Ladies, we’re already in our third week of our time together studying Prisiclla Shirer’s Discerning the Voice of God. It’s been a blessing to walk this journey with you!
If you haven’t read through all the comments on Week Two, please take the time to do that. Your thoughts have been a blessing and encouragement to me! Thanks for continuing to share.
Last week, I announced that we were reaching 100 posts on this devotional blog and as a way to celebrate and to say thank you, I was hosting a giveaway. Anyone who commented from then up through Sunday, 0717, at midnight was entered into the drawing (my comments were excluded).
So, our three winners, selected using random.org, are:
- The winner of Sheila Walsh’s book, Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God is: Andrea Anderson!
- The winners of the newest Women of Faith worship CD are: Lin Meredith and Louise Carlton!
Congratulations! Now on to this week’s study!
My Thoughts:
Almost two weeks ago, I was burdened to be more purposeful about Scripture memory rather than just memorizing the Awana verses with my kids, which is good, but not enough. Not only that, but it seemed like God wanted me to invite you to come along on this verse-learning journey with me.
Finally, despite my numerous objections, I agreed to begin weekend posts where I share in a new Scripture verse that I’d be memorizing for the week and ask you to participate, maybe learning your own verse instead. In all my “wisdom,” though, I thought it would make sense to start something new after the 100th post and not before. So, I agreed to do what God said, but only when I was good and ready.
As long as I put it off, though, I was unsettled and uncomfortable, like God was talking and I was purposely covering my ears and averting my eyes to ignore Him. I gave in. I wrote the first post about Scripture memory just over a week ago.
For those who have already delved into Chapter 5 of our book, you’ll know that on page 73, she says:
“If we don’t consciously attempt to combat those messages by saturating our minds with Scripture, our souls will be conformed to the world’s standards instead of God’s. The more Scripture you have hidden in your heart, the more opportunity the Holy Spirit will have to bring it instantly to your mind to verify how you should proceed.”
When I read that this weekend (yes, a week after I wrote about how we need to memorize Scripture), I almost dropped my book into my cup of hot tea. (If it had fit in the cup, the book certainly would have gone in.)
This week we read in Chapter 5 that God’s voice is verifiable and that His Word “isn’t just an old book that has a lot of theology for us to digest; it’s the living Word of God” (p. 74). His voice is also persistent as it says in Chapter 6. “He keeps at it. He orders our circumstances, so that they relentlessly bombard our thoughts and hearts with His message until we are convinced of its authenticity” (p. 79). I certainly was reminded this week of the verifiability and persistence of God’s voice, as well as the blessing that comes with obedience.
The Outline
Chapter 5: A Verifiable Voice
I loved this chapter and its emphasis on the relevancy of Scripture to our everyday life situations. God’s Word is alive; it’s meaningful; it’s powerful now in your life and in mine.
And yet we’re busy, oh so busy. While I think there’s a certain amount of schedule-trimming we can do, we can’t cut everything from our agenda. If you have a job or a house, if you serve in the church or community, if you have parents, friends, a husband, if you have kids, then you’re probably busy.
On page 73, though, Priscilla Shirer makes meditating on the Word of God accessible. One verse a week. Tape it to your mirror, in your car, maybe on your stove like me. Put it where you’ll see it and read it over and over and over. Pray it. Live it. Think about it while you stir the noodles on the stove or do your hair before work. Let God minister to you through that verse.
As I said above, we’ve already begun picking one verse a week in this very blog, so I hope you’ll join with me. This isn’t to give us one more thing “to do,” but because the purposeful meditation on Scripture helps us not to sin, helps us to discern His will, helps us to fight the Enemy, helps us make decisions, and helps encourage us on the dark days.
Chapter 6: A Persistent Voice
On page 78, she directs us to pay attention to consistent messages—like when you hear the same thing in the sermon, Sunday School, in the book you’re reading, in your devotional and on the radio. Then, it’s time to perk up your spiritual ears because God’s got something to say.
