Category: Hearing from God

Do you remember your most recent dream? What was it about? What did it mean? I only remember a few of my dreams, mainly because they were delivering very clear messages from God. Messages that helped me to re-focus rather quickly! Dreams and messages – don’t ignore them.

One of my dreams that I remember most clearly came soon after Ken and I were married. One night we had an argument. Ken went for a walk. I was emotionally exhausted so went to bed, and promptly fell asleep. I had a very vivid dream, with one lasting image – our bed, Ken lying on one side, me on the other side, and a huge snake lying in between us.

On seeing this image I woke up, phoned Ken asking him to come back immediately. He did. We apologised to each other, forgave each other and prayed.

I believe that dream was from God, a warning that there needed to be unity in our marriage as the enemy was already planning on how to cause division, after only a few weeks of marriage.

Yes, God can speak to us through dreams. And He wants us to listen.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

A friend recently shared a link to one of Ravi Zacharias’ last sermons. In the sermon he illustrated the importance of seeking God’s wisdom by recounting a story from the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar’s request for the Chaldeans to make known to him his dream and its interpretation. It’s a great story of how God delivers messages through dreams.

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams by which his spirit was troubled and agitated and his sleep went from him.

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, the enchanters or soothsayers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans [diviners], to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

And the king said to them, I had a dream and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. Daniel 2:1-3 AMPC

However, the Chaldeans wanted the king to tell them the dream first, and then they would respond with the interpretation.

Then said the Chaldeans [diviners] to the king in Aramaic [the Syrian language], O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. Daniel 2:4 AMPC

No man on earth can do that

But Nebuchadnezzar insisted – both the dream and the interpretation. And the Chaldeans continued to resist. They knew they had no way of knowing what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was because, as they expressed, they had felt only the gods could reveal that to the king.

The Chaldeans [diviners] answered before the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can show the king this matter, for no king, lord, or ruler has [ever] asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.

A rare and weighty thing indeed the king requires! None except the gods can reveal it to the king, and their dwelling is not with [human] flesh. Daniel 2:10-11 AMPC

The Chaldeans did not have a relationship with the one true God, the living God. They didn’t have access to His wisdom. The Message Bible says it like this,

The fortunetellers said, “Nobody anywhere can do what you ask. And no king, great or small, has ever demanded anything like this from any magician, enchanter or fortuneteller. What you’re asking is impossible unless some god or goddess should reveal it – and they don’t hang around with people like us. Daniel 2:10-11 The Message

Nebuchadnezzar wants answers

Nebuchadnezzar obviously wasn’t very happy with the response from the Chaldeans. He wanted answers!

That set the king off. He lost his temper and ordered the whole company of Babylonian wise men killed. When the death warrant was issued, Daniel and his companions were included. They also were marked for execution. Daniel 2:12-13 The Message

Daniel did have a relationship with the living God, and he had confidence that God would give him wisdom to respond correctly to the king’s request – providing both the dream and the interpretation. So Daniel asked the king for a little extra time to provide an answer to his request.

The mystery is solved

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel that night in a vision So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel 2: 17-19 NKJV

Daniel then went back to Nebuchadnezzar and gave him the answer. He prefaced his response with acknowledgement of where the wisdom came from.

Daniel answered the king, “No mere human can solve the king’s mystery, I don’t care who it is – no wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one. He is letting King Nebuchadnezzar in on what is going to happen in the days ahead. This is the dream you had when you were lying on your bed, the vision that filled your mind. Daniel 2:27-28 The Message

Godly wisdom

This story makes me think about James 1:5, a scripture I have posted on the wall near my desk,

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT

God speaks to us through dreams

So dreams and messages … God uses dreams to tell us about our future, just as He did with King Nebuchadnezzar. And God can give us wisdom regarding the interpretation of our dreams, just like He did for Daniel. We just need to ask Him for His wisdom.

Sometimes God uses dreams to give us information about situations, to give us greater understanding and essentially encouraging us to trust that He has got the situation sorted. God did that for Joseph when he found out Mary was pregnant.

Her fiance, Joseph, was a righteous man, full of integrity and he didn’t want to disgrace her, but when he learned of her pregnancy he secretly planned to break the engagement. While he was still debating with himself about what to do, he fell asleep and had a supernatural dream. An angel from the Lord appeared to him in clear light and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t hesitate to take Mary into your home as your wife, because the power of the Holy Spirit has conceived a child in her womb. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him ‘Saviour,’ for he is destined to give his life to save his people from their sins.”

