Let’s keep talking about listening to God today. In case you wonder why there are food photos on my blog, it’s because God’s been talking to me in the kitchen lately – showing me things about myself that I didn’t know. Like the fact that I’ve been held back for years by my tendency to avoid chopping fresh vegetables.
See these three guys? They intimidate me.
Many recipes have never graced my kitchen because of them. But recently the cooker “wanna-be” in me decided she was “gonna be” after I posted about myRed Beans & Rice fiasco 17 years ago! The very next day I saw this recipe online:
- 1 pound Dried Red Beans
- 7 cups Water
- 1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
- 1 whole Onion, Chopped
- 3 stalks Celery, Chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped
- ½ pound Andouille or Polish Sausage, Sliced
- 3 Tablespoons Creole Seasoning
- Hot Cooked Rice
Preparation: Place all ingredients except rice in a 4-quart crock pot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 7 hours or until beans are tender. Serve with hot cooked rice and cornbread. Delicious, warm, and your man will love you forever.
I decided it was time for me to reclaim my confidence and my rightful position in the kitchen. I went shopping that very day, feeling so brave and inspired. But then I got home. My determination fizzled. Life got busy. And I couldn’t find a convenient time to cry over chopped onions. I never felt like I was in the mood to pull seeds out of the green pepper, cut the celery or face the dread of burning eyes and running mascara.
My fresh vegetables and my “gonna-be” sat in the refrigerator, getting old and brown.
Last week, I was going out of town and wanted to make a special meal for my family. But I still didn’t want to deal with the green pepper, onion and celery. Then that morning I ran by Target and happened to notice these frozen chopped onions.
Whoever came up with frozen chopped onions is my new hero! And whoever gave me that little veggie chopper I had not used in years, I love you!
Now isn’t that a beautiful sight?Chopped celery never looked so good!
And I did a number on that green pepper too.
Just so you know, that whole onion is back in my fridge.If you live nearby, you can have it. I’m never chopping an onion again!
Not a tear was shed that day. Well, except happy tears when I served up my first successful batch of Red Beans and Rice!
And, just like the recipe said, my man was happy, too!(Disclaimer: I found out ‘cajun’ andouille sausage is really HOT!)
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So what does this have to do with listening to God and discerning His voice? Well, first don’t you just love that in the midst of ordinary life we can stop and ask God to speak to us? To show us something simple or profound…like why our hearts are in an angst or why we’re avoiding vegetables and recipes when we have all the ingredients.
That is what I did, and that day He showed me…
- I avoid things that require something I don’t want to give.
- Dread and procrastination makes every obstacle bigger than it has to be.
- There are always tools and people available to help, if I ask or look for them.
- I need to face challenges head on with more confidence and courage.
- This lesson applies in many areas of my life.
When the answers came, I thanked God for showing them to me. How do I know it was Him? In this case, it didn’t matter. But my heart learns to trust Him more and believe that He speaks to me each time I give Him credit for giving me wisdom (James 1:5) when I ask for it.
There are times when my questions are deeper and decisions are more complicated. In those times, I have what I’ll call my “recipe for discerning God’s voice” since we’re in the kitchen today. When I sense God leading me, whether it be through an impression on my heart, circumstances or through His spirit in me, I look for Biblical consistency as the key ingredient:
- 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 it there a consistent theme I’m seeing or hearing during my personal Bible study time, through sermons, Christian songs, conversations, etc.?
Hearing and discerning God’s voice is a challenge. But it is possible and He wants to speak to us. We just need to become familiar with God’s Word and His ways. We need to ask for help and look for evidence of His consistency. I have a new message on CD, called “Rest Assured“ that I’m giving away today that could help you!
In it, I talk about what keeps us from hearing God – our worries that make us weary, our need for control and other obstacles – and how we can let go of them. By talking about them and listening to God’s perspective on them through His Word and prayer, we clear the clutter in our hearts and minds. And that is what He knows we need. He invites us to come to Him to receive rest mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. In His presence we can find His peace, hear His voice and learn to live in the power of His promises and plans.(Note: It’s not on the P31 site yet, but I’ll try to have someone load it today.)
To enter to win, click on the word “comments” right below this post, and let me know if this message “Rest Assured” is something you need, or how the “consistency” questions might help you discern God’s voice in something you are seeking Him for. I love sharing what God’s showing me but it’s even better when I get to hear and learn from each of you – so let’s talk!
And after you’ve entered to win, click here to download a great FREE resource from Lysa TerKeurst with more ways to hear and discern God’s voice.
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Renee – your message hit home today! I am reading your blog from my desk at work because I have a big project I need to work on and I'm sort of putting it off. "Dread and Procrastination" Hmmm. I decided I would send this comment – then say a prayer asking God to help me buckle down and focus! To help me through this work! Thanks for your encouragement today! Angela in Minnesota
Keep sharing- Consistency you could write a series on. I'd love the book. I find sitting, journaling the questions that can surface in that peaceful state is God's voice to me. If I go, go feeling as a stay at home mom that I must volunteer, clean every morning the most high traffic areas, manage finances, home affairs, children activities, coach .. I squander needed times to discern His voice and make note, plan reflect on what he's directing me to focus on. What otherwise happens is dismissal and poignant moments of soft direction pass.
