Welcome friends! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit. If you found your way here through my P31 Encouragement for Today devotion, “Living in the Hear and Now,” I’m so glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll stay a while and make yourself comfortable.
One of my deepest desires is to be a woman who listens to God. But, I don’t always get it right. Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s God talking or just me thinking. Ever wondered that?
I also I admit, I’m not always crazy about what I sense God telling me to do. Yet I’ve learned over the years that when I listen to God, I discover His best for me. And I grow in my trust in Him.
I’ve seen again and again that His ways lead to His goodness. And when I follow Him, His mercy follows me.
As I shared in my devotion today, I went through a season of learning how to really listen closely so that I could experience a day by day abiding in God’s presence and plans. I thought I’d been listening to Him all along, but my prayers reflected that I wanted to know where to invest my efforts. In a still small voice God showed me that He wanted my ears more than my efforts.
He was more concerned about character than my calendar. I realized that many times I’d sought God for the larger plans in life, convinced that if I figured out what He wanted me to do I could become the person He created me to be.
Have you ever thought, “If only God would show me what job to take; what man to marry; what church to attend – then my life would be complete and I could serve Him with my whole heart”?
The problem is sometimes we get a glimpse of where He wants us to go and then assume we know how to get there. I’ve made that mistake many times and then wondered why I wasn’t getting anywhere.
Jesus depended on the Father for the large and fine print written in His life plan. He listened closely and obeyed quickly. John 5:19 reflects His absolute dependence: “The Son can do nothing by Himself; he can do only what He sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also.”
Like Jesus, we will discover God’s purpose for our lives through dependent hearts that seek to listen to His. We will find out what’s on God’s calendar and part of our calling when we live in the hear and now – listening for His voice and obeying it each day, in every here and now.
Questions to Consider
- Do I read my Bible so that God’s words and ways are familiar to me?
- Do I intentionally listen for God’s voice or do I assume I know what He wants me to do?
- If God were to speak to me, would I recognize His voice?
- Is my mind so full of worries that my thoughts drown out the possibility of hearing God’s thoughts?
Steps to Take
- Take time now to quiet your heart and your thoughts.
- Be still and acknowledge that God is God and you are not.
- Tell God your desire to hear Him today and then ask Him to speak to your heart.
- Share with Him your plans for the day and then ask Him to show you His.
- Give God permission to interrupt your thoughts and agenda and lead you in a different direction if He wants to.
- Get ready for a day filled with adventure and companionship as you walk hand in hand with your Maker.
Verses to Ponder
1 Samuel 3:10, “The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Psalm 119:16, “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
John 14:31, “But the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”
Isaiah 55:2-3, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live….”
Isaiah 50:4, “The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”
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.
I’m giving a copy away to one of you this week! It’s one of my all time favorite books and it kept me inspired to keep my promise to God that I will live in the hear and now! To enter to win, click on the word “comments’ right below this post and share your thoughts or questions about listening to God. Please include your email so I can find you if you win. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Anything. Just talk to me…I’m listening :0). I love reading what you have to say!
And be sure to come back tomorrow! I’ll be talking more about listening to God and offering a great free resource to help you discern His voice from your own. If you’re new, I want you to know there’s a place for you here and I’d love for you to join us! You can subscribe to updates via email in my sidebar, link up in the Google Friend Connect box or become a friend on Facebook!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I know that I have a hard time just slowing down my life, and getting quiet enough to even try to hear God speaking to me. Somethign I'm going to try to concentrate on is reducing all that I think I have to do, because I'm not really going to "miss out" on anything if I don't run myself ragged trying to do everything possible. In that way, I can slow down enough to get pay attention to what God is saying to me!
thanks for your encouragement and verses to ponder!
I really enjoyed your devotion today. I know that I get too concerned with what is on my calendar and I need to be more concerned with what God would have me doing. Thanks for the reminder to listen.
I really enjoyed your devotion today. I know I get too concerned with my calendar and I need to be more concerned with His. Thanks for the reminder to listen.
I too struggle with listening and obeying in the little things. I have had words and visions from God on some of the biggest things in my life and I manage- most of the time- to be very faithful to them, but in the everyday steps I am not always as immediately obedient as I want to be. Thank you for the reminder today that it is in the small steps that we truly show our obedience and are forever changed.
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I read the P31 devo most every day, but this is my first visit to your blog. Love it! May God bless you for your faithfulness in obeying Him through your encouraging words to your readers. This is a message I can definitely stand to hear! With homeschooling and raising 6 kiddos I find myself getting consumed with the busyness of life and the tyranny of the urgent. I need to slow down and listen to God – not merely read my daily devo, and shoot up my perfunctory prayer, so that I can get on with my daily to-do's. Thank you Renee, and nice to "meet" you!
I really needed to "hear" that today! These daily inspirations somehow manage to speak directly to me! Thanks for sharing!
I don't always hear what God is telling me unless he is basically screaming it in my ear. I've been focusing on listing and being patient more. God has been dealing me when it comes to gossiping. I get excited when people wnat to gossip to me and God quietly tells me to change the subject. Talk about something else. Obedience is something I am working on. I hear him now but obeying is another vice I must overcome.
