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!
I find myself running in circles constantly, and I know that God keeps leading me back to the beginning so that I can follow His plan and not my own. How do I figure out which way is His way? I do not even know where to begin! I only know that he wants me to listen, and obey Him, but I can't figure out what it is He has planned for me!
Just what we were discussing yesterday……is it God talking or is it simply my idea? I want to know more.
Thanks Renee for the reminders to LISTEN– so easy to act then think we've heard… Keep writing as you have been gifted.
Needing HIM,
Lynette
I am so happy that you spoke about this because this is something I have been struggling with myself. Thanks for the encouragement and the tips.
Sincerely,
Chantelle Cotton
Self-Love Author & Speaker
http://www.whydoisayyes.com
http://www.whydoisayyes.blogspot.com
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the devotional today…this topic has really been in my head a lot and i have been trying to figure out God speaking to me and hearing him, getting quiet with and for him and so forth so much to the point of asking a very dear friend of mine, which i call my spiritual mentor now, about it. thanks for the insight….i always enjoy reading your devoltionals and your page 🙂 have a good day!
Renee,
I look forward to your words of email. Today's message from you was right on time since just this morning while meditating and resting in the Lord, I heard my name called twice and felt like Samuel as a young boy who thought it was Eli calling him. However, this morning I knew it was my Lord for as He states, my sheep know my voice. I thank you so much for this message which was encouraging and enlightening.
Helen, Philadelphia
My Dear Renee,
Reading your devotional today has really helped me to realise, that I am confusing my thinking with what God is speaking and so very often I find it hard to act as I am uncertain if it is God speaking. I am at crossroad as to when to step out of the boat and lounge into the deep. While I,m hoping for a Peter's experience, I want to be absolutely sure I am making the right decision. How can I be sure to venture into a ministry that I felt God clearly revealed to me yesterday morning while eating an apple? While I believe He is leading me in a direction to be an encourager in the restoration of lives, I am also thinking that He is seeking to show me the hidden beauty in my life that He wants to reveal. I truly want to be obedient and allow Him to disrupt my agenda to hear from Him. Hence, here I am on line sharing my thoughts…something I have never done before…let's see where He takes me from here. The steps of a man are ordered by God and I am allowing Him to cover my steps from today on. Thanks for the great work that God is using you to do. I am truly encourage. I am not on facebook so I'll follow your blog.
Much Love,
Arlene
I am a single mom of two and I am at a place in my life where this is my question, does God hear me and when I seemingly get an answer, is it God speaking to me or my own thoughts or the enemy? I know that I have been through so much in my life that when things are going well I tend to over analyze and question whether this is God showing me Favor or is it the luck of the draw. I am still learning how to jst rely on the idea that God loves me and wants only the best for me so when positive things occur in my life it is okay to be happy and give thanks to Him for His grace. Then there are those times when I get quite and want to speak with Him and my thoughts are all over the place and while I am trying to pray another thought comes in, usually one that I should be thinking adn I try to quite that secular thought with Jesus' name, but then I ask mayself, why is this happening? Why, now when I want to be with Him are these other thoughts invading my space? I so love reading these devotionals daily as they show me that I am not alone and yes, He does love you and these things are all apart of the process.
Thanks for the words of inspiration.
Chandra
Renee, its hard to reach out to you and tell you of my struggles. I want to walk with God leading me every step of life's journey but it is so hard to know if it is just my random thoughts or feelings or????
This ministry that i can access through Proverbs 31 is amazing and has been helping me to stay connected and grow in my faith daily but i am still struggling so much.
I was fortunate to be born into a christian home and have a pastor for a father but it created some other barriers that have come between God and I. Everyone always assumed that I was going to be so spiritual and holy and all I wanted to do was kick against that, so I did. I chose a man to marry who professes to be a christian but doesnt have the tools to walk with God and himself is struggling to know what that is and how it applies to his life.
