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 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!