Thank for the reminder that daily duties are loud and God's voice is soft requiring creative, still parts of the day!
Renee,
Guess the Lord knew it would take twice to get my attention. Our Ladies Bible Study last night was Dr. Jeremiah on Consistency. Pray I can be more consistent in my daily walk with the Lord in these troubling times. Thanks for the red beans recipe also….think my son would really enjoy it.
May God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Thanks again,
Renee – My daughter and I had a tough conversation yesterday. She is always asking me how she can hear God's voice and know she is really hearing Him. I would love to be able to give this to her. She is a 21 year old woman struggling with the world's view in the midst of college life and trying to make sure she still hears Him. Thanks for making this available, and I hope I can pass it along to her!
Walking His way each day –
mimi
[email protected]
This…"I avoid things that require something I don't want to give.
There are always tools and people available to help, if I ask or look for them.
Dread and procrastination makes every obstacle bigger than it has to be.
I need to face challenges head on with more confidence and courage.
This lesson applies in many areas of my life."
…describes me to a tee!!! OMG!!! Thank you for your insight and openness about how you approach this in your life!
This certainly was what I needed to hear today – my 50th birthday 🙂 Thank you for sharing! BTW, we have a certified organic small family farm and LOVE to cook with vegetables – fresh, frozen, whole, chopped. Can't wait to try your bean recipe!
Thank you for your website and what you posted and shared from your heart about hear and now,hearing God.I am a Registered Nurse for 34 yrs and feel stuck in what i am doing for work. I am thankful to have this job,but whats next? i have been at this job for 26 mos . i want to do something. thankfully with what is posted on your website i will try and have hope in hearing what God wants me to do and the willingness to hear and do it. keep the encouragements from your website and all the proverbs 31 ladies.what you shared seemed like it was written just for me,just when i needed it. thank you joan eadn
Having to go out in social situations with the 'fancy people' in this town, especially those we used to go to church with, is my onion. I really dread those situations and even left a store the other day rather than maybe having to make small talk after a few of them entered! I'm not good in those formal situations in the best of times, but my confidence is gone with these people right now, and some help would definitely be appreciated. Thanks for the message!
Amy
[email protected]
I would love to hear "Rest Assured". I am often very frustrated because I don't know if what I hear is from God or from me?
I check several of the P31 gals' blogs everyday-I've really been excited to see you posting more frequently! Though I completely understand why you weren't blogging as often, welcome back-you've been missed! I'm a relative newbie on my walk with God, so any help I can get is greatly appreciated. I find myself listening more and more and honestly, just smiling more as I see the Lord working in my life as well as in the lives of my husband and children (whether they believe it or not)!
I would love "Rest Assured". Thank you for this message today and the yummy red beans and rice recipe!!!! I can't wait to make this for my family. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Angela
Hello…my name is Kimberly and I have browning vegetables in my refrigerator, too. 🙂
You so make me smile. And you encourage my heart. You let me know that I am not alone in some certain procrastination issues that dread makes worse. And God has been encouraging my heart to "just do it" in some areas I have been avoiding. 🙂 So this post is SO timely, as are your other ones.
I was listening to Beth Moore on Life Today, and she was saying that dread discounts the grace of God. It is basically us saying God won't give us the grace we will need for that thing we are dreading.
I am tackling some areas where I have been a wanna-be…and God is so using you to confirm what He has been saying and to encourage me to press on.
Love you,
K
Thank you for your message. It is so what I needed to hear. Often times I have a hard time distinguishing between the whisper of God and the banging of Satan. Your words are what I need to hear to quite my self and listen intently for Gods whisper
I would love the CD Rest Assured…I'm trying to listen but I am not always sure if what I hear is Him, or me.
Loved the posts yesterday ( I found you through P31) and today. God has me living one day at a time but I want to be sure I'm hearing Him in the little moments that come along.
Amen Sister! I find myself avoiding what looks difficult or I don't want to take the time to do. Then I spend even more time stewing about it all. Waste of time – I know it! Congratulations on your victory of Homemade Red Beans and Rice. I love the happy husband picture! [email protected]
Renee-
Thank you for posting this. I have always struggled with letting God being my hiding place and I let worry, doubt, and fear cloud my thinking. I will do all of those things and then go and talk to someone about it and then I will go to God. One top of that I am having trouble discerning what is His voice and what isn't. It makes life so much more confusing.
Thank you,
Natalie
[email protected]
Thank you Renee. Your words were what I needed to hear today. I too, have been struggling with hearing God's voice in my everyday life. Thank you for sharing you experiences and your life with others.
Thanks Renee,
I need to finish taking the wallpaper off of the bathroom wall. I have been avoiding it.
Renee,
Thank you so much for your encouragement it has helped me tremendously and for that I am grateful. May God continue to use you to encourage others the way you have encouraged me.
In His Love,
Christine
[email protected]
Renee-
This is exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you so much for sharing your life with all of us. You are such a blessing and someone I have always looked up to.
Thanks,
Nicole
[email protected]