We have been married for over 25 years and we are still spiritual babies. I am also so impatient to run forward and am so slow to understand I want to wait for my husband to catch up with me but I want it to happen NOW. I pray that God will guide us to Him but it doesnt seem that He is listening.
Please keep sharing your walk with all of us and be the encouragement that I need to keep moving forward. Thanks for listening, Abby
I usually have to have a brick thrown at me to "get" what God's is telling me…sometimes it's not so difficult!
I am in a place right now of counseling young ladies (teens-college aged) and this question is constantly asked especially in the area of knowing who "God" wants them to marry…I would love to have more to share with them about truly knowing that you have heard the voice of God. Too often they are told to just follow their hearts and I feel that we have a lack of substance to this very important question (How do I know if it's God speaking to me?") I look forward to reading more about what you have to share and I am truly blessed by your ministry. Thank you and may God richly bless you in return!
Wow…this really hit home today. I have not been reading all of my email devotionals lately…but today I was drawn to read them and it was like He sent this directly to me.
I write a daily prayer journal & this has been a concern that I have recently prayed about "How do I know it is you speaking & not just my own thoughts" I have added that if it is just my own thoughts that He would bless them. I've asked for knowledge on learning to identify when it truly is He who is speaking. God Bless You!
Vicki
[email protected]
Thank you so much for your post on "Encouragement…" which led me to your blog. This post is perfect timing in my journey as I am listening for a specific response, once again, from God for His will on how He wants me to share my experiences and testimony with other women. I feel as though He has put these ideas on my heart and that I didn't just cook them up, but that it would be such a giant leap and involve getting out of my comfort zone. I don't want to miss the opportunity to serve Him, but I also don't want to jump ahead of Him either by doing something that is not in His will. I so need that book!!! I will definitely be back to your blog for more insight.
Thank you again.
Carlita
My tendency is to DO for God. I know He wants me to just BE with Him.
SEEK AND HE WILL SPEAK!!
What??? You mean this life isn't all about ME?? …and MY happiness?? LOL!
We often are so busy and distracted by the noise of life, we miss the point! Jesus IS our life!
Joh 17:3 says "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
As a child placing our complete dependence upon Jesus, we can KNOW what He desires from us! Though Jesus came to earth and then ascended into Heaven; He did not leave us alone. He left an incredible person of the trinity to guide EACH of us (THIS is not only a good thing-it is a GOD thing!)…The Holy Spirit!
The problem? We aren't listening to that guidance, or we don't even know how to perceive it is there! One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit works is by His word. Yet, we dismiss it often times, and say "Surely He wouldn't tell me to do that! It is too hard!". In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, we observe:
verse 27 " But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;read through verse 29.
He wants us to DEPEND on Him to accomplish the IMPOSSIBLE! Think of it-an entire human race in need of a Savior with God's eternal wrath abiding on our heads-that is an impossible scenario at best! …But for the grace of GOD!!
So bearing in mind this daunting task of the believer, and then add to this our particular circumstances, or better known as "trials" as described in the book of James chapter 1:
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness….verse 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all…
IF YOU LACK WISDOM, ASK IT OF GOD! His Glory is a stake! He will honor the request of a child who desires to accomplish HIS will! (and not to "consume it upon our own lusts").
So, we can see, the child of God CAN hear God. We simply need to ask in faith. That may not always result in a trial being lifted…or the impossible tasks of life being removed from our path. Instead, we should EXPECT these things as a part of our walk-God's word spells it out! (1Peter 4:12)
Enter the Holy Spirit…He is there for the child of God as we walk forward in this journey.
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Joh 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
HE dwells in YOU! And in ME! We just have to earnestly seek Him in faith…He will speak. He will empower us by His word.
If we are SEEKING, He will be SPEAKING!
When I say seeking, I don't mean a cursory prayer that we "say" sitting at the computer while doing FB…(why do I know about that?) No…I mean sacrificing precious sleep time, or cleaning the house, or getting projects done when the kids are napping, or after a busy day at the job! Use that time to seek our Heavenly Father instead!