… When Joseph awoke from his dream, he did all that the angel of the Lord instructed him to do. Matthew 1:19-21, 24 TPT

God warns us through dreams

Sometimes God uses dreams to give us warnings. Again He spoke to Joseph via a dream, warning him about Herod’s plans to kill Jesus.

Now when they had departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt. Matthew 2:13-14 NKJV

Note, the ‘they’ who had departed, were they wise men, who had also received a warning from God in a dream.

Afterward they returned to their own country by another route because God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. Matthew 2:12 TPT

Note 2: What is it with these Kings who get angry, albiet for different reasons, frustration and fear, and then respond with killing – Nebuchadnezzar and all the wise men of Babylon; Herod kills every baby boy two years old and younger in Bethlehem. This is the fallen world we live in.

God uses dreams to give us directions

In Egypt God speaks to Joseph again in a dream, this time, to give Joseph clear direction on where to go next.

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead. Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. Matthew 3:19-21 NKJV

But then Joseph is concerned because Herod’s son is now in control in Judea, so in another dream God gives Joseph further instructions.

But when he heard that Archelaus, Herod’s son, had succeeded him as ruler over all the territory of Judah, he was afraid to go back. Then he had another dream from God, warning him to avoid that region and instructing him instead to go to the province of Galilee. So he settled his family in the village of Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be known as the “Branch.” Matthew 2:22-23 TPT

God’s instructions and our obedience

How obedient is Joseph? After each of these dreams where he received the information, warnings and instructions from God, Joseph did what God asked of him. Furthermore, some of those actions fulfilled prophecy from the Old Testament.

So how important is it that we consider our dreams, asking God if He is giving us a message in them. And how important is it, to do whatever He asks us to do.

God has the big picture

Remember God has the big picture. He has the plan and He will reveal our next step, maybe via a dream, at the right time.

To finish, let’s meditate on what Daniel said when God revealed the mystery of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him …

That night the answer to the mystery was given to Daniel in a vision. Daniel blessed the God of heaven, saying,

“Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever.
He knows all, does all:
He changes the seasons and guides history,
He raises up kings and also brings them down,
he provides both intelligence and discernment,
He opens up the depths, tells secrets,
Sees in the dark – light spills out of him!
God of all my ancestors, all thanks! all praise!
You made me wise and strong.
And now you’ve shown us what we asked for.
You’ve solved the king’s mystery.”
Daniel 2:19-23 The Message

Looking for more encouragement?

Are you looking for more resources to help you draw closer to God, please check out my other blog posts and podcasts.

If you have struggling to trust God with something or someone in your life, my latest ebook may be of help to you, Choosing to trust God. It’s a short summary (only 18 pages!) of what God has been teaching me over the past 10 years about moving from a place of fear to faith. It is now available on Amazon for only $4.64.

When the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions were implemented in March 2020, in Australia, I asked God what He wanted me to do during this time. He simply said, ‘Tend to your garden.” I knew He meant literally, as our garden was long overdue some TLC. But I also knew He was speaking metaphorically about areas in my life, family relationships and other activities I’m involved in. What has God been saying to you during COVID-19?

Tending the literal garden

For me, tending to the literal garden wasn’t going to be a complex activity. It just involved a plan – with achievable goals, time, a little money, and sunshine. Over the past six weeks we have transformed our front path, planting seeds to create a border of white cottage flowers. What a joy it has been each morning to walk out the front door and see the growth.

Another section of the garden has been weeded and had turf laid. In the midst of those improvements a stunning white Camellia tree has bloomed, dropping petals white as snow on the newly laid turf. So beautiful.

Our youngest daughter has planted seeds to create flower borders around two trees. The shoots are starting to come through now. Doing this gardening together with her is part of the other ‘tend to your garden’ that God was speaking to me about.

Tending to relationships

Through our journey of having four children and one with cancer who obviously required more attention, understanding the concept of love languages has been essential. They have helped immensely in working to restore relationships with our other children. For more information on love languages, see ‘The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell.’

Over the years we had purposefully implemented routines and strategies to increase the frequency that we ‘spoke’ each child’s love language. Strategies that God used to bring healing into relationships. For example, for those with a love language of Quality Time, we identified specific times during the weekly schedule. They often happened in the car on the way to sporting activities.

So guess what happened when the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions came in? Sport stopped, and along with it those precious Quality Time moments. The flow on-effect? Increased tension and frustration as the love tanks were suddenly running very low!

How do we do this now?

There was frustration for me as well as the children. I was so angry with the enemy for attempting to destroy what God had restored.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV

However, I am grateful for all God has taught me over the years about the enemy’s attempts to steal, kill and destroy. A couple of key scriptures that help me in these times of frustration – although sometimes only after I have loudly expressed my frustration! ….