[email protected]
I'm dealing with this very issue in my life right now. As a wife, mother of two, full-time Financial Controller, MOPS Coordinator, small business owner, AWANA nursery worker (wow I'm tired just typing all of that), I've come to realize that it's time to stop and LISTEN to God. Over the last couple weeks God keeps whispering to me that my number one ministry is to my family. God has also told me over and over again that I cannot serve my family if I'm not home to do so. He may have been telling me this for quite some time but I have FINALLY listened. I'm now praying God to show me what HE wants me to give up, which can be so difficult! Thank you for your message!
this was perfect for me to stumble across today…thank you!
[email protected]
I feel like I have a hard time telling when it is my idea or God's. I want so badly to do what the Lord would have me do, and I am so affraid of failure that I spend most days frozen. I have had a few times in my life that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was telling me to do something, but like you said, I think that it is the small things that I struggle with. I have so many good intents and yet I seem to fall short daily. I try to give it to God and somehow I always end up with it right back in my lap. I really want to live each day as it comes serving the Lord, but I spend way too much time worrying about the future, and how not to mess it up. Lately, I have been having this almost crazy thought (that I am not sure is me or God) that the change that I need to make will be radical. Like most people will think that I am crazy. It would be nice to know if I am losing my mind, or I God is really telling me this. On that note, your listening to God message really hit home for me, THANK YOU!!
Amy Holt
[email protected]
In the past three months, I have learned the importance of not only being still and listening for God, but also how important it is to trust and be obedient. My husband of 13 years came home to tell me he was having and affair and wanted a divorce. My world was shattered in that very instant and since then I have clung to God and His word. It was during these last three months, that I for the very first time in my very short 32 years of life felt the presence and heard the voice of God speak to me. I am constantly on my knees asking for Gods guidance, but more importantly I am trying every day to listen for Him. The peace and comfort that comes with knowing and hearing God are some of the greatest gifts any one could receive. One that I am thankful for even at my darkest moment. With 5 children to care for and a husband who is wanting out of our marriage, I find my relationship with Christ growing deeper every day. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to be still and listen for God. Thank you for addressing a topic that at this very moment is near and dear to my heart.
Thank you so much for this wonderful, eye-opening (ear-opening) message! Sometimes I feel I hear God so clearly, yet just this morning, I had to really stop and listen for God. I was making so many plans in the flesh (what I was gonna say, do, feel,and act), when that voice rang through clearly! I immediately felt better, but still I wondered: Is this God's directive? Anyway, your blog was useful and I am going to practice your application steps to better hear from God–and obey!
Thanks!
F. Brown
This was meant for me today. Trying very hard to be patient and listen to God. Not to worry about economy, income, etc. God has it in his control, but it is hard! Praying that I will be patient and wait on his timing, not mine.
[email protected]
Oh Renee…I so needed this today. I am struggling with quieting my mind enough to listen to God. I have been living out of fear and not faith for quite a while now. I have 2 teenagers and an elementary age child, a full-time job, a husband, parents who are aging, and 2 brothers who don't know the Lord. I spend the majority of my time in a state of worry and fear. I don't want to live this way! I want nothing more than to be able to abide in my sweet Lord every day. I just can't seem to hush the voices of worry and doubt in my head for any substantial length of time. I welcome the time of day when I can put everything on hold for just a couple of moments and read the P31 Daily Devotions. I so appreciate you and Lesa and your openness about your own lives and struggles. You have truly been a blessing to me!
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I'm a first time mom and was very overwhelmed in past week with worries and thoughts about everything.My son's changing alot and this is the biggest transition I'd ever face as far as my role as mother. Being disciplinarian was very draining and I was sick of hearing my voice over and over again. I was on my knees asking God for extra strength not only to be patient with my son but also to carry other tasks. My dishes and chores are piling up and I feel so guilty about it. I just took time the other day to quiet down and talk to God about all my worries and plans. He reminded me that whatever I do, I need to seek His hand and let Him guide and help me. I want to hear him in the midst of chaos, chores, and changes in life.
I am a 65 year old "grammie" of 4 great, but ornery, grandkids. I am working on an ssiciate's degree at a local college. Never had the chance when I was young so now that I can, I am! I have always had a hard time listening, because I always had so much to say, but I am learning. It's an on going process. When we stop learning it's because we're dead. So I hope we will all continue to learn.
My friend, Dawn, has pointed me to your e-devotional more than once and they've always been spot-on. Today's message about listening to God in the little things was just the same.
I offer my day to the Lord, but do I offer the hours, the minutes, the moments? Does He lead me through my day as I pray He will, even when I am not supremely conscious of Him?
As a homeschooler and mom of a special needs (medical) child, my hands and heart (and head!) are full … but too full to let Him lead? You challenge me, Renee! And I am thankful for it!
I listen for God all the time since my near death experience. He has help me get reinvolved in my own life in a Godly way. Be still and know that I am God!
Listening to God sometimes can be difficult, especially when you have to cut your quiet time short too fulfill your duties of being a mother, wife, friend, daughter, student, & a member in ministry. We as women need to learn to sit still sometimes to hear God's voice without worrying about the shopping list or what you cooking later. Hearing God's voice for everything we do is very important.
My husband sounds like your husband as far as wanting to be organized but not having the time (or inclination) to do it. I often will be frustrated by it, but when I submit myself and clean it up for him I know God is pleased. Your devo today really touched a chord with me. Being a stay-at-home mom usually feels like a "one-talent" job, but I know it is where God has me right now. Thanks for the encouragement to do the right thing and have the right attitude.
Paula