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!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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
[email protected]
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.