Also on page 78, she quotes Revelation 3:20 (“Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meals as friends.” She importantly notes that this was originally written to lukewarm Christ-followers, not unbelievers in need of salvation. Christ wanted more of them and He was going to keep on a-knocking until they opened the door.
Oh my, the rest of this chapter for me was just one big underlined, highlighted, exclamation mark fest. So, rather than take up all this space writing out my thoughts, I’ll share some of my favorite quotes with you:
- “Scripture is full of people whose most life-changing encounters with the Lord occurred while they were in places they didn’t want to be” (p. 81).
- “Even difficult life circumstances are being used to give us a clear reception to hear His voice” (p. 82)
- “There’s something in your current situation that God is going to use to draw you closer to Him so He can tell you something about Himself and His plan for your life. no matter what tight spot you may find yourself in, ask God to open your ears to what He is saying in your circumstances” (p. 83)
- “Rather than wishing you were married instead of single, in full-time ministry instead of corporate America, attending a big church instead of a small one, married to a saved spouse instead of an unsaved one, listen for what God is saying in your circumstances right now. Don’t waste your time wishing; get busy looking and listening. Ask the Lord to open your ears to hear what He is saying to you right where you are” (p. 84).
- “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was ‘Do the next thing'” (Elisabeth Elliott, p. 85).
- “God is the God of right now. He doesn’t want us to regret yesterday or worry about tomorrow. He wants us to focus on what He is saying to us and putting in front of us right now. The Enemy’s voice will focus on the past and the future, but the voice of our God will focus on today. God’s voice tells us what we can do now. Satan’s voice tells us what we could do ‘if only'” (p. 85).
Your Thoughts:
I hope you loved these two chapters as much as I did and I also hope you’ll post a comment here to let us know your thoughts on these topics. Short or long, it doesn’t matter. We want to hear what you have to say!
Here are some questions to get the conversation started. I’m asking a lot this week, so answer however many you like:
- Have you found a way of meditating on Scripture that works for you? If so, please share or maybe share something new your trying out.
- How have you seen how the Holy Spirit change your “taste buds” over time? (p. 69).
- Tell how God has used Scripture to help you make a very practical life decision (as she did on p. 67).
- Tell how God has used difficult life circumstances or a place you didn’t want to be to give you “clear reception to hear His voice” (p. 82).
- What is the “next thing” that you think God is asking you to do? (p. 85).
- Is there anything you need to stop wishing and waiting for in order to do what God has asked you to do right now? (p. 85-86).
- As always, I’d love to hear your favorite quotes and verses from this chapter!!! Don’t worry if your favorites are the same as mine; please share them anyway!
Heather King is a wife, mom, Bible Study teacher, writer for www.myfrienddebbie.com and worship leader. Most importantly, she is a Christ follower with a desire to help others apply the Bible to everyday life with all its mess, noise, and busyness. To read more devotionals by Heather King, click here.
Copyright © 2011 Heather King
Heather C. King - Room to Breathe 
My favorite quote was on page 80. When she says “It seemed as if someone had sneaked in a brand-new verse into the Bible!” I feel that way so often. I love how God through the Holy Spirit is able to use the bible to speak to us exactly where we are with what we need when we need it.
Glad to be back after my week out of town. I read through last weeks comments and it was great to read what everyone thought.
Loved that quote, too! I giggled aloud when I read it because I’ve had that moment so many times, wondering how I could have read the Bible and never noticed a particular verse before. It makes me think of the fact that “the word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12).
Chapter 6 got underlined a lot in my book, mainly because it was confirmation to what I was already hearing. I seem to need the constant reminders to keep me on track when I don’t see anything happening to change my circumstances.