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

God says, ‘Do it this way.’

So with the help of the Holy Spirit we have created new ways of ‘speaking’ each child’s love language in this COVID-19 season and possibly beyond. And yes, for one child, that does include time in the garden. Praise God. He always has a plan and it is good.

Another area that I knew God was referring to with the ‘Tend to your garden’ response was a ministry group I am involved with.

In January this year God spoke to me about doing something new with the group. I was excited about what He had said, but did not know how to implement it. Sure I had ideas, but none of them seemed to be feasible, so I did nothing.

Yesterday I was outside at sunrise preparing the ground for laying the turf before the forecasted rain came, when God spoke to me about that new thing. He said something like, ‘Now is the time to do that, and do it this way.’ The strategy was brillant, masterful! Thank you God.

In January, how could I have known that COVID-19 would impact our country in this way? And that there would be a flow-on affect impacting the way our group operated? How could I have known that this would be the perfect time to implement what God had spoken to me about? The answer to all these questions is, ‘I couldn’t have known.’ Only God knew.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV

Make space to hear what God wants to say

So why am I sharing these stories? Because I really believe God has at least one thing, probably more, He wants to say to each of us during this time. And His words to us, as always, are critical for our future. They give us purpose and the strategies on how to achieve that purpose.

How are you going to make space in your day to hear what God wants to say to you?

For some more thoughts on hearing from God please visit these posts:
God hears our heart’s cry
God’s timing and our patience
God is listening – Day 22 – Drawing Closer to God devotion

A couple of months ago at church we had a Pastor from overseas visiting. In the morning service at the end of his sermon he asked who would like to receive from God what he had been preaching about. I felt the Holy Spirit say “Put your hand up.” So I did.

In the evening service, the visiting Pastor was preaching again. After the sermon he invited people to come out for prayer. I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Go out for prayer.” So I did.

When it was my turn to be prayed for I explained what had happened in the morning service, and why I had come out for prayer. He said something like, “Okay” and started the praying for me. One of the things he said during the prayer was, “You have been holding God’s hand, now let God hold your hand.” And then he demonstrated it, taking my right hand reaching up to hold God’s hand; then with a hand reaching down to hold my hand.

I was perplexed. What does that mean? How do I do that? Here is my processing over the next few days …

Start with a simple prayer, “God, I don’t know how to do that, please show me.”

Then search for scriptures about God holding our hand.

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ Isaiah 41:13 NKJV

That’s a good start, meditate on that scripture

Still having difficulty understanding, so I think about what it is like for me as a parent when I reach out to hold my child’s hand. What is their response – they take my hand, and let me gently guide them with a firm and safe grip.

Okay, now I am starting to understand, a little. I need to release my grip, re-position my hand, so God is doing the guiding, not me.

But what does that look like practically?

Literally a laying down of my plans and only acting when the Holy Spirit prompts. This is the strategy I have been using with my book project, and I have seen the fruit of doing it God’s way – the doors opening easily in His timing. Now God was telling me I needed to use the same strategy with this children’s creative ministry – only plan as the Holy Spirit prompts; only do what the Holy Spirit shows me to do, and when He shows me to do it.

Because I, your God,  have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’
Isaiah 41:13 The Message

With the children’s creative ministry, due to a change in circumstances with some members of our team, we were going to have to change the way we were running the program. So, the first step, “God, we have to change this, how do we do it?”

His practical answer, “Use this format, invite these people to help.” We have done as He said, and He has breathed something fresh upon the children and we are seeing their creative gifts coming forth in new ways. It’s so good!

Thank you God for speaking to me, telling me how I needed to change, so we could then change what we are doing with the program and have a greater impact on this next generation.

For the past year I have had a book (well actually 4 books) sitting on my bedside table, and I haven’t started reading any of them. A couple of weeks ago I was prompted to start reading one of them, a compilation of 9 of Derek Prince’s books, Derek Prince on Experiencing God. The first book in the compilation is The Holy Spirit in You. Very interesting God, You are making sure I really get the message about relying less on my abilities and more on the Holy Spirit!

Here is a passage from the chapter ‘Our indwelling helper’….

“What does it mean for us, practically, that the Holy Spirit has come to be our Paraclete? We will being by looking again at the passage in John 14:16-18 where Jesus gave this specific promise:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor [Paraclete] to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. [You can see that this is a promise only for believers, not the world.] I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (NIV)

“The word paraclete, derived from a Greek source, was simply transliterated into English. It literally means “someone who is called alongside to help.” A Paraclete is someone who can do something for you that you cannot do for yourself.” Page 27

Wow, that is who is available to us as believers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, someone, the Holy Spirit, who can do things for us that we cannot do for ourselves. It is so important that we are regularly reminded of this truth so we can be as effective as possible in doing what God has called us each to do.

