Hearing God's Voice ..... Craig Denison

 Hearing God's Voice

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

You and I have been given the invaluable gift of communication with God. Last week we learned about the process of making the soil of our hearts soft and receptive to God. This week we’ll learn some different ways to receive the seed of his word. May your communion with God flourish as you engage in continual conversation with your loving, present heavenly Father.

Scripture: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13

Devotional:

God desires to speak directly to you.As a good Father, he longs to engage with you in continual conversation. So great was his longing for communication that he’s given you the gift of the Holy Spirit. You now have access to the heart of God through the Spirit. You can know his will, hear his voice, and live with the knowledge of his love.

John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” If you are a Christian, the “Spirit of truth” has come. He dwells within you. He longs to tell you how God feels about you. He longs to guide you to the Father’s perfect, hopeful, and pleasing plans (Jeremiah 29:11). His voice is perfect, full of love, and always truthful. He will never guide you into something that isn’t best for you. He will never speak hate or condemnation to you. As John 16:13 promises, he will declare to you what he hears the Father say.

Let the truth that God desires to have real, life-transforming conversations with you sink into your heart for a minute. Think about what it means for your own life to have communication with God. Your Creator longs to help you with your decisions, relationships, work, finances, and identity. God himself wants to talk with you about your life—to fully know you and be known by you.

Just as any good parent loves talking with their children, your heavenly Father loves talking to you, his child. You see, God speaking to you is so little about your ability to hear his voice and so much more about his desire for you to know him. His voice in your life is just another product of grace, God’s unmerited favor for those who believe. Like any conversation, you will only hear him when you are listening. And just like any good conversation, God longs to hear from you as well.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Have faith that God longs to speak to you. Draw near to him in the assurance that he is already filled with love for you. The Holy Spirit longs to have a communicative relationship with you. Let the weight of conversation with God rest on his shoulders, trust in his word and his character, and listen to whatever he would speak to you today.

As you enter into guided prayer, take time to quiet your heart and listen to the voice of the Spirit.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Take a moment to quiet your mind and soul. Receive God’s presence and meditate on the important truth that the Spirit speaks.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”John 16:13

2. Now listen to God. If you have a situation, question or anything you want to ask him, now is the time! God longs for you to tell him what you want help with. If you just want to know how he feels about you, ask him! Again, the weight of God speaking is on him. Trust him and his timing. God does desire to speak to you.

3. Write down whatever God tells you. Rest in the goodness of what he’s spoken.

Communicating with God is similar to engaging in conversation with a close friend. I don’t go to my friend and ask them to tell me anything so I know they are real. Rather, I seek to know them as a person and conversation takes place as a result. Seek to know God as deeply as possible. Trust that he is real and that he speaks. Talk with him because you simply want to know him. And rest in the fact that you will have conversation with your loving heavenly Father throughout eternity. May your day be marked by life-giving conversation with the Holy Spirit.

Extended Reading: Psalm 27

The Fruitful Giver..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Fruitful Giver

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

If you've ever visited Israel, you have no doubt experienced the contrast between the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. The banks of the Jordan are surrounded by trees and greenery, but nothing lives around the Dead Sea. The reason is that there is no outlet. When the water flows into that sea, it stays there. Eventually the salts accumulate and poison the water.

This is a vivid picture of two different financial plans. The Dead Sea compares to the world's system, which is based on accumulation and preservation of wealth. The goal is to get enough so you can have enough, but this approach results in self-centered stagnation. Christians who follow this plan mistakenly believe it's the path to security. But what they fail to understand is that hoarding makes their lives spiritually unfruitful and hinders the good works God wants them to do.

The Lord's financial plan is like a river that moves continuously. As His provisions flow into our lives, we pass them on to others. This results in a fruitful life centered on building God's kingdom. Perhaps you've realized that He promises to supply "bread for food" to those who give, but did you know He'll also provide "seed for sowing" (v. 10)? He supplies enough to live and enough to give.

Have you hindered your spiritual growth by sowing sparingly? If you become a generous giver, God promises to "increase the harvest of your righteousness" (v. 10). There are needs in the church and the world that He wants to meet through your generosity. Let His blessings flow through you.