The bottom section of page 84 to the end of the chapter reminds us to minister where we are in our current circumstances. We are where we are for a reason and God can use it and us if we yield. On page 85 she said, “…following the leading of the Spirit minute by minute.” There are times when we are in desperate situations and we just don’t know what to do, we have no choice but to walk in Him minute-by-minute. How many of us would naturally do that? That’s one of the hardest things for me because I’ve always been a control person. What makes me think I was ever in control to begin with? I don’t know. Yielding to the Spirit over the years has been a definite challenge, but if God hadn’t permitted certain situations, I would never have taken steps to do this.
This made me think of the verse: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” 2 Chronicles 20:12. It makes me think of following the Spirit minute by minute in circumstances where we are clueless how to act.
Have you found a way of meditating on Scripture that works for you?
I have not. It’s funny though. After writing Heather’s first memory verse in my journal and promptly forgetting about it until she posted the next one, I put the new verse on three index cards. One on the microwave, one on my bathroom mirror and one at the top of the stairs. The boys have noticed them and has been repeating them. Right after that, I read where PS suggests we tape them all around the house!
How have you seen how the Holy Spirit change your “taste buds” over time? (p. 69).
Hmm, I used to be very much “I’m a Christian, but I don’t need to go to church” This was a result of my upbringing. While my parents spoke about God and had us say our prayers, we didn’t go to church. My mother’s family, later in life, belonged to a sect called “The Way Ministry” and she blamed a lot of her families problems from this “organized religion” So therefore it was discouraged in our home. I took this mentality into my adult life, until that fateful Scout Sunday when everything changed. It took me a solid 6 months of being in church before I let my guard down and threw away my preconceived notions. My church taste buds have done a 180. 3 years ago if you would have told me that I was going to be a regular church going, nursery working, Bible study attending, foster care mama. I would have laughed at you. Also after Porn Sunday, I gave up a series of books I was reading, cold turkey. I handed it to Johnny, with only 1/4 read (it was brand new) and told him to trash it. I never looked for it and didn’t care how it turned out. I had a few friends ask me what I thought about it, and that brought up some good conversations. That was another major taste bud changer.
Tell how God has used Scripture to help you make a very practical life decision (as she did on p. 67).
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. This guided us to a peace about foster care.
Tell how God has used difficult life circumstances or a place you didn’t want to be to give you “clear reception to hear His voice” (p. 82).
The situation with my nieces is still a waiting game. My reception might be off. I know there is an outcome, there’s a verse, a person, there’s something coming for me to help those girls. I just need to tune in and be patient.
What is the “next thing” that you think God is asking you to do? (p. 85).
I LOVE that quote! I don’t think I’m on a ‘next thing’ path right now. I’m trying very hard to live in the now and enjoy where I am. I am excited for the next thing and adding to our family. I’m trying not to get too wrapped up in the details in my own head and know that He’s “got this” (in the words of Tyler Ratterman)
As always, I’d love to hear your favorite quotes and verses from this chapter!!! Don’t worry if your favorites are the same as mine; please share them anyway!
Oh so many.
pg 71 “The more you surrender to Him and are conformed to the image of Christ, the less of a gap there will be between what He wants and what you want”
pg 66-67 “When you read your Bible, receive and savor it like a love letter from God to you. Remember, you’re reading in order to meet Someone. Ponder what you have read, and apply it to your present circumstances. Let it go, down into the core of your being. And as you read, expect Him to commune with you.” Bruce Wilkinson
pg 86 “When I hear the same thing from two or three different people in a very short period of time, I know the Lord is speaking to me. It’s as clear as a Fed-Ex letter.” Steve Farrar
pg 85 “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was “Do the next thing.” Elisabeth Elliott.
and my favorite pg 79 “God doesn’t just speak to His people once and then throw His hands in the air. He keeps at it. He orders our circumstances, so that they relentlessly bombard our thoughts and hearts with His message until we are convinced of its authenticity.”
I have a friend who used to be part of “The Way” He also now will have nothing to do with organized religion of any kind while he loves to talk about Faith, God, and what he believes he will not go to any church.
