I was in the kitchen talking to my 7-year old grandson the other day. He was telling me how famous he is going to be when he grows up. Lately, he has been obsessed with fame. So, I had been praying about an opportunity to talk to him about his purpose.
In the middle of our conversation, I told him that God had a very specific purpose for him. I explained that if he listens to Jesus and does everything that he is told, he will have a spectacular life. I also told him that people would recognize the supernatural power of God in him and that God would lead him to all the dreams that were in his heart. He answered me with one question, "Grandma, how do I hear God?" WOW! This was more of an opportunity than I had prayed for. In my opinion, this is the greatest question anyone can ask. When my grandson asked this question, he showed he has the faith to believe that he can hear God. I also believe Hearing God's Voice is the greatest pursuit we can have while on this earth.
When I think about this topic, I always think about Matthew 17:5 which says "...suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" This verse started a quest in my life to master the art of hearing God's voice. I figured that if God spoke out of a cloud (which does not happen very often in Scripture) and if He used an exclamation point (which does not happen often in Scripture either), I had better listen! God tells us to listen to Jesus. How do we do that?
First, in John 1:1, and 14 it explains that Jesus is the Word. If we want to hear God's voice, the Word of God is written for us to know Him and to guide our life. This is a great place to start.
It is also clear throughout the Scriptures that God speaks differently to different individuals. He spoke to Moses in a burning bush, he spoke to Mary through an angel, and He spoke to many of the kings through the prophets, etc. But it was clear to all of these individuals that God had spoken. What we need to do is to spend time knowing God and recognize that because God speaks, we need to speak when we pray, but we also need to listen. As time goes by, we will begin to recognize the voice of God.
Also, hearing God's voice requires patience. Waiting is part of the hearing process. It helps to understand that God's timing is perfect. Ask Him a question and He will answer, but don't expect Him to answer according to your timeline. Have the faith to believe that He will answer. We can call the process of hearing God; "spiritual perception." The more spiritual perception we have, the more we will be given (Mark 4:9). If our heart is filled with unbelief, even what we have will be taken away (Luke 8:18). Think about it this way, God wants us to hear Him. He is all powerful. The word "listen" is repeated in the Bible over 300 times and the word "hear" is also repeated over 300 times. God is trying to speak to us. We just need to have a willing heart.
God speaks often in my life. Prayer is a dialogue rather that a monologue. God is speaking to me constantly throughout the day; in my circumstances, through the things that people unknowingly say, through nature, through His Word, and in prayer with Him. Over time, I recognize His voice just like I recognize my husband's voice when he calls me on the phone. I have heard God's voice so often that I recognize it.
In this generation, where it feels like the future is so unknown and the things we took for granted ten years ago have been taken away, I was so excited to answer this question for my grandson. I believe that if I can teach him to Hear God's Voice, I will be giving him something more precious than gold or anything else in this world. There is nothing like the ability to recognize God's voice. It is the only security that is TRULY security. So, ask God a question. And then LISTEN. It will bring you the ultimate return on your investment!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Enjoy!
So, I got into the shower the other morning and was enjoying the warm water running over my head. With my eyes closed, I was preparing to face the day. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to see that my shampoo and conditioner were missing. I thought for a moment and looked around and noticed that my razor and face wash were missing too. Just then, I remembered that my youngest daughter was home from college and was sleeping soundly at that moment in her bed. I wondered if she had taken the time to think about what might happen if she took all of these things out of my shower. Did she think about all of the water that I would splash on the bathroom floor as I searched through my cabinets for some travel size shampoo and conditioner bottles? Or did she realize that I might need to shave or wash my face?
All of a sudden it dawned on me that her action had given me the opportunity to be reminded that she was home. The person that I miss so often when she is away at college was now in my house and would be here for the next month. So I enjoyed the moment. I enjoyed the thought of this little one that had been sent to me as "a gift from the Lord."
When she woke up at 12:30pm, I made breakfast for her and lunch for me. When we prayed together, I thanked Jesus out loud that my shampoo was missing, and my razor was gone and how it reminded me that He had brought home my youngest daughter for Christmas. We laughed as we prayed and enjoyed one another.
This experience made me realize how many moments I have wasted being irritated by the small interruptions of life. God has given to my life so many gifts and sometimes my perspective robs me of seeing the gifts and enjoying what He has given to me.
In James 1:17 it says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights." Think about all of the gifts that God is trying to give to us each day. He has an infinite supply of everything that we need. He knows our hearts completely and does extravagant things each day to remind us that He is with us. Just think about the sunset and the sunrise. Each day, He paints a masterpiece in the sky in the morning and the evening. It is there for our viewing pleasure and often we don't notice it.
In 1 Timothy 6:17 it instructs us to "trust in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy." God wants us to take the time out to enjoy. Life is not meant to be so serious and filled with busyness. We were created to enjoy the amazing things and people that God has given to us. Enjoying what God has given us and His creation is a way of worshiping Him and appreciating Him. So, in this busy time of year, block out some time in your schedule and fill it in with one word. ENJOY!!