And if you are like me, a planner, that reminder might just have to come from God via another believer from another country, in a very direct manner. Just as it did for me in this example with this visiting Preacher from overseas. Praise God for the freedom in this country to gather, hear the word of God and pray for one another in Jesus Name.

One final thought, let’s always be open to learning more of God’s ways and giving Him time and space to speak into our lives.

In this full life lingering isn’t something that I often do. But this year God has been teaching me about the power in lingering. Being more of a Mary and sitting at the feet of Jesus and linger a little longer. I’m sure you know the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 …

Mary and Martha

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.”

The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” Luke 10:38-42 TPT

Over the years God has shown me the importance of sitting undistracted at His feet. This year He has been saying, stay there just a little bit longer. More of the ‘Be still, and know that I am God‘ (Psalm 46:10).

Three ways to linger

This lingering has played out in three different ways, firstly in my own prayer time; secondly when praying for people at church or healing services; and thirdly when praying at the school our children attend.

In my prayer time

In my own prayer time, when I am sitting, being still, not asking God for anything, just listening for what He wants to say, after I have heard something from Him there is a great temptation to say, “Thanks God, that’s good. I’ll mediate on that and I’ll talk with you some more later.” I guess that is not unlike when I am speaking with one of my children, wanting to communicate a few key things to them, and once they’ve heard the first one, they get up ready to leave saying, “Thanks Mum, got it.” And I say, “Hold on, there is more.” They stop and listen, albeit sometimes reluctantly.

However in these conversations with God I have noticed that sometimes my fleshly desire to ‘get on and do things’ means that I completely miss the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit telling me, “Wait, there is more.” And so I have learnt to linger a little longer once I have heard something from God, and most times there is something else that He wants to say. Something just as important as the first thing. Or maybe it is something else He wants me to see, as I’ll share further on in this post.

So now I am at the place, where after hearing two things, I will ask the question, “Is there something else God you want to speak to me about today?” Sometimes there is silence and I know that I have received all that is required for this moment. Sometimes there is more.

Praying for others

I have taken what I have learnt about this ‘lingering and listening a little longer’ in my own prayer time, and applied it when praying ‘face to face’ for other people. Before bursting into prayer, most times now I just take time to wait on the Lord. Simply waiting for His prompting on what to pray, not afraid of the silence, because that gives Him space to speak and be heard.

And then again, when the time of prayer seems to becoming to a close, I ask Him, “Is there anything else for this person God, specific healing? a word of encouragement from you? a prophetic word? a picture?” Often there is, and it is the thing that brings the touch of God and often the tears start to flow. Lingering and listening can open the way for God’s love to flow to others.

Praying in the playground

The third realm where God has been teaching me about lingering a little longer is in the playground, literally. A couple of times a week, I along with some other mums, with the permission of the school, walk around the school grounds praying. Sometimes the students are all in class, sometimes they are out and about on the grounds.

This week I was at an assembly. The assembly had finished and as the children were going to their classes, I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Sit a while longer.” So I waited until there was only one class left, and then I saw what He wanted to show me. A child for whom I know that school has not been easy, and there she was laughing and interacting beautifully with the children in her class. A child, one of many, that we had prayed for as we regularly walked through the school corridors.

I was so grateful to the Holy Spirit prompting me to linger so that I could see that joy, a tangible reminder that God is continually at work in each of our lives, wanting us to live with the freedom and joy that only He can give.

Linger a little longer today

So today let’s linger a little longer in His presence, listen to what He wants to say, see what He wants to show us, so we can do what He wants us to do.

We carry this confidence in our hearts because of our union with Christ before God. Yes we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 TPT

For some more thoughts on being in the presence of God please visit this post: The River – Day 27 – Drawing Closer to God devotion

If you are looking for more encouragement today, check out my podcasts.

“Don’t strive – live!” Those are the words I heard from God earlier this week. Sounds strangely similar to words I sometimes hear from my husband, “Wendy, does everything need to run to a schedule? Lets be spontaneous!”

Don’t strive. What does that mean? Does it mean that I have slipped back into doing things in my strength, not God’s strength? Highly likely!

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 AMP.

So what needs to change? I’m not exactly sure, but a good starting place is taking a breath, being still, and asking God what needs to change. Obviously He knows and I need to listen.

