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 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.
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!