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 would love to win
"How Do I Know if it's God Speaking to Me?"
I'm trying to draw closer to God and thing this would be a helpful resource.
Thanks, [email protected]
The more I listen to God the more that I hear His voice. The more tuned I am to Him,
This is a question I have been asking all my life…My daughter also struggles with the same question…..I really have to read your book and I also find the comments from others helpful….I will pray for all of you that you find the truth……I am so glad that I have found all of you and the websites.MAY GOD BLESS US WITH HIS ANSWERS……
This is SO what I need to know right now! Any help is greatly appreciated! I fear I don't wait long enough for God's answers sometimes, or I guess at what I think he's telling me! I need HELP!
Wow………what a Mighty God we serve! How timely is this? I found Proverbs 31 while looking for ideas for a Women's Ministry in our church. Like so many others have said, I am not sure at times if God's is speaking to/leading me or if it is my strong will. I am truly searching for God's will in my life. I have failed so miserable many times doing things my way and in my time…..putting the cart before the horse. I want so much to hear God speaking and know without a doubt that it is Him and not me. I am having our first Women's Ministry meeting at my house on Saturday night………so I need to hear God's voice for direction in how he wants me to lead this group of women. Please join me in praying for God's wisdom and discenment. I want to be so in tune with Him so that His will can be accomplished. Thank you so much for obeying God. He is so good and always right on time! I pray that God continues to bless you and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
Hi Renee, thanks for you devotion on Proverbs 31. It really convicted me. I am exactly what you described – someone who asks God for general directions and then tries to get to the destination on my own. I have remember to consult God ALL the time.. Please pray for me.
Things I've learned: It's hard to hear God when I'm full of fear or resentment, and I know it's God when a firm calmness comes with God's message. Hearing God requires effort on my part. And yes, many times I wonder if it's God or my own thoughts. And yes, I get impatient.
Quieting my thoughts when I am trying to be still is hard for me. It is good to know I am not the only one.
I sit here and see so many of my friends flourishing and hearing from God and being sure of their path in life. I have felt so discouraged and alone.I realize that I have been asking God to give me what I want, not for Him to reveal to me what He has planned for me. Oddly enough my favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11-13. It talks about the plans HE has for me, not the ones I have for myself. What He has in store for me is far bigger than I could ever have imagined for myself. We have to not be selfish, and put away our own desires, and seek Him for direction. For what He has in store for us will never disappoint. As we dive deeper into His word, and stay in relationship with Him, it will become easier to discern His voice from our own. Now if only it were as easy to do as it is to say!
Great comments here! So wonderful to teach and learn from one another!!
Wow – so happy to have stumbled over here today. You bring up some great points to consider. Thank you for this.
God Bless,
Debbie
I am reading "Made to Crave", listening to the dvd's and doing the workbook. There has to be a "want to" in every area of our Christian walk. I am learning to listen to the Spirit speak when I am faced with the wrong kind of craving. God is speaking to me through His word and I am so much better for it. His word never lets us down even when He is asking us to give something up, do something that is out of our comfort zone, step out in faith. Always faithful.. always. I need to get more of His word IN my so when I hear a small voice I KNOW it's His voice I am hearing.
Good Morning! this is my first time at your blog and i am really enjoying it. I hear you all the time on the radio and am so inspired by your thoughts and comments. Thank you! Although I would love to win the book, I am commenting more because this topic is so timely for me! My daughters are home but pretty much on their own so now I am finding myself with time to really care for my spiritual health – not that I didnt before, and being able to discern God's voice and presence in my life is a priority for me – it has to be. I can't tell you how many times a day I think of or repeat 2 Cor. 10:5. It is a struggle every day to stay "Christ minded" as the distractions of this world are many. It's sad to me that after being a born again spirit-filled christian for 35 years and I still cannot definativly say that i have either heard directly for God or that I know His voice every time. I so wish I was more in tune with Him. it is my heart's desire and I pray that I can now devote the proper time to Him that He deserves. I look forward to being apart of your ministry at Prov. 31. keep up the good work for the Kingdom!
Renee
I am not sure when God is speaking to me. I am not sure how to listen to him. When I am at church during praise, worship and service his presence is there I can feel him. I know he is with me 24/7. I know his is listening to me. But how do I listen to him. My hearts desire is not only to know he is here with me but to be able to listen, learn and obey him. Just like I want my children to do. I know my kids know I am here, they know that I love them, but are they listening to me. There seems to be that void and I need to understand and listen to God. I hope this makes sense.
Thank you,
Monica
I too do not know how to discern when God is speaking or when it is my thoughts. I have been praying so hard about this because in the past year and a half I have messed up so many times, by thinking I am following God's voice. But then afterwards I have so much self doubt. If it's God speaking shouldn't I be filled with peace after I act on something? I know God will work everything out for His good even when I get in the way. But it hurts so much to feel this way – to question myself and wonder if I've hurt others or made things worse. But I turned in a prayer request this week to my radio station – asking fellow Christians to pray for me to trust God and be able to discern His voice in a certain situation in my life. I know this devotion and blog is one of the answers to my prayer request. Thank you so much for letting me share. This has given me much encouragement and peace. God Bless all of you at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Kathy
I just want to do the will of God and seeking him daily is a goal of mine. The closer I can get and grow in Him is what is important and understanding ways to know Him more would be great. [email protected]
I also have a difficult time distinguishing between God's voice and my own voice or thoughts. I'm also aware that sometimes the enemy even tries to interfere. I am jobless going on 2 years and have been giving my time helping my best friend with Wednesday night Bible Study class at our Church. I am really asking the Lord for direction but I get so much entering my mind that I struggle with God's will. I don't have money to invest or adventure with regarding for my passion for prison ministry. I have been involved in this ministry 6-7 years and would love to help rehabilitate ladies released from prison. Especially help them before they are put back into the same environment they came from. I just can't seem to discover my mission from this point. I have been still for about 2 years now and can't wait much longer. I would love the Lord to open a door for this passion. I don't have a college degree which is a hindrance to counseling girls. Any suggestions or words you receive from our Father God after reading this, I will openly welcome.
Grace to you and for you,
Susan
I'm just beginning to really listen for God speaking to me. What I've noticed so far is He speaks to me often by hearing the same thing or verse through a few different sources within a couple days time. I'm learning to recognize those times as times I believe God is trying to speak to me about something. Would love to win Lysa's book. thank you for the chance to win.
[email protected]
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I've walked with the Lord for many yrs. and I still struggle with hearing His voice. Looking forward to reading the excerpt from Lysa's book.
God Bless,
Grace
Day by day I am listening and learning from God. I have learned that if I am trying to figure everything out and control the outcome that things don't go well, and are probably not God's will. I am asking God for wisdom and discernment and trying to slow down and relax. If I can stay in the present moment, work on forgiving others and just do the next right thing, my heart is usually peaceful. I am an avid learner and I am paying attention to teachers like you who are leading the way. Thank you for all you do to help women like me find their way to God.
While I wouldn't wish it on anyone, it's somewhat of a comfort to know that I am not alone in my struggles of "listening". I'm trying to listen to the Holy Spirit and be guieded by Him to the right church home for me and my children.