Be still and ask God

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has become His counselor?” Romans 11:33-34 NKJV

As the years go by in this walk with Jesus, I realise more and more my absolute need for Him in my everyday life. How is it that I ever did life before having Jesus as my best friend? Oh I remember, I did it all in my own strength. An example from my corporate life, working hard, exhausting myself so much so that every six months I would become physically sick and have at least a week off work! Not really a sustainable way to live. Definitely striving.

Our Counsellor

So what’s different now? I have a counsellor that is continually with me.

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. John 14:26 AMP

The Holy Spirit. He’s not pushy. He doesn’t force his opinions on me. He waits for me to ask him for guidance. Sometimes I am way too slow in asking. And sometimes I don’t ask at all, and that’s when the problems start.

And not only do we have the Holy Spirit, we also have available to us a peace that transcends all understanding …

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]  John 14:27 AMP

Thank you Jesus! For me that feeling of uneasiness about a situation, is sometimes an indication of striving. Me not doing things God’s way because I haven’t bothered to seek His thoughts, or running ahead of God’s perfect timing because I am too impatient to wait. Both perfect opportunities to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Of course once I do ask and wait, that sense of God’s perfect peace does bring clam and gives me courage and strength.

Striving vs Living

To help me understand what He meant, yesterday God gave me a practical lesson on ‘Don’t strive – live’. He showed me what living looks like compared to striving. We had a situation that was causing issues, but we had no answers for how to resolve it. Notice the ‘we had no answers’. So after 7 weeks of grappling with this issue, at the point of complete frustration we prayed a really heartfelt prayer. Not a half-hearted prayer, semi-relying on God to provide an answer. But a complete ‘God we need your answer to this situation’.

We then entered the situation with a different attitude, with a heart prepared to love and show grace. The issue arose again. But this time the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see something different – the perfect answer to the problem. It was an answer that none of us could have imagined as it was so opposite to the situation, yet so simple. We looked on in amazement. I felt like a little school girl with the teacher saying to me, ‘If you’d just asked me earlier I could have shown you the steps to solve this and you would have avoided all this heartache.’

Don’t strive – live. Okay Jesus, I’m starting to get the picture, the picture of where the striving has crept in and my reliance on you has reduced. Thank you for your gentle guidance and conviction.

Take the time to listen

My prayer is that what I’ve shared in this post will encourage you in a few ways, firstly to take time to hear what God is wanting to tell you; secondly if you don’t understand what He means, seek him for clarity; and thirdly to have the courage to live His way in every area of your life – a daily challenge for us all.

Jesus came to give us life, life to the full, and isn’t that what we want for ourselves and those around us?

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. John 10:10 AMP

For some more thoughts on living life with Jesus please visit this post: Christ’s sufficiency – Day 29 – Drawing Closer to God devotion

If you are looking for more encouragement today, check out my podcasts.

Oh how I am enjoying these weekly appointments with God, outside in creation, hearing from Him in a different way. Listening and watching, anticipating that He is going to speak to me through His creation. And He never disappoints.

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?
Job 12:7-10 NKJV

This week there was some wind and drizzling rain but I wasn’t going to let that deter me. Memories of sailing in much more inclement weather flooded back and reminded me of how comfortable my life has become. And that it was good for me to step out, into the weather, to purposefully meet with my Heavenly Father.

So I set off, confident that I would have yet another insightful encounter with God. This regular sitting, remaining silent in nature is a new way for me to hear from God. It has been so good for my soul to do something different, something fresh, and the revelation that comes from this time is reflecting that newness.

Anyway, this week I was sitting, becoming still, and I felt the wind on my face, again those memories of sailing came back. Then I became aware of the rain drizzling down my face, a soft cleansing. A cicada chirping in the distance caught my attention. Then it was like the wind, rain and chirping disappeared, although they were still there, and I heard the clear singing of a little bird for maybe 5 or 10 seconds, and then it was gone. The wind, rain and cicada chirping came into the fore again.

It was as though God was reminding me that sometimes there is a lot of noise around and we have to be listening attentively to hear His voice, otherwise we might miss it. And we don’t want to miss what He has to say, because His truth gives us life and helps us to better discern between His ways and the world’s ways.

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. Romans 12:2 TPT

The point of this post? Two things. First, to encourage you to try something different in your quiet time with God. Secondly to be more purposeful in learning how to discern God’s voice despite the noise.

Let’s pray,

Jesus, thank you that you are for us so who can be against us. Please help us to take time to listen to you, whatever that looks like each and every day. Thank you that you give us courage to do new things and in that we can be expectant to hear new things from you. Thank you that you are transforming us, please help us to co-operate in that process. Thank you for your grace and patience as we learn more of your ways. Help us to be gracious and patient too with those around us. In your name we pray and live. Amen