All of a sudden it dawned on me that her action had given me the opportunity to be reminded that she was home. The person that I miss so often when she is away at college was now in my house and would be here for the next month. So I enjoyed the moment. I enjoyed the thought of this little one that had been sent to me as "a gift from the Lord."
When she woke up at 12:30pm, I made breakfast for her and lunch for me. When we prayed together, I thanked Jesus out loud that my shampoo was missing, and my razor was gone and how it reminded me that He had brought home my youngest daughter for Christmas. We laughed as we prayed and enjoyed one another.
This experience made me realize how many moments I have wasted being irritated by the small interruptions of life. God has given to my life so many gifts and sometimes my perspective robs me of seeing the gifts and enjoying what He has given to me.
In James 1:17 it says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights." Think about all of the gifts that God is trying to give to us each day. He has an infinite supply of everything that we need. He knows our hearts completely and does extravagant things each day to remind us that He is with us. Just think about the sunset and the sunrise. Each day, He paints a masterpiece in the sky in the morning and the evening. It is there for our viewing pleasure and often we don't notice it.
In 1 Timothy 6:17 it instructs us to "trust in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy." God wants us to take the time out to enjoy. Life is not meant to be so serious and filled with busyness. We were created to enjoy the amazing things and people that God has given to us. Enjoying what God has given us and His creation is a way of worshiping Him and appreciating Him. So, in this busy time of year, block out some time in your schedule and fill it in with one word. ENJOY!!
Monday, December 6, 2010
You are very valuable!!
The other day, I was leaving a coffee shop with a friend. On our way out, we bumped into a woman who my friend knew and I was acquainted with. As I looked at this woman, I saw something familiar in her face. She had a defeated and worn-down look that I used to see in my own mirror. My heart broke and I immediately began to talk with her about her value.
I remember living in this place of hopelessness, survival, and depression. For me, the cure was understanding my value to God. As I began to understand how the Lord felt about me and the purpose for which He created me, I began to spend fewer and fewer days in this helpless state.
You are created with great purpose. God says that we are "created for good works, which He prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them"(Ephesians 2:10). You are very special. You are made by God to do something very specific. You have qualities that qualify only YOU to do what you were created to do. Fulfilling your purpose is very satisfying and fun.
Besides having a great purpose for your life, God loves you so much. He says in Exodus 19:5 that He wants to make you "His special treasure." Also, Psalm 45:10 says, "The King (God) is enthralled with your beauty." Think about it! This word enthralled means fascinated, captivated, charmed, and enchanted. God, who spread out the universe with His right arm, is captivated by your beauty. WOW! Believe what God says and it will revolutionize your world.
As I go out day to day, realizing that God is so concerned with the way I am spending my time and that He is guiding me to the work He has created for me, it turns my life into an adventure!! As I greet people with a smile knowing that I am a special treasure to God, I am delivered from fear. If someone says something nasty about me or laughs at me or makes fun of me, I simply think to myself "Well, that is not what God thinks! He thinks I am beautiful and that I am a special treasure."
I have only listed a few things about your value. When you understand your value, you will have created a standard for living that matches your understanding. You will get help when being mistreated. You will choose people to have in your life that value you. You will be gentle with yourself and care for yourself. Look in the mirror and look deep into your eyes which are the windows to your soul. Do you believe that you are a special treasure?
I remember living in this place of hopelessness, survival, and depression. For me, the cure was understanding my value to God. As I began to understand how the Lord felt about me and the purpose for which He created me, I began to spend fewer and fewer days in this helpless state.
You are created with great purpose. God says that we are "created for good works, which He prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them"(Ephesians 2:10). You are very special. You are made by God to do something very specific. You have qualities that qualify only YOU to do what you were created to do. Fulfilling your purpose is very satisfying and fun.
Besides having a great purpose for your life, God loves you so much. He says in Exodus 19:5 that He wants to make you "His special treasure." Also, Psalm 45:10 says, "The King (God) is enthralled with your beauty." Think about it! This word enthralled means fascinated, captivated, charmed, and enchanted. God, who spread out the universe with His right arm, is captivated by your beauty. WOW! Believe what God says and it will revolutionize your world.
As I go out day to day, realizing that God is so concerned with the way I am spending my time and that He is guiding me to the work He has created for me, it turns my life into an adventure!! As I greet people with a smile knowing that I am a special treasure to God, I am delivered from fear. If someone says something nasty about me or laughs at me or makes fun of me, I simply think to myself "Well, that is not what God thinks! He thinks I am beautiful and that I am a special treasure."
I have only listed a few things about your value. When you understand your value, you will have created a standard for living that matches your understanding. You will get help when being mistreated. You will choose people to have in your life that value you. You will be gentle with yourself and care for yourself. Look in the mirror and look deep into your eyes which are the windows to your soul. Do you believe that you are a special treasure?
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