SEEK AND HE WILL SPEAK!
Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
I pray this ministers grace to all that read it! I also pray that I will have a closer walk with the Lord and SEEK HIM with my whole heart!
:o)
Renee,
I'm overwhlemed right now. This devotion & the link to your blog was in my in-box the very day I'm studying Discerning the Voice of God:How to Recognize When God Speaks. Your devotion & blog are just exactly what I needed to hear.
Thank you for sharing! By the way, I clapped for the Lord!
Nikki
SEEK AND HE WILL SPEAK!!
What??? You mean this life isn't all about ME?? …and MY happiness?? LOL!
We often are so busy and distracted by the noise of life, we miss the point! Jesus IS our life!
Joh 17:3 says "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
As a child placing our complete dependence upon Jesus, we can KNOW what He desires from us! Though Jesus came to earth and then ascended into Heaven; He did not leave us alone. He left an incredible person of the trinity to guide EACH of us (THIS is not only a good thing-it is a GOD thing!)…The Holy Spirit!
The problem? We aren't listening to that guidance, or we don't even know how to perceive it is there! One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit works is by His word. Yet, we dismiss it often times, and say "Surely He wouldn't tell me to do that! It is too hard!". In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, we observe:
verse 27 " But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;read through verse 29.
He wants us to DEPEND on Him to accomplish the IMPOSSIBLE! Think of it-an entire human race in need of a Savior with God's eternal wrath abiding on our heads-that is an impossible scenario at best! …But for the grace of GOD!!
Furthermore, God's purpose for our existence is that we should glorify HIM! Our lives are not for us! Our greatest example is JESUS. It is proven over and over, verse by verse-Jesus existed to "do the will of His Father!" (John 5:30) And by this, God achieves His ultimate goal: GLORY! (Col 1:16)
So bearing this daunting task of the believer, and then add to this our particular circumstances, or better known as "trials" as described in the book of James chapter 1:
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness….verse 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all…
IF YOU LACK WISDOM, ASK IT OF GOD! His Glory is a stake! He will honor the request of a child who desires to accomplish HIS will! (and not to "consume it upon our own lusts").
So, we can see, the child of God CAN hear God. We simply need to ask in faith. That may not always result in a trial being lifted…or the impossible tasks of life being removed from our path. Instead, we should EXPECT these things as a part of our walk-God's word spells it out! (1Peter 4:12)
Enter the Holy Spirit…He is there for the child of God as we walk forward in this journey.
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Joh 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
HE dwells in YOU! And in ME! We just have to earnestly seek Him in faith…He will speak. He will empower us by His word.
If we are SEEKING, He will be SPEAKING!
When I say seeking, I don't mean a cursory prayer that we "say" sitting at the computer while doing FB…(why do I know about that?) No…I mean sacrificing precious sleep time, or cleaning the house, or getting projects done when the kids are napping, or after a busy day at the job! Use that time to seek our Heavenly Father instead!
SEEK AND HE WILL SPEAK!
Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
I pray this ministers grace to all that read it! I also pray that I will have a closer walk with the Lord and SEEK HIM with my whole heart!
:o)
SEEK AND HE WILL SPEAK!!
What??? You mean this life isn't all about ME?? …and MY happiness?? LOL!
We often are so busy and distracted by the noise of life, we miss the point! Jesus IS our life!
Joh 17:3 says "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
As a child placing our complete dependence upon Jesus, we can KNOW what He desires from us! Though Jesus came to earth and then ascended into Heaven; He did not leave us alone. He left an incredible person of the trinity to guide EACH of us (THIS is not only a good thing-it is a GOD thing!)…The Holy Spirit!
The problem? We aren't listening to that guidance, or we don't even know how to perceive it is there! One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit works is by His word. Yet, we dismiss it often times, and say "Surely He wouldn't tell me to do that! It is too hard!". In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, we observe:
verse 27 " But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong… (read through verse 29).
