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!
Before I went to work at age 55 it was a lot easier to sit and listen and spend time in the word. I find since I went to work and now have grandchildren close it is a lot harder to find time to get into the word, exercise, etc as I would like to and did before I went to work. Yet I know God led me to this job and he wants me here. What I do find is setting my alarm earlier in am I lay in bed and have some prayer time with him but I feel that is not enough. Thank you for your encouragement and listening.
My pastor's wife once told me that if you never tell God no you'll have an amazing life. She's a living testimony so I was all ready to go until the first thing God told me was to write a letter of apology to someone. I put it off for a bit, but finally complied. It was freeing. There were some other unpleasant assignments along the way, but I was feeling growth. Finally, God clearly spoke (exactly through all the ways you listed) something I *loved* hearing…he called us to adopt. We have been seeking his direction every step of the way and are now waiting to bring our son and daughter home!!!
Wow, so many of us are in the same place. My voice, God's voice, the enemy's voice, distractions, etc. It brings me encouragement that I am not alone in this struggle to be sure I hear God's voice, and yet I still want an immediate loud and clear on so many things. We are teaching our K6 kids this concept and I feel like I am most inadequate to teach this, but it appears I am just as average as the rest. I am thankful His mercies are new each day.
Everyone in my family looks to me to keep my chin up and have that cheery disposition. Due to several things going on in our lives I have become weary. I do not know how else to explain it. I have given God my burdens and concerns. I know he is supreme. And I desire that his will be done. But I am still weary. Your message hit the spot today. Thank you!
Thank you for your devo today, Renee. It grabbed from the first sentence. Among many struggles this is one and also the doing doing doing. Your devo is so jammed packed with truth that I think I'll need to read it several times and let it all sink in but the one I'm letting sink in now is that the Father doesn't want all the stuff to do with me (calendars, efforts, etc), he wants me. Although He choses to work through us, He doesn't really "need" me to accomplish what he wants in the world, what he wants first and foremost is ME. What a word of love to let sink in today. Then, when I'm ready and it's his time, I can do for Him want he wants in obedience to him. Thank you for your words and efforts. I hope the manuscript went well.
Renee,
Let me first start out by saying that I have heard God's voice, from a very young age of eight years old, it is a great testimony!
One day my aunt started teaching me about the bible, and I did not understand how there could be a God upstairs! She said, pray for him to reveal himself to you and he will! So one day I got on my knees and prayed that if he really existed to reveal himself to me, so I heard his voice and he asked me, do you want to ask me for something? and I said yes! I was living in a communist country at the time, that being Cuba, and the communists had taken my father away, and my mother would be sad every day, so I told Jesus that I wanted to leave Cuba some day soon.
He, then asked me, when would you like to leave, and I answered him August 26, August, being my birthday month and 26 being my favorite number at the time. I prayed this prayer in April, and guess what? August 26 came around and my family and I left Cuba on that day! I then went and shared this great testimony with my parents! I also recently prayed for my boyfriend to be saved because he had been very unfaithful to me and we both started going to church and last weekend he got baptized! I know that God answers and hears our prayers but we have to continually seek him with all our hearts every day! I just found P31 website today, and what a blessing it is to be able to share my story with other christian women as encouragement that God does hear our prayers when we choose to walk with him!
Blessings to you all!
Mary
thank you so much for the devotion on the proverbs 31 site. It has encouraged me today. I have struggled with not being good enough to serve for some time and am just now starting to step out and up for God. I'm trying to follow Him and not get carried away with my own desires. It is my hearts desire that God be gloried in everything I do. thanks again.
Wanda
I too struggle to know if I am hearing from God or if it just my thoughts and feelings. Occasionally I think I might be hearing something so I ask God to speak louder or somehow make it more clear if it is Him speaking to me! This is so timely in my life as I have just been really grappling with this over the past few weeks. I really want to hear from God and be a good listener because I truly want to be obedient to Him. I would love more thoughts, ideas, truths, encouragement on this matter!
This is exactly my weak point….determining if it's me or God. Sometimes I do what I think He is telling me to do, but nothing happens so then I think it must have been my thoughts and not His.
This is exactly my weak point….determining if it's me or God. Sometimes I do what I think He is telling me to do, but nothing happens so then I think it must have been my thoughts and not His.
