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!
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I'm still learning to know when it is God speaking to me and not just my thoughts or desires coming out. Learning to discern God's voice would be something that I would like to study more.
I always question whether or not I'm hearing God when He speaks to me. Thanks fo much for your thoughts! Encouragement for Today and Girlfriends in God both help me on a daily basis and I've very thankfurl I have them both.
I'm looking forward to the rest of your entry as I wrestle with this issue daily.
This is good stuff!! God wants my ears not my efforts. Love that!! It goes with what Lysa said Mon. night, God's will is a place to live not a thing to do. So freeing!!
Love you!!
Discerning God's direction and will has been an area of my life I've been working on for quite some time. As mentioned in P31, I pray about it, and then go about my business. I may not always spend the time 'listening' as much as I do talking. Thanks for the reminder.
This devotion today met me right where I am! I'm so desperate to hear God's voice these days. With my husband out of work and me a stay-at-home mom, we are absolutely at a loss as to what to do and where to go. Hurts run deep, and I'm struggling with anger and bitterness as the months wear on. Especially after following God's clear call to ministry and then having it all taken away, I'm wondering how to go forward out of the wreckage. I keep waiting for God to speak and am wondering about His silence – or am I doing too much talking and not enough listening? Being in a place of complete desperation is causing me to (hopefully) deepen my faith and decide if I truly believe what I've always said I do. All this to say, I'm still waiting to hear God's voice. For now, I think He's saying, "Wait." Thanks for this today! I really needed it!
I am starting week 3 of a Danial Fast. I am newly saved and working hard on listening for Gods voice.
God speaks to us in many ways. As we engage him with our thoughts and prayers, he speaks to us. Many times in my life he has answered me by bringing another person into my life who delivers a needed message. As a RN, many times I have the opportunity to take care of a patient and/or their family who I learn the answer to a question or problem that I am facing in my life. I learn from my friends about their life experiences; it is amazing how God's plan involves interactions with other people. His light has opened my eyes to many opportunities. When I try to force things to happen on my own, it usually does not work out. Times when I really need an answer to a prayer, he speaks.
Hearing from God. Something I am always striving for. Growing up I learned about the wrathful side of God. I never knew into well into my adult life that there was the loving side of God, the grace and mercy and a God that wanted a personal relationship with me. So, learning to hear God speaking has been a continual challenge for me. But I claim Matt. 6:33 and know He walks with me when I seek after Him with all my heart.
Thank you for your sweet heart and teaching ministry to us.
Donna
I have often wondered if God is speaking to me or if it is just my own thoughts…glad to know someone else does. Sometimes I hear an answer before I finish asking the question or while I am thinking about something.I don't think my little brain could think 2 thoughts at the same time…I am like you in that I don't always want to do what I'm told to do! As for Lysa's book, I would love to have it. I got "Am I Messing up My Kids" for a Christmas gift. It was a requested gift…unlike the Dave Ramsey book I got…haven't started that one yet…oops,hope my big sis doesn't read this! I love reading your inspirational words. They always seem to be right on target! Blessings, jody (a siesta)
That's it – I need to spend more time listening to God and less time talking. [email protected]
Hi Renee,
I cringe when someone says, "God told me…" Perhaps it's because I've seen that phrase used as a chisel to lean into the clay of impressionable younger Christians when one in authority wanted to stand above scrutiny.
But when someone whose life has shown the fruit of righteousness says "God has spoken His word into my life about…" there is a different reaction in me. God's word still speaks? How exciting. How timeless. God speaking truth to his child. He said we'd know His voice. I like the voice of His word.
Thanks for your website and ministry. I just stumbled upon it today via crosswalk. I plan to subscribe and become a fan. I'm a teacher and don't have much time. I miss being in bible study but it's so hard now working full time. Perhaps your subsription tool will link me to a community of sisters. THanks, Renee. I'll look for your book when I get a chance. Have a great (soon?) spring!
Myra @ [email protected]
Hi Renee,
I cringe when someone says, "God told me…" Perhaps it's because I've seen that phrase used as a chisel to lean into the clay of impressionable younger Christians when one in authority wanted to stand above scrutiny.
But when someone whose life has shown the fruit of righteousness says "God has spoken His word into my life about…" there is a different reaction in me. God's word still speaks? How exciting. How timeless. God speaking truth to his child. He said we'd know His voice. I like the voice of His word.
Thanks for your website and ministry. I just stumbled upon it today via crosswalk. I plan to subscribe and become a fan. I'm a teacher and don't have much time. I miss being in bible study but it's so hard now working full time. Perhaps your subsription tool will link me to a community of sisters. THanks, Renee. I'll look for your book when I get a chance. Have a great (soon?) spring!
Myra @ [email protected]
WOW!! What a timely message! How I wish I could clearly know what and when God is speaking to me! I feel like I am never "in the know" when I should be. Others seem to breeze through this! So glad I am not the only one struggling with this. I just keep trying to be still and listen – but to be honest, sometimes even that is hard. Thanks for your encouragement! What a blessing Prov. 31 is to me and others!
Renee-
Great post. I was meeting with my mentor today and we discussed that, except we posed the what does it look like to be obedient when you are not exactly sure what God is saying. I love the questions that you said helped guide you.
Blessings
Jenn Hand
I have a difficult time discerning my thoughts from God's leading. I also struggle with slowing my thoughts down,as my mind is always racing. I am once again purposing to take my thoughts captive, and make them obedient to Christ, but it is a never-ending battle. I desire to have sweet fellowship with the Lord all throughout the day, to hear His voice even in the busiest of moments, which is most of my day, as I am a homeschooling mom. Slowing down is key for me, but getting to that point has been a life-long struggle. Thank you, Renee, for your encouraging words today!
For Him,
Amy
A few years ago God really got my attention. We were and still are struggling financially. I woke saying okay okay okay I got it out loud. God was talking to me in my sleep and I listened. I still struggle not to undermine my husband about our finances but I am a lot better than I was.
I love the times when you've read a scripture and then someone references it in conversation or a situation comes up and that same scripture is applicable and then when you show up for Sunday service, it's preached from the pulpit. I love those moments!! I do believe God uses those moments to enourage and build our faith in him.
Mel
I am so happy I came across this on your blog. Today is my first day visiting Prov. 31 website and I am always questioning if I am hearing from God. I deal with a lot of racing thoughts and my attention span is almost non-existent but I love the criteria you listed as ways to determine if you are hearing from God. I will use those for myself. Thank you.
I am not sure if you received my comments. Absolutely wonderful, honest and encouraging. To fall in love with our Lord and hear his voice is such a rich blessing and can help this very lost world. Thanks for building his kingdom with encouragement and grace.
Julie