He wants us to DEPEND on Him to accomplish the IMPOSSIBLE! Think of it-an entire human race in need of a Savior with God's eternal wrath abiding on our heads-that is an impossible scenario at best! …But for the grace of GOD!!
Furthermore, God's purpose for our existence is that we should glorify HIM! Our lives are not for us! Our greatest example is JESUS. It is proven over and over, verse by verse-Jesus existed to "do the will of His Father!" (John 5:30) And by this, God achieves His ultimate goal: GLORY! (Col 1:16)
So bearing this daunting task of the believer, and then add to this our particular circumstances, or better known as "trials" as described in the book of James chapter 1:
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness….verse 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all…
IF YOU LACK WISDOM, ASK IT OF GOD! His Glory is a stake! He will honor the request of a child who desires to accomplish HIS will! (and not to "consume it upon our own lusts").
So, we can see, the child of God CAN hear God. We simply need to ask in faith. That may not always result in a trial being lifted…or the impossible tasks of life being removed from our path. Instead, we should EXPECT these things as a part of our walk-God's word spells it out! (1Peter 4:12)
Enter the Holy Spirit…He is there for the child of God as we walk forward in this journey.
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Joh 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
HE dwells in YOU! And in ME! We just have to earnestly seek Him in faith…He will speak. He will empower us by His word.
If we are SEEKING, He will be SPEAKING!
When I say seeking, I don't mean a cursory prayer that we "say" sitting at the computer while doing FB…(why do I know about that?) No…I mean sacrificing precious sleep time, or cleaning the house, or getting projects done when the kids are napping, or after a busy day at the job! Use that time to seek our Heavenly Father instead!
SEEK AND HE WILL SPEAK!
Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
I pray this ministers grace to all that read it! I also pray that I will have a closer walk with the Lord and SEEK HIM with my whole heart!
:o)
My 25 year old daughter and I have been having this very discussion in the last couple of days. She and I both stuggle with knowing if its just our own wishes or if God is truly talking to us.Losing the faith is not something we want to do but need some help. I would love to win the "How do I know if it's God Speaking to Me?" so that we can learn together to HEAR God clearly. I love the messages that I have read today and can't wait to read more…Keep up the great work!
God Bless
Nona
I've read thru several comments and they sound so similar to what I have been going thru! I believe there is so much spiritual warfare going on right now! Satan would like nothing more than to take us all down! It is such a hard battle!! However Satan is VANQUISHED and JESUS IS KING!!
~Heather
I sure could use this book and would enjoy sharing it with others in my mom group. We talk this subject the other day. I feel this would help me in learning more so when I study God's word and pray to Him I will be able to hear and understand better.
I struggle with hearing God's promptings and then going on with my day as usual. Not intentionally including him in my every thought and decision. It takes alot of purposeful thinking and chosing. Which I need to do way more of. thanks for the great thought provoking devotional.
would love to read the book by Lysa. email is [email protected]
thanks again,
Beth
I've found that the closer I get to God, the better I can "hear" Him. And it is always a wonderful surprise when an outsider reaffirms what you know God is telling you. I would really like to win this book. It was actually saved in my shopping cart when I found out my husband lost his job- so I haven't been able to buy it yet!
Thank you for being such an encouragement.
-Jennifer
[email protected]
This is so God's timing. This has been on my mind for the last couple of weeks. Thank you for your encouragement!
Bridgett,
If you say you are "giving away a free book" why dont you also say under what conditions instead of trying to deceive people who can not afford to put food on the table that you are really giving something away? very disappointed in what I thought was a "true woman of God"– guess I should listen more closely to God too
I am alone in my walk with God in that my husband is not a believer, therefore when it comes to difficult decisions regarding family, our business, how to handle situations, instead of trusting God to answer, my mind gets all filled up with how to even have discussions about major decisions because we look at life so differently. He, my husband, believes he is the one in control, where I know in my heart God is in control. So my listening for Gods direction get interrupted with fear, anxiety and knowing my strengh always seems to wane.
