Recognizing His Voice

     Something wonderful and unexpected has been happening to me since I have begun to sit quietly in God's presence and listen to what He has to say to me.
     When I first started practicing being in the Lord's presence in this way, I found that He really spoke to me, specifically and richly. I went on through the rest of my day feeling loved, refreshed, and saturated in His presence. Lately I am finding that I am more sensitive to His voice, even when I am not actively or intently seeking to hear it. 
     Many situations have arisen in which I would normally react in a certain way, without really having giving it a second thought. Lately, I find I am hearing that 'still small voice' more often and more easily throughout my days and the results have been miraculous. I am aware of the way the Lord would have me act or what he would have me do. I am also acutely aware of the fact it is not how I previously would have treated the situation. When I listen and yield to His leading, peace has filled each situation that would other wise have been tense. Joy is filling up much more of my day because, although I always "knew" that God was everywhere at all times and in every situation, I am now keenly aware of Him and His gentle leading.
     I am so grateful that the Lord chooses to speak to me this way. I feel I understand in a new way, John 10:4..."When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice".
     Because I took the time to learn to hear His voice and know the sound of it, I can now hear Him direct my steps more clearly. What peace to live in His presence!

The Temptation Of Giving In To Fear

Feb. 12, 2013  

Matthew 6:13

...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ...  

     I  previously viewed this as the temptation to sin in just the physical sense like gluttony, stealing, swearing, etc. but there are other ways to give into temptation. Some times the temptation is to give in to fear. When attacks of anxiety, fear and self doubt come,  we are tempted to give up or stop trying. That is exactly what the opposition wants us to do. We become so weary that we want to give up. 

     I think of the Parable of the Talents. One man was too scared to use his talent, to increase what God had given him. He was afraid to fail and so he did not even try. By doing nothing he did fail. His failure to try showed a lack of faith in himself and perhaps in his Master. 

     God forgive me for the times I have been paralyzed with fear and didn't really try. I remember an exchange of dialog in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”.  Failing to please her boss after doing all that she thought she could, the main character, Andy visits another another employee, Nigel. In tears she tell him, “I’m trying!” Nigel tells her, “You're not trying, you're whining." He then helps her to see that someone else would die for the chance to do her job.

Sometimes we can all feel overwhelmed like this. This is just one of the many reasons it is so vitally important take the time everyday to sit quietly, knowing we are in His presence. He calms our souls and minds and gives us the strength and confirmation we need to carry on. We can hear His voice. He will speak exactly what we need to hear in that moment, if we will just Be Still and Listen.