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 do not think I hear God speaking to me and this is one of my goals for 2011. I want to be a woman who listens to God. I want to hear him in every moment but I do not know how. Winning Lysa's book would be an ideal tool which assist me in my journey. My email is [email protected]
I too feel unsure about God's guidance in my life. I feel adrift and wasting what He wants me to do. But I can look back at crucial decisions I made that blessed me and changed my life because I knew He wanted me to do them. I want that again, so much. I don't think we were made to live in a world we have today, bombarded 24/7 by words, video, information, communications, sounds, impressions. We don't realize how hard we have to fight for God's guidance and help. My heart goes out to the ladies who shared and will share their struggles today. God bless you.
I hear God speaking to me in that still small voice quite often. I feel Him tugging at my heart and urging me to follow. I haven't gotten clear direction or vision of where that will lead as of yet. He just tells me to really search for Him (and my direction) in His word… He assures me He will reveal His will in His time. Scary stuff, following "blindly."
I could use help in this area. I don't always recognize God's voice or I doubt the message.
dora
I have been so hungry to hear God's voice also and would like to know more. Is it an "audible" voice or just something He might lay on my heart? Like you said, I can't discern whether it's God leading me to something or trying to tell me something, or my own thoughts that are coming to me.
What timing! Thanks always for your encouraging and wise words!
I woke up early this morning and spent some time with the Lord. I was planning on what I was going to listen to on the way into work when I heard God say nothing. I was to listen to him this morning. He spoke to me and let me know that I was to be kind today. That should be my focus as I would be tested and tried in this area today but that kindness should be my focus. I've been thinking lately about listening/hearing God and this devotional couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Oh Renee,
Did you ever hit a cord this morning!
I ask God to lead me where he wants me to go and I never seem to be able to understand what he is telling me. My thoughts drift in and out from my to-do lists, to going to work, who is going to be home to take care of the kids when I'm at work, what is for dinner, do I have enough money in my acct and so on. When I do settle in for some quiet time it seems that there is always another distraction: a garbage truck, the phone rings, the dogs bark and such. I always ask why am I here and what do you want me to do? I feel like I'm just walking around this earth in a fog wasting time that could be spent doing so much more.
Thanks for listening…
Sherry
Renee
God speaks to me through His word or through my
devotions. But I still long to hear His voice clear as day.
That has not happened for me bc I'm a hoarder.
My mind is so full of junk…why doesn't my older boy
believes in God anymore , why is my younger boy so angry , why am I so fearful & the list goes on. I know that
the moment to let go of all my junk, I will be free for
God to come in & sup with me.
So pray that I let go & let God speak to me.
Your sister in Christ
Kim
I am a mom homeschooling 2, and it has been hard to not let the distractions of the day sweep my time with Lord away. I am trying to get up and not look at anything else on the computer until I have connected with Him. I know He will teach me if I am faithful. What a good word for the new year….LISTEN. I picture it said in a hushed tone, by the Lord, and with a gesture to come closer so He can tell me, his beloved!! THANK you so much for your part in keeping this theme going in my life. I am still on shaky ground to change my old habits, but I know God is bigger and desires so much more for me than left on my own!!
Blessings,
Kathy
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!