I can so relate to your blog posting today. Often times I feel like in order to "hear" God, I need him to put a big flashing neon sign in front of me!
This is an area in which I need a lot of help! I feel completely lost most of the time. I think I'm listening, but never really sure.
whenever GOD speaks to me He always reveals to me thru certain situations confirming what it is He wants me to know. My problem is sometimes I dont pay as much attention as I should to His prompting!!!! Thanks for your insight for one thing I will always know is He will never leave me or forsake me!!! To GOD be the glory!!!
Knowing if it's God's voice or my thoughts is always a struggle, but your last 4 points in the blog were helpful. I'm going to put them on an index card and keep it with me. In the past I've learned that consistency in the thought is usually from God and I try to step out of the way so He can speak to affirm what I think it is He's saying. I am beginnig a discipleship group at church and I wll lean on this as I seek to do what the Lord wants more than "leaning on my own understanding". Thank you for all you and your team of women do at P31!
I can not keep my mind still enough to know it God is speaking to me or not. Sometimes I am emotionally moved by things I hear or read but I can not say that it is anything other than feelings. I would love to read your book and develop a relationship that I need with the God who loves me.
I am right in the middle of seeking God for some direction in my life regarding my career and this so spoke to me. I do struggle with time and giving more of it to Him so that I can hear from Him. Thank you for the encouragement! [email protected].
Lana
I am approaching that "middle-age" part of life where I have found myself questioning who I am. My children will be graduating from high school in the next few years and I am struggling just to figure out my identity as my role as "mom" will soon change. Like you said, in the past I have gotten glimpses of God's plan and moved forward in my own strength without His direction only to find I was going nowhere and that I was very frustrated in the process. I feel like I am swimming upstream and struggle has become a way of life. Maybe like Jacob wrestling with God? I want more, I want a much deeper relationship with the Lord and to know I am choosing each moment to walk by His side assisting Him in His work, not mine. I just feel like I am walking in the dark, although I know He is always with me.
Blessings,
Terri
This is exactly what I have been praying about! It seems that every time I get my devotion from Proverbs 31 it is exactly what I have needed. Thank you for your ministry and being a vessel for the Lord!
I have been praying for God to help me be a better listener to what he wants of me. Today my email is about this subject. I think I am on the right path.
One of my "annual goals" this year is to improve my prayer life, specifically to speak less & listen more. As I was reading your devotional about listening to God, I came to where you talk about “asking God what He wanted me to do…then went about doing that without depending on Him….” I am certain that the Lord used you to speak to my heart. So often I have done the same thing in regard to my area of ministry. I thought I was relying on Him completely; I just didn’t see that I wasn’t, until now. I have been praying about my future in ministry. I think know what I’m supposed to do; now I need to continue praying & rely on Him to get me there. Thank you for being obedient to His calling on your life. L. Brewer
This is my first day to read your daily email and I am so happy my sister recommended this site to me.
I am struggling, at 59 years old, to find my purpose and what God's Will is for me.
I've raised 4 kids, I have 7 granddaughters and another grandchild on the way, I have been successful as a copywriter and in public relations in the past, but was downsized and haven't found a creative outlet since then. I'm currently working part time and very unsatisfied with my life as it is.
I know God has a higher purpose, or calling for me, but I cannot seem to find it in my heart yet.
Maybe He is still preparing me?