When I think about the question "How Do I know if it's God Speaking to Me the one verse that keeps coming to my mind is: "Be Still and know that I am God."
Discerning God's voice – that's a tough one. I would love to be so "in tune" with God that I could know for sure what His will is in any given situation. How is that possible?
thanks for the post and giveaway.
Being of His sheep I am supposed to be able to recognize his voice as He guides me, but do I recognize His voice? Sadly, no not always. Sometimes I know I have but not nearly as often as I'd like. I don't like when I get the feeling that I'm missing a clue that I've probably already been given. Thankfully, He is always patient and will remind me over and over when I need it, much like I have to do with my energetic, curious 3yr old daughter. Like her, I usually do eventually get it, I just might take the long way around or have to start over. In any case, He is building a story in me that will bring Him Glory.
I was just praying about this today, if I really head God's voice speaking to me about my health. I'm about to have biopsy on Friday and I need the reassurance that it was really Him and not my thoughts alone. If y'all can pray with me about this, I'd appreciate it.
This was a message that I needed to see on today…I have been wondering and asking myself for the last few weeks do I really hear from God or are my thoughts overpowering his voice. This devotion today lets me know that he is and has been speaking to me because the devotions and scriptures that I have been studying over the last two weeks have been right on point with what is going on in my life. I just need to turn down the volume of life and listen to the suttle suggestions of the Spirit!
Thank you for sharing what God layed on your heart. I too have been struggling with knowing what is God's versus my thoughts. Thank you for the questions..I will ask those myself..and I know that I need to study His word more! Thank you for the scriptures and resources as well.
Thanks for this week's devotion. I've been in holding pattern for a few months. I know God has slowed me down to 'Be Still' and know and listen. Sometimes hard for the Martha in me to sit down and become more Mary like :-)I know His plans are best – thanks for the reminder that when I trust in Him His mercy is not far behind. Pray that I am granted eyes to see and ears to hear His leading.
Thanks!
René
I love your devotion, Renee! This is something I've struggled with for many, many years. Is this thought my own or is it a prompting from God? Like you, there have been times when it has been, w/o a doubt, God's prompting but He was prompting me to do something beyond my comfort zone…like publically share my testimony or reach out to someone I'd rather distance myself.
Thanks for your encouragement and advice!
Amy V. in WI
Interesting how I posted on my wall today how confused I am, but waiting on God. And then I open my email to my Encouragement devotion that lead me here. It's my marriage, my 5 children, my devotion to God and what He would have me to do, to think, to apply, etc… After 2 years of my husband and father to our 5 children walked away, I'm still trying to know what God wants me to do. Still married, but he just told me he has no intentions of coming back after just 3 months ago, telling me he wanted to come home. It's been like a ping-pong game and I'm emotionally and physically exhausted, yet evenso I have no desire to go against anything God wants to happen here – but what is that exactly? I have experienced complete brokeness which brought me extremely close to God and have stayed close to His side ever since. . . now what? I would do and be anything He so chooses if I could only know what that is. All I want and all I will ever want is His will.
Renee,
I lost my job this past year and have gone back to doing nursing and am seriously thinking about getting my BSN for nursing. I have really felt God leading me when I let him and listen to him and your daily emails have really given me direction and support and I thank you for that. I do have a nursing job and it seems to be working out better each day with God leading the way. Thanks so much. Doreen
I am going through a difficult time with my 23 year old son. He has taken so many wrong paths. I have prayed and prayed and I just don't see God answering or giving my son guidance. I know Satan has a very strong hold on my son I just pray that my son finds God. He knows the Bible has a wonderful heart but he chooses flesh over God. I know in my heart God has a plan for my son. His Father and I are divorced and I have a wonderful and supportive husband now and I thank God everyday for him. I am a mother that just begs for peace for my son. He has had many addictions and continues with the drinking I just pray that one day he will hate the taste of alochol and be able to help others with the same issues. I have begged God daily for years to help I know he is there I just want my son and I to hear from him.
I don't always know when God is speaking to me and I would love to know. I would love to hear that I am on the right path as my days have been crazy with a recent separation and pending divorce from my abusive husband.
This is the first time I have commented on a blog and the first time reading this blog. I found you through Encouragement Today at Proverbs 31.