That Doesn’t Sound Like My God..... ALICIA BRUXVOORT

 That Doesn’t Sound Like My God

ALICIA BRUXVOORT

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)

The clank of shattering glass sent her racing from the room. And by the time I stepped on the scene, all that remained of the cup my child had been holding was a puddle of apple juice and a spray of fractured glass.

After cleaning up the mess, I found my youngest daughter crouched between the tall, white dresser and the pale, yellow wall in the corner of her bedroom.

I peered into the shadowed space. “Why are you hiding?”

“Daddy will be mad I broke my big-girl cup,” my 3-year-old replied. I stared at my little girl’s sagging shoulders and tried to formulate a wise reply.

The words “mad” and “dad” rarely belong in the same sentence at our house. My husband’s character is one of gentle presence. He’s slow to raise his voice and quick to offer grace. He is patient and forgiving, good-humored and calm.

But before I could respond, my 3-year-old’s big sister looked up from the book she was reading and giggled. “That doesn’t sound like my daddy!” she declared with a shrug of her slender shoulders.

I gave my older daughter a knowing nod, then spoke to the tear-stained face behind the dresser. “Your daddy cares more about you than that cup. I think he’ll just be glad you didn’t get hurt.”

By the time my husband got home, my daughter’s anxiety had been replaced with relief. And the same feet that had propelled her into hiding carried her right into her daddy’s arms as he walked through the door.

Even if we have never had an earthly father who showed us compassion in a moment of brokenness — or at all — and even if we are not 3 feet tall, when it comes to our relationship with our heavenly Father sometimes we resemble that little girl behind the dresser more than we’d like to admit. I know I do.

I’ve experienced God’s kindness and faithfulness, His mercy and love. Yet when I’m sitting in my own space of disappointment or fear, I’m prone to paint my heavenly Father’s character through the filter of my feelings.

When the circumstances around me are messy and broken, I may adopt the narrative that God isn’t at work in my situation.

When I’m faced with the ache of loss, I may tell myself God doesn’t care.

When my unanswered prayers leave me frustrated and sad, I may assume that God isn’t listening.

It’s in those moments, when my feelings block the truth, that I need a voice to counter my faulty claims. So I open my Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to speak louder than my doubts and clearer than my confusion.

According to Proverbs 30:5, God’s Word isn’t just a refuge for our reeling hearts; it’s also a voice that can be trusted — “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Like my daughter who challenged her little sister’s misbelief, the story of Scripture gently calls me back to the heart of my heavenly Father. It reminds me who God is and who He will always be.

When I tell myself God doesn’t care, the voice of Scripture declares, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

When I believe He’s stopped working in my circumstances, the voice of Scripture announces, “God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan” (Romans 8:28, NLV).

When I suspect God isn’t listening, the voice of Scripture shouts, “But it is sure that God has heard. He has listened to the voice of my prayer” (Psalm 66:19, NLV).

In other words: “That doesn’t sound like my Daddy!”

Friends, this is how we move from the cramped shadows of hiding to the wide expanse of trust! When we are standing in the gap between what we feel in our hearts and what we know of God’s heart, we invite His Word to bridge the distance.

And as we do, we find ourselves longing to know Him more. So go ahead and draw nearer. Because your Father loves you no matter what, and He’s always waiting with open arms.

Dear Jesus, speak to me through Your Spirit and Your Word. Reveal any faulty assumptions I have about my heavenly Father. Help me to know and trust Him more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer to Not Worry About Tomorrow..... By Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Not Worry About Tomorrow

By Meg Bucher

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.”   - Matthew 6:34 NLT

We often read this verse in Matthew and wear it like a motivational slogan. We stick it on our water bottles and bumpers, hang it on the walls of our homes and proclaim it in our social media posts. In my Bible, this section of Matthew’s teaching is titled, “Teaching about Money and Possessions.” The passage begins,

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

The root of worry often lies in what we have or do not have. “And why worry about your clothing?” The passage continues, “Look at the lillies of the field and how they grow …” (Matthew 6:28 NLT) We are surrounded by creations that puts the creative hand of God on display every day. Yet we are made in His image. “…He will certainly care for you,” Jesus teaches, “Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30 NLT)

Let us pray for peace of mind as we consider Jesus’ words today, and perspective to see the sovereign hand of God at work in our lives.