Also it is funny you mention that about porn Sunday because I had the exact same reaction. I was waiting for the next book in a series I have always loved to come out and after that I have no urge to read it. I think it is funny how if you put it in a man’s magazine they call it porn but if they put it in a woman’s book they call it either chic lit, romance, or romantica when in reality is really all the same.
It is the same, I think. For women, sometimes it’s more super-romantic scenarios rather than steamy bedroom scenes, but the bottom line is the same—-making people imagine and wish for something different than what they have. It’s hard to show your husband respect and affection when you’ve read a book about some super-man hunk who says magical things and rescues the fair maiden and always brings flowers home. That’s not real. What’s real is faithful, hard-working husbands who change diapers and give kids baths and sit with you at church and help your friends move. That’s real.
“What’s real is faithful, hard-working husbands who change diapers and give kids baths and sit with you at church and help your friends move. That’s real.”
You are right. That is what is real. That is what is priceless. That is an amazing gift I am grateful for every single day. I wouldn’t trade it for all the flowers and magical words in the world 🙂
That’s funny and also great to hear how the boys noticed your verse cards around the house. I’ve been really working on that more this week and I do love how I’m meditating on just one simple verse all week long. As I’m going about my day, He’ll bring that verse to mind and apply it to what I’m thinking or doing. I know I can easily start skimming through the Bible if I’m not careful, so really spending time thinking about one verse has been really powerful. I just need to keep from giving up on this and keep at it until it really is my habit. That can be tough! 🙂
■Have you found a way of meditating on Scripture that works for you? If so, please share or maybe share something new your trying out.
I have been thinking about this one this week. I have found that I have the same problem with this as I do with most things that require choosing. I can’t seem to narrow it down to one. I keep looking for “the” verse God wants for me for that week and just when I think I have found it I will hear or read another one and think “Oh I love that verse I want to use that one”. Next thing you know I have 5 or 6 verses for the week and that doesn’t work. I thought well maybe I need to pick my verse and then kinda stay out of the Bible till I have it down but I don’t want to do that. As I am writing this I am sure it sounds really silly to most people but yet it is what I am struggling with. Sometimes I think the little problems are the ones that Satan uses against us the most.
Sometimes reading different translations of the same verse helps me to meditate on the meanings. Just a tiny difference in the wording can bring another perspective on a verse I never considered. Another thing I like to do is change the emphasis on a word in a verse and repeat it out loud and think on it. for example:
” TRUST in the Lord with all your heart…”
” Trust IN the Lord with all your heart”
“Trust in THE LORD with all your heart”
“Trust in the Lord WITH all your heart”
“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart”
“Trust in the Lord with all YOUR heart”
“Trust in the Lord with all your HEART”
And so forth…
What might work for you is letting someone else pick the verses. Like get a Bible memory pack of cards from the Christian book store, for instance, and do them in order. God can work through that and make the timing fit with your life. He won’t be too “confined,” and it will relieve you of having to be the one to choose.
I thought about doing that. I have the Beth Moore Praying God’s Word scripture cards and I dug them out. I was thinking I could flip through those until one catches my eye since there isn’t really an order. The key will be to stop and put them away once I choose one.
Don’t flip, just start with whatever is right on top!!! You know you will get lost if you flip!!!! Just take the first one and allow God to work through it right now if he chooses. If he doesn’t choose to use it right now, you will have it stored and He will use it whenever He gets ready. It’s amazing how many times old Master Life verses come back to me in a certain situation (I must have taken that course 20 years ago).
Too late Marie I already flipped LOL took me FOREVER but I finally settled on Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplicaiton with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (ESV)
“When you read your Bible, receive and savor it like a love letter from God to you. Remember, you’re reading in order to meet Someone. Ponder what you have read, and apply it to your present circumstances. Let it go down into the core of your being. And as you read, expect Him to commune with you. “ Bruce Wilkinson
I found that this pearl of wisdom spoke to me the loudest. I’m not sure that when I’m reading the Bible that I’m expecting “to meet Someone”. I am trying to do more meditating rather than just reading. I haven’t started using the index cards yet, but Heather had already started doing that before we started this study. I’m always checking to see which verses are speaking to her.