Wanting and needing to hear his word.
Thanks, Renee. I don't have time to read everyone's blogs, but I felt the need to click over and read yours after that wonderful P31 message today. I like the questions you posted and they will be very helpful. I'd like to add that when God is talking to me, I seem to feel it in my gut. If I ignore him, I will usually read, hear, or see something a second or third time sometimes in the same day or over a few weeks or more. Instinctually, I just know it's Him when this happens. After your post, I followed your application steps. I went into my quiet time and awakened refreshed 3 hours later. I have my quiet time every day and stay awake and today I crashed for hours. I obviously needed the rest and He thought so, too. What a refreshing sleep, too! Now, back to your application steps…
Renee, you hit the nail on the head. As a first born daughter, I desire order, having the answers, planning, organizing, etc. I often have difficulty discerning that still small voice. I also sometimes catch myself thinking that God maybe has forgotten my struggles with spiritual, emotional and financial needs and that other people's needs are more important to Him. I am on a journey to read the New Testament in 2011. but I have trouble remembering what I've read and identifying the truths I can apply to my life. I am begging God as the song says, "Word of God Speak."
Thank you for your "realness" and for sharing and encouraging me.
This is exactly what I needed today. I have started my own business and am trying very hard to listen to where the Lord is leading me and my family. My husbands job is not going as well as before and we are both trying to listen to God and where he is leading us! Thank you for reminding me to really listen to Him.
Great devotional! I certainly want to hear Gods' voice!
[email protected]
One current struggle is that I thought I had a clear path of where my dear Father wanted me to go with regards to my health treatment. I was so "sure" He wanted me to choose a particular path. However, months later it is failing and I'm a bit perplexed, fearful, ill yet again, and near crushed. I now wonder if it really was Him I was listening to. How would I know? Because it worked? Failed? Was it really Him, or was it my desire clouding my discernment? Does He send us down a failing path as part of a lesson or for our personal growth? I desperately want to be healthy, but the doctor's path is so riddled with dangers… and I don't have much time to make the decision.
I'm confused again about how He communicates with me personally. I went to His Word and, of course, found very gloomy verses ~ LOL ~ taking them personally, of course.
I would love to know what the author's wisdom on discerning the voice of our Daddy is in this book.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
Blessings to all who struggle!
Katherinej
vikingjob at yahoo dot com
I loved reading that you too sometimes think you know what God wants. I have gotten somewhat complacent and don't stop to listen when God is talking to me. I have often said if you don't listen to God speaking to you, he may turn down the volume. I am currently in the best place I have ever been in my life, but my intimate relationship with God feels distant. I needed to hear what you had to say today. Thank you.
Michelle-GJ Colorado
All too often I try to deal with things in my life without taking it to God first. I always think I have the answers that that I can handle anything. Deep down I know life is so much easier if God is the center of it. I have often struggled with knowing whether I hear God talking to me, or if it's my own thoughts, conscience, etc. I want to say yes to God, to develop a deeper relationship with Him and to allow Him to lead my life! The Proverbs 31 devotions are always so enlightening and are usually very appropriate to things going on in my life.
It's me Debbie again. I don't know too much about this software so I am not sure if I correctly entered your contest. I suppose I should leave an account. I hope I did this right.
It's been awhile since I've read my Encouragement for Today daily devotionals. I normally read two other devotionals on a regular basis and stop there. Today, however, I felt lead to read Encouragement. I'm so thankful that I did.
I've been battling scattered thoughts during prayer, readint, sleeping for years and believed I had no control over them. I have hope now after readng P31 January 18, 2011 devotional, "How Do I Know If It's GOD Speaking To Me." I totally relate to everything that is mentioned about staing focused and confusing my thoughts for GODs' or praying for His intervention over a matter and then taking over only to find myself in a worse predicament.
I can't wait to read the remainder of the devotional and to get a copy of Lysa Terkeurst book, "When Women say YES to GOD". I desire to be a woman after GODs heart and to have the same mind a CHRIST when He said, "The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees the His Father doing, because whater the Father does the Son does also. (Jn 5:19). That's the attitude and obedience I desire.
GOD BLESS YOUR P31 MINISTRY, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
In His Name,
Debra B.
