trust my church anymore. Thank you for providing a safe place for me to openly admit my struggles.
Try sitting in a quiet room either on the floor or a sofa, then close your eyes take 3 deep breaths. Then breath normally but focus on your breath with your eyes closed still. Push aside the random thoughts that enter your head just focus on your breath, in and put that’s all. Practice this for 15 mins a day it will get easier the more you practice.
Renee,
Something I have been questioning a lot lately. I've been unsure of my thoughts relating to my mom's health, my husband's safety and my own purpose. I am quite sure it is fear and my own thoughts but it is very clear while I am trying to talk to God. How can I stop my thoughts from racing from one thing to the next and LISTEN to God and be sure it is him? I thought he was telling me something a few years ago and believed it with all of my heart…however it has not happened. Have lost faith a little…trying to get it back! Appreciate all that you ladies do….so glad I found you on Encouragement Today and was lead to Proverbs 31! Even though I have followed and unfollowed over the past two years 🙂
Hugs!
Mary