I sometimes get too hung up on the fact that if I don’t do a full out Bible study during my quiet time, I might as well not bother. I know this is Satan’s way of trying to keep me from spending time with God because this is his ultimate goal.
“I am so grateful that we don’t have to serve Him out of duty, but rather out of love.” Amen
“Whether you feel anything or not, when you spend time in the word, I guarantee that a massive renovation is underway.” It’s hard to not think about feelings.
. “He knows that as long as we’re clothed in the flesh, we aren’t always going to get it right; and when we do, it will have taken us many tries.”
.
These were encouraging to me as well.
A final note concerns the passage, . Romans 7:15-19, in which Paul talks about his frustrations on doing the right thing. How often I have felt like Paul. Mad at myself for failing to do the right thing or making the wrong choice.
I too would like to hear about others’ Bible study times.
I had a set time during the school year after my oldest got on the middle school bus and before my youngest got up to get ready. That was really nice. I was up I had my coffee and the house was nice and still. Now that school is out for the summer I have not been good at getting up anyway and having my Bible study time. Then I try to do my study later in the morning and everyone is up and around. It just dosn’t work as well. I know I need to start getting up even though I don’t have to and get back into the habit of doing it while the house isn’t so distracting.
First I want to say how wonderful it was Michelle and Andrea to hear your comments on how Porn Sunday changed you. For my husband to put himself out there to do that sermon was difficult for him and us as a couple but we knew that it had to been done. I am so glad that it touched women as well as men.
Now on to Chapters 5 and 6. In Chapter 5 I liked the quote by Hannah Whithall Smith “He writes his laws on our hearts and on our minds so that our affection and our understanding embrace them and we are drawn to obey instead of being driven to it.” Priscilla follows this by saying that the “more you surrender to Him and are conformed to the image of Christ” there won’t be much of a “difference between what He wants and what you want.” Wow, that is something to aspire to! I so look forward to that being the case! I want to serve him out of love and not feeling that it is my duty.
In Chapter 6 I like how Priscilla shows us that we need to listen for Him in the here and now no matter what the circumstances might be. Even if our current situation might be absolutely horrible. He has something to show us even in those times.
First, I want to ask (because I may not be the only computer-illiterate person on here) where are the verses that you’ve posted as far as memorizing/meditating? Obviously this is something I’m supposed to do. Even before I knew there was something to memorize/meditate on, Pastor Mike said in his sermon yesterday, “In case you don’t know what to meditate on, meditate on Ephesians 1:18-23. So this morning, during my quiet time, God reminded me that I was supposed to do that. I read verses 13-23 just for context. Verse 17 spoke to me the most. It says, “I keep asking (Paul’s writing) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” So…I asked him to give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know him better. I read it, prayed through it, let it sink in. Then footsteps came bounding down the stairs. (You know, the ones that are home during the summer that like to wreck your “quiet time.” ) So I read the passage to Brian and his friend Timothy (who spent the night). I figure if they’re going to break in on my quiet time, they can discuss Scripture with me!
From the excitement that I hear already on Chapter 6, I can’t wait to read it. Chapter 5 was a great one for me. There are so many things hilighted, underlined, and starred that I don’t know where to begin! One of the 1st biggies was on p. 68, “If you are having trouble discerning God’s voice, could one of the problems be that you know what you should do but still wrestle with being obedient?” “Hardhead” was one of my mother’s nicknames for me when I was growing up. I’m always trying to lose this title.
I also liked Lous Evan’s response on p.69. “Obedience means that we are cooperating with the transformation process.”
