Hearing God with that Inner Voice

4/4/13 Reportedly, Albert Einstein said, “Any fool can know; the point is to understand.” (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/) In much the same way, reading the Bible is not a matter of accruing information, but of gaining understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Paul prays and asks God for such guidance for believers at Ephesus…”give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:17b)

We get to know Him better from the spirit within us. Henri J.M. Nouwen calls it “that inner voice that shows you the way.” (Inner Voice of Love, p. 6)

But…..how can we know it’s His voice one might ask? You take it all back to God’s Word. 

Buddy Jones, Bible teacher at First Evan’s men’s group, says it well and succinctly, "Our understanding of and our relationship to Jesus is inextricably linked to our understanding of and our relationship to Scripture. “Understanding of” is head knowledge and "relationship to " has to do with submission.” If you get the Scriptures right, you get Jesus right! (my “loose” translation)

Don’t study the Bible for information alone. Study the Bible to know Him better and to hear His voice. The more we understand His Word, the more clearly we hear that inner voice. The more you know of Him, the more you hear from Him. 

Don’t lose touch with that inner voice.

BINGO RETORT!

4/3/13 BINGO!! Pastor Cole's excerpts from Steve Brown's, Three Free Sins--God's Not Mad at You, have continued to resonate with me. After one of his lectures the author encountered a critic, and in response to said criticisms, Prof. Brown simply said, "BINGO!" You got it right. I am selfish. My mother knew it. My wife knows it too.

From then on, BINGO became his reply to harsh criticism. "You're NOT fit to be a Christian!"

Brown's retort, "BINGO!---That's why Christ died for me!"

Instead of trying to come up with a defense, Dr. Brown gave the best defense. Truth from God's Word seemed to have released him from the bondage of trying to please others or live up to their expectations. 

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

Perhaps others need to employ the "Bingo Retort" and cut themselves some slack as they rest in the knowledge of the full assurance of God's love and forgiveness.

BINGO!!!!!  

Creature of Habit

4/2/13 Usually I can be found in a public restroom, 2nd stall. The "usually" adverb is a result of aging, I think. The 2nd stall habit---I'm not so sure why that's my stall of choice. Is it a gravitational pull? Certainly fits the definition of a habit---a recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition (thefreedictionary.com) Certainly there are other patterns in my life that I wished had more of a pull on me. Good habits in my daily "walk." More meditation time. More prayer time. More "doing unto others" service time.

In the spiritual realm, such habits would be labeled "disciplines" and the metaphoric gravitational pull would emanate from "above." Habits more in line with the "b" definition of habit....an established disposition of the mind or character."(thefreedictionary.com)

Certainly character is a spiritual aspect of discipline. Establishing that discipline requires training---or is that redundant? Molding and perfecting one's moral character requires discipline, in order to keep recurring....to become a "spiritual" habit.

I am.....a creature of habit. So....you'll probably still find me in the 2nd stall----but maybe I'll have my "spiritual disciplines" book in there with me.

In pursuit of God's voice...one MUST meditate on His Word.

4/1/13 Pursuing God' voice is no April Fool's endeavor, it's serious business. Who better to turn to, other than the Bible, but the godly and scholarly Blackabys. Hearing God's Voice is not exactly a "quick read" but God has already shown me some "well written" (easy to Google translate) info. 

Two "how tos of hearing God's voice" already addressed in this blog are:

• God does speak so we need to learn how to listen...
• And God speaks through His Word. 

Conclusion is we need to be reading and meditating on God's Word. Blackaby refers to meditation as the "nourishing of the inner man." (p. 108)

Three of Blackaby's points for savoring scripture are:

• Take your time---can't meditate in a hurry.
•  Choose a reasonable amount of scripture so you can give full attention to every word. 
• Choose verses as God leads, maybe from passages you are regularly studying or He might draw you to verses that have a particular relevance to your current circumstances.

This meditation Monday, I am lead to Psalm 95, as I continue to "camp out" in the Psalms this year---especially in my intercessory prayer times. I focused on verses 6-8 because that's where God stopped me for further "consideration."

