3 Easy Steps for Listening to God

During my sabbatical, I want more than anything to cultivate my relationship with God. This guest post is one you will enjoy--I need to hear it myself and have taken it to heart. I am so glad Ginger Harrington is sharing this word of encouragement with us. More than anything, our Savior longs to meet with us...to speak to us...Thanks, Ginger for bringing us a word today.

 

3 Easy Ways for Listening to God

 

Ever feel like there are marshmallows clogging your ears when it comes to hearing God? We long to hear from God, but sometimes lack confidence that God will speak personally to us.

 

Hebrews 1:1 speaks to this very question that can plague our souls.

 

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son..."

 

The passage goes on to say that Jesus sustains everything by the word of His power.

 

Bottom line: God speaks through Jesus and the sustaining power of His Word.

 

Expect to Hear From God

 

Learning to listen to God comes easier when we come with the faith and expectation that He will speak to us through His Word.

 

It can be so tempting to approach having a devotional time with God (quiet time) as one more good thing to be crammed into an over-loaded day.

 

We all have to resist the Wheaties mentality..."It's supposed to be good for you..." but our hearts chase after other things.

 

Activity or Relationship?

 

When we begin to approach spending time with God as an activity rather than a relationship, we are missing the point.

 

Hearing God through the Scriptures is about relationship. Too often, we are more focused on information and performance [doing what good Christians are supposed to do]. I can only say this because I have done it -- a lot.

 

The most important things about having a Quiet Time is what God has to say, not how long I spend, or how many facts I can collect. It is a matter of the heart longing to grow deeper in relationship with the living, loving, ever-present God who specializes in grace.

 

Invited to Enter in, Just as You Are

 

Listen to the heart of God for relationship in this verse that I have rephrased in the first person: "Approach me with confidence so that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of your need" [Hebrews 4:16, rephrased].

 

This come-as-you-are invitation relieves us of the feeling that we must somehow get ourselves clean and polished before coming to God. God's heart is wide open for relationship, and learning to recognize His voice breaks through the barrier of our misunderstanding and skewed expectations.

 

Begin to read the Bible as a conversation with the God who loves you more than you could ever understand.

 

3 Ways to Listen to God

 

Observation: What does it say?

Interpretation: What does it mean?

Application: What will I do about it?

 

As you read Scripture and listen, the Holy Spirit will speak, using your mind to direct attention and give insight, or sight into what He wants to say to you today. As you listen, follow the train of Spirit-led thought.

 

"But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." [John 16:13]

 

What is God saying to you today?

 

                                                      Ginger

 



Speaker, writer, and worship leader, Ginger Harrington ministers to women in a variety of ways. Encouraging women to discover practical ways to go deeper with God is an emphasis evident in her popular blog, Ginger’s Corner: Where the Spiritual Meets the Practical.  Come visit Ginger’s blog at www.gingerharrington.com and connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gingerscorner. 

You can also watch Ginger’s videos on Youtube:

The How Not toWorship Song and My God Ears are On: Listen to Godwith Confidence.   

 

 

A Serving of Streams in the Desert

I  shared my love for the devotional, Streams in the Desert yesterday and would like to share a few servings of its wisdom. Every entry is filled with Scriptural insight that prods my heart to seek more of Him.

From July 27 Entry:

“Prove Me now” Malachi 3:10

“What is God is saying here but this, “My child, I still have windows in heaven…the bolts slide as easily as of old. The hinges have not grown rusty…..I opened them for Moses, and the sea parted. I opened then for Joshua and Jordan rolled back….I will open them for you—if you will only let me. On this side of the windows, heaven is the same rich storehouse as of old. The fountains and streams still overflow. The treasure rooms are still bursting with gifts. The lack is not on MY side. It is on yours. I’m waiting. Prove me now…..bring in the tithes. Give Me a chance.”  Selected

From July 28 Entry:

“Have you asked to be made like your Lord? Have you longed for the fruit of the Spirit, and have you prayed for sweetness and gentleness and love? Then fear not the stormy tempest this is at the moment sweeping through your life. A blessing is in the storm, and there will be a rich fruitage in the “afterward.”    Henry Ward Beecher

From July 29 Entry:

“Our trials are great opportunities. Too often we look on them as great obstacles…If we look back upon the past, many of us will find that the very time hour heavenly Father has chosen to do the kindest things for us, and given us the richest blessing, has been the time we were strained and shut in on every side. God’s jewels are often sent us in rough packages….” 

This rich work is filled with blessings and touches the hard places right where we live.  Along with a copy of the Scriptures I am nudged closer to the Lord, being transformed to be more and more like Jesus.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I am learning to look for His work around me every day. He is there. His fingerprints are the signature of His working in us and through us. He is longing to work miracles in your life just as He did in the lives of those we read about.

I hope you see Him working today, 

Jeanne

Quotations are taken from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman, published Zondervan Publishing House ©  1965

 

 

Images courtesy of Morguefile.com

31 Day Blog Challenge

 

Easy Bible Reading Plan

Have you ever read the Bible all the way through from Genesis to Revelation? Not in one sitting of course, but say over a year or two? Ever thought about it?

There are different ways to rise to the challenge but the simplest is by using the One Year Bible. Daily readings are laid out for you with portions from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. They are dated so you can begin anytime during the year and read your way through the whole of Scripture.

The daily readings take about 15 minutes a day.

The benefit lasts a lifetime.

The Bible consists of 66 books inspired by the Holy Spirit and they are meant to impact our lives with radical living and produce even more radical faith. And, the Bible is full of crazy characters to discover.

In my own reading journey, I’ve discovered the rich connections in the Old and New Testaments. I have grown both in my knowledge of Scripture and my relationship with my Heavenly Father; the Bible is His word—His message of love to me.

The One Year Bible is inexpensive. It’s a great investment in your personal growth as a seeker of Him.

You can find The One Year Bible in different formats, even large print and Kindle editions.

Will you take the challenge to discover the whole of God's Word this year?

Jeanne