Page 71, “Whether you feel anything happening or not, when you spend time in the Word, I guarantee that a massive renovation is underway. Your very soul is being renewed. More is happening beneath the surface than you could ever imagine!” I just LOVE God’s Word. I just love a good Bible study! There is a section in the T & T AWANA handbook that requires the kids to ask 3 adults why they think God gave us the Bible. They’ve already learned a couple reasons thus far. The handbook starts out with 8 reasons on why God gave us the Bible, with verses to back those up. Inevitably I’ll be one of the adults they ask. I ask them if they want an AWANA answer, or my answer. They usually say mine. So I tell them, it is God’s love letter to us. I usually elaborate on that a bit. I hope, by the time they leave AWANA, they can begin to understand this too.
Every day, from every conceivable source, we’re saturated with messages that contradict God’s truths. If we don’t consciously attempt to combat those messages by saturating our minds with Scripture, our soul will be conformed to the world’s standards instead of God’s.
If you truly want to know how to discern God’s voice, you must verify whatever you think you hear from God in light of His written Word.
If you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law – the law that sets you free – and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:25.
Marie, I just got an email from one of my former high school English students and he was reminding me of things I told them even on the first day of class, sharing my passion for reading and writing. What you said here excited me because you are sharing your passion for God’s Word with the T&T girls and passion from a teacher is infectious. They will remember it years later; it will matter to them and they will recall it a decade from now when they really need it. Thank you for giving them “your answer” and not just the Awana answers!
As a quick answer to your question about memorizing verses—I just started writing a blog post each weekend where I share a simple verse that I’ll be meditating on that week. I’ve only done 3 so far. You can find the most recent one here: https://heathercking.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/weekend-walk-07232011/ These are just the verses on my heart, but I encourage others to choose their own if they like and then share them so we can see what others are doing. I’ve been choosing some short and simple verses recently to help me build the habit and then hopefully I’ll grow into longer passages over time. At any time, you should be able to click on the button “HOME” and scroll down through all my posts; that will help you find any Weekend Walk posts with the verses in them. I hope that helps!
I also loved Louis Evans’ quote that “Obedience means that we are cooperating with the transformation process.” Great choice!
I can’t wait for you to read Chapter 6 either. It is heavily marked in my book 🙂
“Page 71, “Whether you feel anything happening or not, when you spend time in the Word, I guarantee that a massive renovation is underway. Your very soul is being renewed. More is happening beneath the surface than you could ever imagine!” ”
I know that all through Sunday school this week God was shouting to me “You will never know who these people are if you haven’t hidden my word in your heart. If you don’t know what is truth how would you know someone was a fake?”
I don’t know…I’ve really been praying about AWANA in general lately. Michelle says the girls hate AWANA. So now I’m trying to figure out if it’s me, the program, or the kids. We sure don’t need to be doing a program that the kids hate. So I just have to figure out if the kids hate the program, or if they’re just tired of me teaching in general.
Marie… what I said is the OLDER girls don’t like it. It has nothing to do with you or the teaching it has to do with 10 year olds being convinced that they are to “old” for the program and that it is for little kids. It is a society thing in that the girls in particular are growing up too too fast. Most of the girls in Caitie’s class last year where wearing make-up, having their hair highlighted, and dressing like 16 year olds. Is it any wonder they wouldn’t want to be part of a “kids” program.
Marie, I don’t think that it is you! The T&T age girl is a hard age. Believe me I know! The tween age is hard to keep engaged. Also, the amount of time this age is having to spend on homework and projects is increasing. Unfortunately, Caitlyn just saw her AWANA handbook as even more homework which she really dislikes. The number of girls you have every year I feel shows that the program is desired. Don’t let my Caitlyn’s apathy bother you. AWANA is not the only thing that she is apathetic about.
I think Shannon is right—without me seeing T&T or knowing many of the girls in your club, still it is obvious when you look at how large that group of girls is, how many non-church members there are in that group, and how those girls faithfully come back week after week that they are coming for a reason. They want to be there. Please don’t be discouraged or give up. You are fighting a huge societal trend for little girls to feel pressured to act like teenagers and, Shannon is also right that kids are busy and homework is taking up a lot of time.
