"Obedience to God's will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to do God's will that brings certainty."
Eric Liddell, Olympic Champion and Missionary
Costume Parade
9 years ago
Monday, April 16, 2012
Listening for His Voice
Trusting and obeying God is a moment by moment choice. It is a choice of attitudes. We can grumble and complain and rebel like the Israelites in the desert or we can choose to be grateful and trusting and shine for the Lord---useful vessels ready for His hands to use to bless others and further His kingdom.
In order to trust and obey I need to abide in Him and seek his presence and guidance all day, everyday. But do I do it? I tend to let the busy chaos of each day sweep me away as I set out to accomplish My own agenda and list of pressing things. I feel irresponsible not doing that. I am pulled in two directions. But do I even hear His voice and leading. And even if I did, would I obey or push it away as a silly idea, not really from You, Lord. Ugh! I feel so confused and hard pressed. I do want to work with you, hear you and obey. I want to accomplish Your purposes over mine, even if it means upheaval and messiness. Help me Jesus. Guide me Holy Spirit. Have your way in me today.
In order to trust and obey I need to abide in Him and seek his presence and guidance all day, everyday. But do I do it? I tend to let the busy chaos of each day sweep me away as I set out to accomplish My own agenda and list of pressing things. I feel irresponsible not doing that. I am pulled in two directions. But do I even hear His voice and leading. And even if I did, would I obey or push it away as a silly idea, not really from You, Lord. Ugh! I feel so confused and hard pressed. I do want to work with you, hear you and obey. I want to accomplish Your purposes over mine, even if it means upheaval and messiness. Help me Jesus. Guide me Holy Spirit. Have your way in me today.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Happy Easter!
Someone once wrote that "When self is on the throne, Christ is on the cross. When Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross." In order to be filled with the Holy Spirit we must ask Him in and vacate to give Him room. We have to pry our hands off the wheel and give it to Him, then follow in faith. Make the radical shift to not plan and think so much, but instead trust and thank Him in faith.
I know that I need to let go of striving for control. It is futile and not possible, only an illusion. Only God is in control and thank God for that! I would mess things up horribly. But...still I try. Why? I run around confused with so many things to do. I need to shut out the world and the enemy's lies and listen only to God and ask, "Is this part of today's agenda, Lord?" if not I need to let it go until the proper time---His timing. If yes, then I need to walk in His guidance in faith.
I need to focus only on Him and not the chaos around me. This will keep life beautifully simple so that peace can enter in. HE can enter in and the Prince of Peace also. Life is messy and confusing so don't focus on it. God is orderly, simple and wise---so focus on Him. Only there is guidance and peace, sanity and productiveness.
"Be silent all flesh before the Lord; for He has roused himself from his holy dwelling." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
"And he (God) said,'Go forth, and stand upon the mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a geat and strong wind; rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind and earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." (I Kings 19:11-12)
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalms 46:10)
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!" (Psalms 27:14)
"In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust shall be your strentgh." (Isaiah 30:15)
We bless God and please Him when we seek Him in stillness and quietness. It is difficult to do this. Few even try, but He sees our efforts. We can only find Him in the quietness. Then we hear His still small voice. He can roar like a lion, but chooses not to clamor for our attention, but to wait in patiently in silence for us to listen and seek Him. He os perfectly focused on us. Don't leave Him waiting. Repent-rest-quiet your soul in trust. That is our salvation and strength. Quiet your soul, trusting Him and He will faithfully meet you and your needs there.
Even if we fall asleep or our mind wanders while we are quietly seeking Him, it is ok. He is still pleased with the effort that we are trying to seek Him. Don't worry, we all do it. Seriously, I do it way, way to often. Yikes. But still, it is wort the effort to keep faithfully seeking Him and listen. You are bringing Him joy just in the effort. He will reward you. If you seek Him you will find Him. He is waiting. So go! Meet him at the cross this Easter. It will be the best one ever!
I know that I need to let go of striving for control. It is futile and not possible, only an illusion. Only God is in control and thank God for that! I would mess things up horribly. But...still I try. Why? I run around confused with so many things to do. I need to shut out the world and the enemy's lies and listen only to God and ask, "Is this part of today's agenda, Lord?" if not I need to let it go until the proper time---His timing. If yes, then I need to walk in His guidance in faith.
I need to focus only on Him and not the chaos around me. This will keep life beautifully simple so that peace can enter in. HE can enter in and the Prince of Peace also. Life is messy and confusing so don't focus on it. God is orderly, simple and wise---so focus on Him. Only there is guidance and peace, sanity and productiveness.
"Be silent all flesh before the Lord; for He has roused himself from his holy dwelling." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
"And he (God) said,'Go forth, and stand upon the mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a geat and strong wind; rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind and earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." (I Kings 19:11-12)
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalms 46:10)
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!" (Psalms 27:14)
"In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust shall be your strentgh." (Isaiah 30:15)
We bless God and please Him when we seek Him in stillness and quietness. It is difficult to do this. Few even try, but He sees our efforts. We can only find Him in the quietness. Then we hear His still small voice. He can roar like a lion, but chooses not to clamor for our attention, but to wait in patiently in silence for us to listen and seek Him. He os perfectly focused on us. Don't leave Him waiting. Repent-rest-quiet your soul in trust. That is our salvation and strength. Quiet your soul, trusting Him and He will faithfully meet you and your needs there.
Even if we fall asleep or our mind wanders while we are quietly seeking Him, it is ok. He is still pleased with the effort that we are trying to seek Him. Don't worry, we all do it. Seriously, I do it way, way to often. Yikes. But still, it is wort the effort to keep faithfully seeking Him and listen. You are bringing Him joy just in the effort. He will reward you. If you seek Him you will find Him. He is waiting. So go! Meet him at the cross this Easter. It will be the best one ever!
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