Learning to hear

I received a note from a lady named Donna who was looking for God's leading for a particular situation and was not sure how to discern what He was saying.  Here was my response...

Discerning God's voice and direction is one of the biggest challenges that we face as believers. Every Christian, no matter how long they've been walking with the Lord, deals with this from time to time. 

A great place to start is understanding that we have lots of "voices" in our lives, offering direction. We have God's voice, but then we have voices like our own desires, friends opinions, and cultural or family expectations, as well. Understanding this challenge makes us aware that not every impulse we feel is, necessarily, the leading of the Lord.

When learning to discern God's leading, the scriptures are where we begin.  The bible is God's given and established word.  Nothing He ever says to us will contradict the scriptures. So, being a person of the word teaches us what God has already said and what He desires and values.  

The next place to go is to mature believers who are committed to you, and care enough to tell you the truth. That's why the scriptures tell us to gather together with other believers.  Any of us can get confused and conflicted, and none of us are objective when it comes to our own dealings. We need other believers who can remind us of what God has said, in spite of how we may feel in the moment.  Your small group leader or another mature believer you trust would be a great place to start.

I encourage you to keep seeking God's direction in your life. There is nothing like regular time with Him in prayer and the scriptures to train your spiritual ears to hear His voice above all the other noise. 

I hope this helps!

10 Biblical Promises That You Can Count On!

He’s always there - Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Protection - Psa. 32:7-8  You are my hiding place;   you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah  8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;   I will counsel you and watch over you.

Strength - Phil. 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Guidance - Prov. 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Provision - Matt. 6:33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Wisdom – James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

God’s plan for the future - Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Rest - Matt. 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Forgiveness - 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The future is secure in Him - Rom. 8:28     And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Where was God?

Tuesday of this week, I had to speak at the funeral of a couple, from our church, who had been shot and killed in their home, by a former business associate. It was tragic, sad, and senseless. Where do you find words of comfort and hope in a time like that?

Or like today...  

Just 3 days later, 27 people are dead in Connecticut, 20 of them small children, from a shooting rampage at an elementary school. When I heard I became sick to my stomach.  

At Tuesday's funeral, I shared some thoughts from John 11, which tells of Jesus' interaction with a grieving family at a graveside  Two sisters make the exact same statement to Jesus; "If you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died." Stated a different way, "Jesus, where were you?"  

That's the same question I'm hearing today.  Where was God?

In the passage Jesus doesn't really try to give easy answers, which is good, because, as I shared Tuesday, I'm not sure I'm ready to process the "answers"...even the theological ones. No, it says in verse 33 that when He saw their grieving He was "deeply moved and troubled."  

Then it simply says "Jesus wept."  

And honestly, that's what I needed to hear. I take comfort in the compassion of God for our pain.

I think that's what we all need to hear right now.  God's heart breaks as He sees our suffering.  He created our world to be a place of beauty and has given a path that will lead to abundant life.   Sadly, we have rejected Him and said that we know better.  But then, when our world erupts with things like the today's horror, we ask, "Where was God?"

Well, God was there, heart broken because of our pain and the distortion of His creation. But He was there offering comfort, peace, and refuge to anyone who would call out to Him.

If we're trying to make sense of things like today, I think we're going to be frustrated. It doesn't make sense. I've said it a lot this week; bad people do bad things and it breaks God's heart. I'm not sure why God doesn't intervene and intercept every horrible act of our free will...I'm not sure I even understand the implications if He did.  But, what I do know is that He loves us and grieves with us.  He invites us to draw close to Him and find comfort, rest, and strength to sustain us and to share with those around us.  

To quote another passage..."Comfort one another with these words."