I too have a hard time figuring out whether God is speaking or me thinking what I want. Most often it is because I am in a hurry for an answer.
This is my first time ever seeing anything like this. I happen to come across this in a pivotal time in my life. It is a very long story. But I really would like your book. I want to be the mother and wife God wants me to be. But I believe my own thoughts interfere with God's voice. I am on the verge of a divorce, although I know that is not in God's will. I am confused. Neither I nor my husband have been the best parents. As a matter of fact we are in a homeless shelter and our children are with my aunt. We have both since been babtized at a church we now attend. We have also become members of this church. I continually seek the will of God for fear of anymore damage to my family. I don't want to make any wrong decisions and don't trust my own discernment seeing where it has gotten me. I know that God can help me and I know He has already. All morning I have been seeking His counsel. Then I came across your e-mail and your giveaway. Please consider me for your book but if not maybe you can direct me to some resouces. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Debbie
Every morning I asked God to quiet my mind, so that I can hear him speak. I ask him to guide my thoughts and actions through out the day. I often wonder as you've stated is it him or me. I think when it's him it comes out of no where, without any thought of my own on the subject. I've learned that I need to be obedient and if he places a word or thought on my heart I need to trust that is what he want's me to say or do. May your ministry recieve many Blessings, Lola
Thank you for the encouragement today. I will check back on friday to read more.
[email protected]
I've been learning that when I hear from God and act on it, I'll never be disappointed…it's a win- win!!! Amy ([email protected])
Thank You very much for this word it was very timely for me as well. In my much younger days before I was bombarded by the demands of being an "adult" I could hear the father's voice with unfaltering clarity but in my haste to grow up and be more responsible hearing the fathers voice became a second, sometimes third priority to all of the other “adult responsibilities” I had enlisted for: such as becoming a new bride, being a non-traditional college student, a store manager, a mom etc..
With all my newfound responsibilities My fathers’ voice started to become clouded out his voice, the peace, the clarity and the wisdom that seemed to appear almost magically out of nowhere especially when I needed it most.
It was so second nature that I EXPECTED to have clarity, wisdom and peace about all of the important life decisions that I felt I needed to make happen so when I started to lose them I didn’t find fault with myself.
I found fault with the father and began to question him about why my life was not like he promised or liked his word promised and liked all good parents he ever so gently reminded me that he left all of the decisions up to me because I told him that I didn’t need him for this decision or for that decision.
So like all parents he moved out of the way and began to wait for the day and time that I would need his help again!! And if you’re a parent then you know that it was soon than rather than later.
From reading all the other comments I am glad to hear that I am not the only one to struggle with discerning God's will in my life! This is my first time reading this blog and it's very encouraging to find that we all have the same struggles. I think that having a HUNGER to listen to God's will is important and I am certainly in prayer for everyone else and for myself for following this desire to do God's will. I trust that He will let it be known to us, as He prevails above all.
In our modern, high-tech world nowadays, God should just get an email account and send us an email DETAILING what we are supposed to do. LOL!!
I know God is speaking when i hear a versr of encouragement and I hear it three or more times from different sources in the same day or week.
I struggle with the thought if God is speaking to me. There have been times I know He has spoken to me to help someone else, however I run away from what He wants me to do. Many times He wants me to tell my life story and my struggles and all I do is run. I knew that God wanted me to tell a friend of mine that she needed to give her whole life to God, but for months I didn't, because I didn't want to upset her. She has had a lot of turmoil in her life with her daughter, son and husband. I kept asking my husband to pray for her and a couple of weeks ago, he responded that God sent me to tell her to start relying on God and trusting Him and find a church to go to. I finally told her, but at the same time I feared she would be mad at me for telling her. She told me that she felt she needed to rely on God and that she was glad that I told her, even though she knew all alone.
I no longer want to question God when He has called me to do something. He wants my whole heart and I want to give Him the glory in my life. I no longer want to be afraid of my major health problems, where I am to work as a teacher, our finances, my son, or anything else that has been troubling me. I want to put my trust in God and know without a doubt He is with me every step of the way.
I'm afraid I don't know how to listen to God anymore. Once on a spiritual high and now drowning in despair, loneliness, discontentment, . . . Thank you for sharing today. It is a good starting point for me.