Thank you for being here. I look forward to receiving her emails each day from now on. (Another) Mary
I think this is one of the hardest areas in our Christian walk and that is listening to God and knowing is this really God talking to me? I enjoy and agree with the questions you lay out to ask ourselves. Also, to just pray, pray and pray again!! Thank you for your words of encouragement
I have been having great difficulty with my children (20, 19 and 16) and the direction that their lives are taking. I ask God to help guide them and help them to make wise decisions. I keep hearing "Let Go and Let God" in my mind but Im not sure if it's Him or me. I see it in books, stores, etc. And I wonder, is he telling me this or is it me telling myself this? I am so confused and feel lost. I feel like a horrible parent not knowing what to do. I have spoken to him regarding other issues and I know when He speaks to me via confirmation through a timely Proverbs 31 Ministries, Verse of the Day or even passages in the Bible. But when it comes to my kids, I dont know what Im hearing.
Just got the daily devotional, and truly needed it today. My husband and I have major decisions to make, and it was the perfect message for me to hear! What a blessing!!
This is definitely a question that I have a lot. Sometimes I do think that I am being prompted by the Spirit to do something. Othertimes, I am afraid it is just my desire taking wing and not really wanting the Lord to possibly change that desire. Very unsettling place to be. So thankful to have found your blog and to know that there are others who express the same problems but desire to have the same outcome: to hear His voice and to be obedient to His desires for me. Thank you.
I just took a new job and I had the same question for God, "is this what I should be doing?" I felt it in my heart that this is where He wanted me to go at this time even though it was not a pay raise and actually not as convenient for travel. I think God wants me here to make a diference somehow with my work or somethin else in my life.
It sounds like I am not alone in my struggles. I know God speaks to me thru you ladies. My dear friend and I share your devo back and forth when we know the timimg of a particular message resonates in either of our lives. Oh and how I thank you for your words. I also struggle with knowing if what is going on in my mind is me, or God. Thank you for the breakdown on how to test those thoughts to see if they are consistant with what God's word says.
You are all such a Blessing to me !! Janice
Enjoyed reading your blog for the first time today. I also have a difficult time hearing God. Often, I get so wound up in a situation and my feelings and reaction just take over. I am praying that I can learn better skills at listening to God speak to my heart and through situations. I need his leadership and guidance more each day.
Thank You!
Renee you really hit on a topic that alot of us need to fine tune.
Whenever I'm confused I just wait because I had always acted before I thought, I mean really thought about what I say or do. Waiting on the Lord is a challenging task for our fast forward friends,moms, sister, aunts, grandmas etc. There doesn't really seem to be a clear step by step program and if one is presented is that God's will too?
My heart went out to Tracey after reading her comment. I had been in a previously similar situation and found the best answer was to seek help by exploring other church options, Celebrate Recovery for example. The church I had left had served God's purpose for me and now it was time to move on and heal. I do miss the old but God directed me to a new. This might be something Gods asking you to do, I don't know for sure though sweet sister. It's hard but He can do anything!!
There could just be what we need waiting for us on the other side of the furnace!
See you soon Renee!
I have a hard time listening to God…I hear Him but don't listen. This year I really want to be able to hear Him. Thank you for the great devotion today!
Kim Abbott
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Your message today really hits home. I started this year on a mission to quiet my thoughts and focus on those still small voice moments that I feel like I have been missing. Thank you so much for your message today.
I have trouble often with this certain area in my spiritual journey. When I think it is God speaking to me. I have two questions I ask myself "Is this something I want to do on my own?" or "Is this biblical?"
If I do go on with whatever thought is in my head, I often pray to God through the process to ask him if this is his will to open doors, or if it is not, to close the doors immediately.
Your message today really hits home. I started this year on a mission to quiet my thoughts and focus on those still small voice moments that I feel like I have been missing. Thank you so much for your message today.
Reading this really opened my eyes and my heart. God has spoken to me in many ways. Through people and dreams. But I've never heard the, whispering in the ear talk while I'm awake that I've heard so many people talk about. I desperately need his guidance. I need to know the difference. I have the same feelings like the blog from Tracy. I'm so confused and not sure of the church I'm at is where I'm supposed to be at, my marriage is hanging by a thread, and my kids are the ones suffering. Satan has me tied to the railroad tracks and I feel like I can't get out of this.