I didn’t do Awana growing up; we had a different program for girls called Missionettes. Still, it was similar in many ways to T&T. It was the single most foundational thing I ever did for my faith. It is what encouraged me to memorize Scripture, to do personal devotion, to read the Bible all the way through, and to take personal responsibility for my Christian walk. I’m sure there are girls in T&T who are gaining those very things right now. I really want to see my girls have that same opportunity.
Oh that is too funny!!! That is one of the first verses God touched me with when I KNEW He was speaking to me. Too bad I still haven’t perfected that one!
These 2 chapters have had so many eye opening truths it can ONLY be the voice of God. The day after reading them I decided to just open my Bible and see where I was led. I ended up in Hebrews 3 and 4 and what jumped out was “Today, if you will hear His voice Do not harden your hearts” also Ps 95:7,8 . I was led to scripture that is about hearing God’s voice and it was repeated 3 different times. Also reinforced was on page 85 “God is the God of right now….He wants us to focus on what He is saying to us and putting in front of us right now. ” Too often I am worried about the future or wishing I could change the past. It honestly becomes so liberating when you lay the past and future and God’s feet and just enter into today with Him.
Later in the week I was reading through Radical by David Platt and out jumped a section titled “The Next Step.” Elisabeth Elliot quote of ” DO the next thing” come to mind. Now I am not sure what the next thing is but I am open to what God wants me to hear and do.
And then finally today in the devotion for today in Jesus Calling was on how God speaks to us.. through sights, sounds, scripture, thoughts…
So God has been very persistent ! Can’t wait for the next 2.
I love when God’s voice is consistent and persistent. It always alerts me to “perk up my ears” and pay attention to what He’s doing. I also loved what you said here, “Too often I am worried about the future or wishing I could change the past. It honestly becomes so liberating when you lay the past and future and God’s feet and just enter into today with Him.” It is freeing to leave the past at His feet and trust the future to His hands—you are absolutely right about that. Thanks for the encouragement to focus on what God is doing right now.
Karen, I just read this today in Oswald Chambers’s My Utmost for His Highest and it made me think about your comments on looking for God now rather than focusing on the past or future.
“God’s training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.
God’s purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.”
WOW! Talk about God being clear! After praying about AWANA this morning, reading my Bible, then turning on the computer to log some stuff for Chapter 6, I don’t think I need to pray anymore about AWANA. Well of course I need to pray about AWANA, just in different ways. I need a committed leader and a direction to go in this year, as far as teaching goes.
Now I see why everyone was so excited about this chapter! I love the way she elaborated all through the chapter about the persistent voice and waiting for confirmation. Waiting isn’t my favorite!
I also like the way she put the whole idea of God orchestrating our circumstances (sometimes bad) and life-changing encounters being in places where we don’t really want to be.
One of my favorites was, “Don’t waste your time wishing; get busy looking and listening.” I just love how she phrased that!
Is waiting anybody’s favorite?! 🙂 You are certainly not alone there.
Chapter 6 was probably my favorite so far for all the reasons you mentioned—the reminder to wait for confirmation, the assurance that God uses even the tough places, and even the encouragement to stop languishing and instead get busy looking for God in the here and now. You pulled out some great quotes/ideas from that chapter.
Hey, I’m a little behind on the so I’ll keep it short. I just finished 5 & 6.
First I would like to say that Brian did a fantastic job speaking on Porn Sunday. (I don’t really like calling it that, but y’all know what I mean) My son Chase (12 years old) was in church and I’m glad he had the chance to hear it.
Have you found a way of meditating on Scripture that works for you? If so, please share or maybe share something new your trying out. No, but I did high-light the paragraph about index cards in the bathroom and in the car. Then I read Heather’s post, and this made me extra excited that a verse would be picked out for me.
How have you seen how the Holy Spirit change your “taste buds” over time? My relationship with others.