I know that when I hear from God I have a quiet assurance in my heart. when I question what I have heard or feel uneasy of just anxious I wait.
thanks for the devotion.
I know that when I hear from God I have a quiet assurance in my heart. when I question what I have heard or feel uneasy of just anxious I wait.
thanks for the devotion.
Dear Renee,
Here I am again posting my comment for the first time after inadvertently delting it…Satan is a liar! Yes, He is and I am going to put him to shame as I write to let you know that your devotion today has certainly encouraged me and has helped me to realise that I have been confusing my own thinking with what I God is saying or not saying. Like many of us, we long for that Peter experience but would not dare get out of the boat and lounge into the deep for we are not hearing that voice that says 'You're safe" How can I be absolutely certain that I am not confusing God speaking with my own thinking. How do I follow through with what I think is a clear revealation of what God is leading me to as a ministry to encourage and restore lives. This experience occured yesterday morning while eating an apple, and the feelings and the connected thoughts have been with me all along; again today, I've been encouraged through your devotion along with others. As I intend to be obedient, I've followed your application steps for today to let Him disrupt my day and here I am sharing my thoughts on your blog…somethig I have never done before…let's see where He's leading me with this. Our steps are order by Him who has the plan in his hands, and so I am following. I give God thanks for you and the wonderful and amazing work He is using you to do. I pray for his continued guidance, unmerited grace and mercies on you and your family as you continue your journey. God bless.
Much Love,
Arlene
renee,
I have found that listening to God does bring goodness and a closeness with God.I go down this journey following him looking to him .Then I find myself wandering away from his presence .Hearing God is essential if I want peace and a close relationship with him.my life has been filled with hurt,pain and brokeness .I have spent my life around abuse finding out the truth was very devestating .your parents are supposed to nuture you protect you and give you the love you need to grow healthy and mature.but as
I grow fiding purpose in my life .how difficult I find it at times to really hear God .relizing that reading God's word is most important that's where I truly hear him speaking to me .through all the chaios the demands of being a mom .finding a quiet place and meditating on his word shuting out all other voices .I know it takes faith to hear God and when I do hear him I sense his presence,and feel his peace that surpasses all understanding .I would like to say thank you so much for encouragment today I have been reading the devotionls for the past year off and on I have been so blessed and encouraged .God truly is speaking to me through these devotionals .I'm so happy I found proverbs 31 ministries .hugs geri
after my battle with breast cancer last year I have been asking God "what is it I am to do now"? I am unemployed, developed a chronic pain syndrom from surgery, and the medicine I am on now leaves me with a hazey dazed feeling alot. So Lord I need to hear you loudly to get through all of this" I am still waiting! I hope that your book can help me to figure it out!
Rebecca M from Ohio
I just recently signed up for daily emails and this message could not have come at a more prevalent time for me!
I believe that when God speaks to us and tells us the way in which to go it is for our own benefit! But, and its a big but, us actually listening and being obedient to His calling on our lives is where "we" fall short!
I have been working hard on this thing we call obedience to what God is telling me and it is always the absolute hardest thing to do because when He is telling me to do something is is generally something I really do not want to do!! He has called me to start an outreach ministry in my community for those who are sexually and relationally broken, and "I" really do not feel like I am the right person for the job, in other words I keep trying to tell God that He had got it all wrong! I am still being obedient in what He is telling me to do but I am absolutely scared to death! But I desire to be used by Him!
I am also engaged to a man and have had no peace regarding this engagement. The more I pray the less peace I have had and I know I need to call things off with him, but being obedient to that is a tough thing to follow through on! I know that God will bless both of us through my obedience but I just keep dragging my feet!
I truly believe that when God speaks we should listen and trust because "He has plans to prosper and not harm" no matter how much we may dread doing something when we obey God He will always bless us!
Good grief….I just preached to myself!! =0)
Rejoice Always,
Amy
Thank you for your timely post. Lately, it seems as if my thoughts, Bible reading, my preacher's sermons are all closely related. Since I am still not exactly sure what God wants me to do, I am praying for clarity and God's direction. Your post came at just the right time.
Michelle J.
I want to become a person who listens, hears, and then does what I hear God telling me. I also am someone who questions if what I am hearing is what I want or really God at work in me.