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you would hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 

What is God saying to me in in this passage? Briefly, He reminds me that as my guiding, protecting Shepherd, He is worthy of my worship. "If" in verse 8 is a word I will look up because "IF" is often rendered "since"---either way, obedience seems to go with that hearing---so action needs to take place otherwise my heart will be hardened as it was for the Israelites at Meribah. Did they just not hear or did they hear and choose not to obey. Is hearing with the intention of obeying the complete package of "listening to His voice?" Hearing requires a response. A heeding that leads to a behavioral change.

Those are my meditation reflections, what are yours?

EASTER SNAPSHOTS ADDENDUM

3/31/13 A perfect note from France for the end of a blessed Easter Day.

Thanks Aggie. Maybe someday I will get to meet you face to face!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: EASTER WEEK '13

3/31/13  A great week approaching "Resurrection Day"---too bad Google only acknowledged today as Chavez's Birthday. But God.....showed me throughout this last week the ins and outs and joys of celebrations within the community of faith. What blessings I experienced!

Sara and Jeanette make every FEC Wednesday night special for our own household of faith!

Homemade for Easter lunch in Batesville, MS using "passed down" cake forms, the best kind!

Flowers picked prior to the cold snap---I so love that my "matching" cross and mug were gifts from 2 different people, from 2 different TN counties, who went at 2 different times  to MS to shop & both thought of me. 

April in her Easter bonnet....

"Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand..."

Around the kitchen table with family for  Easter lunch

Late afternoon delivery by Lilly, my favorite Easter bunny  and her  helpful daughters, who were rice girls in our wedding----that's how far back we go! What a perfect cap to a great week with other Christians!

DR. SEUSS, POSITIVELY

3/30/13 As Theatre Works actors explored from the Jungle of Nool and McElligot's Pool to Solla Sollew and Whoville, the "mostly young" audience was enthralled by the simple set and the vivid characters of "Seussical the Musical."

But....along the way some great life lessons in kindness and friendship were shown, especially through Horton the Elephant and Gertrude McFuzz, a little bird with only one feather. Perseverance was taught as Horton KEPT looking  for his friends on a small speck of dust as he searched over 1 million clover.
Dogged determination. Because...."A person's a person. No matter how small!

Horton's character traits of steadfast determination coupled with stamina and tenacity continue as he endures the duping of lazy Mayzie La Bird, ridicule of friends, attacks of hunters and horrid weather conditions.....because...."I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 per cent!"

McElligot's Pool Residents

JoJo and the"small"  Whos from Whoville 

Ashley and Owen's favorite part---the Cat in the Hat riding  a tricycle!

Horton faithfully "sitting on Mayzie's Egg while his "friends" make fun of him.

Runaway Mayzie sees captured Horton who is still sitting on her egg after 51 weeks ---AND an "elephant-bird" is hatched. "True friend" Gertrude McFuzz agrees to help raise the baby.

What a great way to spend Friday night with 5 year old grandson, Owen and his 5 year old friend, Ashley, learning "positive" life lessons while having fun. I wonder if they heard all those "positives?

GOD SPEAKS

3/29/13 God speaks. He really does. The key to "hearing" from God is reading and studying the scriptures. Being in God's Word is paramount!

Last night as I worked on my Bible Study fellowship lesson, the following verses were given to compare. Genesis 35:13-14, Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 5:24, Ezekiel 3:22 and John 14:23-24. What was the common denominator? God speaking.

Of course it was!! Once again God confirmed to me that my blogging this week was where He wanted it to be! What an affirmation.

• Genesis 35:13--God spoke (talked, KJV) with Jacob and "Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him (God) 
• Exodus 33:11--the Lord speaks to Moses face to face "as one speaks to a friend." 
• Deuteronomy 5:24--Israelites hearing from Moses after God had given the "Ten Commandments"say, "we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives." 
• Ezekiel 3:22--To Ezekiel, God's prophet and watchman to the house of Israel; God said, "whenever you hear a word from My mouth," (v.17) warn them from Me. After E's obedience God said to him, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 
• John 14:23-24--Jesus' speaks in scripture the words of His Father that we might "hear" from God, "These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."