Father,

We worry so often about so much! The very things we are thankful for, we are also concerned about losing. Help us in our unbelief, Lord! Let your words, reign in our daily thoughts and lives.

Lord, you tell us: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Father, help us to see Your active hand of providence in our lives. We are created in Your image, and You care more for us than anything else you have created! Yet, we worry if we matter at all …and if we will have what we need to live the days You have numbered. How patient You are with us, Father!

When we are worried about our safety, ease our minds with the promise of Your presence through Christ Jesus by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are never alone, Father, this we know, but oh- how we feel isolated, scared, worried, and alone sometimes. In those moments, sweep in and shield us by helping us to recall Your promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Create in us a discipline to read and study Your Word, God. We pray passages like this one would stick to our bones and become a part of the way we live our lives.

Jesus, You freed us from worry by dying on the cross! May we lift our worries up to You daily, because You care for us …and You have set us free!

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Worry-phobia..... by Meghan Kleppinger

 Worry-phobia

by Meghan Kleppinger

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” - Romans 8:15

The word “phobia” comes from the Greek word for fear, phobos. One of my college psychology professors explained a phobia as an irrational fear of something that can potentially be harmful. Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, for example, is an abnormal fear of spiders. Spider bites can be deadly, but most spiders are harmless and if a person gets bit by one, the chances of it being a lethal bite are minimal

Still, a person who suffers from this phobia, like me, can’t be told to “not worry” when they see one of those eight-legged monsters. When I see a spider, the blood drains from my face, I can’t move… actually, all I can do is scream until someone comes to rescue me. I’m not kidding. I, a grown adult, have been known to stand on top of a table and scream until my mother, yes, my mother, comes and gets rid of the disgusting arachnid.

I am very, very, very afraid of spiders… but truthfully, my phobia issues don’t end there. Everyone has their “issue.” My issue, my vice, my weakness, and my greatest struggle, can all be summed up in one word: “fear.”

Out of curiosity, I recently decided to see if there was a phobia for a generalized fear of everything. There is. It’s called panphobia (or pantaphobia), and is simply defined as a fear of everything.

As I researched panphobia, I learned that this is more than the every day worrywart sort of fear. It’s a medical condition that is persistent, debilitating, and very difficult to treat. It’s related to the paranoia typically found in Schizophrenics. After discovering this, I quickly decided that I don’t have panphobia

I realized that I’m not necessarily afraid of everything, I just worry about everything – and in case you’re wondering, the definition for the Greek word for worry (merimnao) has more to do with an anxious concern than a debilitating fear.

I’m one of those people who worry even more if there isn’t anything to worry about. I guess that would be called something like “Worry-phobia” – a fear of having nothing to worry about. Yes, I worry about those people I love, but I also worry about the starving parentless children on other side of the globe that I will never meet. I get worried when it rains one day too many or if too many days pass without a drop

Okay, I’m exaggerating… a bit, but you get my point. The thing is God doesn’t call worry panphobia or worry-phobia, He calls it sin.

For me it is about control, and when I don’t feel like I have control, I worry. It is certainly something God is continually and persistently working on in my life. He has been teaching me to trust Him through some painful and scary circumstances lately.

I know I’m not alone in the journey toward freedom from worry, so I’m going to share some helpful scripture with you. The following verses declare that His truth is greater than any worse-case-scenario or real-life-circumstance we can encounter.

“Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:22)

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8b)

“Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6b)

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1: 17b, 18

Isn’t it great that God doesn’t tell us to do something without equipping us to do it first! Through His Word, He encourages and prepares us to face the world, which is after all, can be pretty scary place… especially with all of those blasted spiders!

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

Intersecting Faith & Life: Hudson Taylor, A British missionary to China in the late 1800s, gave this advice – “The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”