DId you "hear" those words in your head as you read them? Do you see it? God spoke to me through words of scripture as I studied "ahead of time" for Monday's BSF lesson knowing that Easter week-end, being mainly spent with family, would not allow me much extra "study" time. So timely. His timing. His words of affirmation, just when I needed them!

How about you? Is God speaking to you right now? If not, get into His word and give Him a chance. He won't disappoint. He'll clearly speak to you right where you are. 

More clari-TEA needed

3/28/13 Kitchen table chat yesterday had JoLynn reminding me that hearing from God is a spiritual communication. Neither of us have ever heard a “deep grandfatherly” sounding voice speaking audibly to us---rather we have “heard” our own thoughts revealing truth from Him. The voice of the Lord seems to come to us in our own thoughts. Like an impression, a nudge or a check. To me a “check in my spirit” is like a mini-warning---a “better slow down and rethink that! If I don't have peace about it---that’s my “check---I know I need to look at the options….until I hear the voice of peace.

All of these thoughts are mine alone--gleaned through experience, nothing more. God’s voice might not come to others in this way.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:22, NIV) Believers make up God’s church, so we need to “listen for His Spirit.

GOD’s WORD--In order to actually “hear” from God we need to know about who God it. That helps us determine His character, thus making it easier to discern His voice. The Bible, God’s Word, is the only true source for that information. Too often folks see God as what they want Him to be or as culture labels Him to be. Those views can impair one’s “hearing.”

OTHER PEOPLE--God can use other people to “speak” His truth to us and offer godly counsel. He can use anyone BUT it’s safer to be lead by other believers. How can one even discern a true believer?

The Spirit itself beareth witness with (testifies to) our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16) That spirit is recognizable in others---it’s how we recognize ourselves and others as God’s children.

CIRCUMSTANCES---God uses these BIG time in my life. My cancer journey taught me lessons in forgiveness and trust. All were from Him---without me ever “hearing” an audible word.

Circumstances, advice from others, nudges.  How do I know they are from Him. Every “message” needs to be filtered through His word. Does it align with scripture? Does it promote His purpose by glorifying Him? The Bible is our most important tool in hearing God’s voice. His Word is like our policy and procedure manual.

God wants us to “get to know my voice”, as John 10:4 states, his “sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Discerning His voice will take time and work---but it’s so worth it.

Praying for my readers today that God will “pour out clari-TEA” on this topic.

clari-TEA

3/27/13

clariTEA---much is needed to concisely and accurately answer the question, “How does one hear God’s voice?” One will need to “sip” along with me these next few days in order to “strain” out the truth. A big gulp, all at once, could be “too hard to swallow.”

clariTEA needed from Thee to me!

Let’s start with examination. 

• Examine your heart. Ask, “Do I really want to hear what God has to say to me?” 
• Examine your mind. “Do I have God’s Word implanted there?” If not, ask self “Am I willing to do the work and study the scriptures?” 

If those answers are yes, then start here.

Examine surroundings---are they conducive to listening---not just hearing but really listening? A busy lifestyle isn’t very conducive to hearing God’s voice---though He can “speak” anytime, anyplace.

Monday night at BSF, Sally Jones shared an acronym for “busy.”

B eing

U nder

S atan’s

Y oke

Busy-ness is what keeps us there in that wrong place---“yoked to the ways of the world.”

Psa. 46:10 might be a good place to start to “tune” our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. Stillness in one’s spirit is more conducive to hearing Him speak in that “still, small voice” as He did to Elijah. (1 Kings 19:12, KJV)

But, the stage was set for Elijah to hear so as to listen. There was a need. He was zealous for the Lord. He was alone. Elijah was willing to go out and stand “in the presence of the Lord.”

Then God spoke to Elijah---after the great wind that tore mountains apart and the earthquake and the fire---“in a gentle whisper.” (I Kings 19:10-15)

One must pray for clarity (our clariTEA) as God’s word is read.