How often do you ask for God’s guidance when making decisions? Maybe you’re asking Him for help right now but are having trouble hearing the answer? No matter what you’re facing, I pray this post will encourage you to continue seeking God for advice and not lose hope in His faithfulness!
God speaks to us all in different ways. To some, He may talk directly; while, to others, He might use people or passages in the Bible to speak into their lives. I don’t believe there’s one right way to learn or hear the voice of God, as each of us has individual relationships with Him.
For years I’ve struggled with hearing the voice of the Spirit. My dad always says, “If you’re struggling to hear God’s voice, grab your Bible and a flashlight and go into your closet. Don’t leave until you have heard a Word from God and know His voice.” This method worked for him when he was a teenager, but it didn’t work for me. I remember getting so frustrated at how easily my dad would hear from God until I recognized that I didn’t have to hear God precisely like my father. Upon having this revelation, I learned that writing is God’s way of communicating to me, though He sometimes speaks to me directly as well.
To this day, I am still awestruck when I hear the voice of God. One minute I could be writing a simple prayer; the next, I’ve written the answer I’d been searching for. Every time I pick up a pen or go to my laptop, I get excited because I never know what God will reveal to me next!
How does God speak to you? I’d love to read testimonies about the different ways you hear the voice of the Spirit!
~
This month, God has been shaping and testing me more than ever. I’ve been learning to relinquish control and trust that He knows what I need. It’s been a tough process, but I’m going into next month with complete confidence that I am on the right path.
In my last post, Triggered by the Spirit, I wrote about getting rid of anxiety and agitation; that post spoke volumes to me and changed the way I look at my life. Recently, I faced a decision that was giving me anxiety; but after writing Triggered by the Spirit, I was finally able to look at the situation with clear eyes. As soon as I laid my worries at God’s feet, He showed me the answer I’d been waiting for and the courage to bring it forward.
As an indecisive person, having 100% certainty in a decision is rare, so when God opened my eyes to the truth, I knew it was the right move. However, having another person involved in this situation didn’t make it very easy; I knew how I felt, but what was on their heart? Being someone who hates face-to-face confrontation, I prayed that God would give us both peace and allow us to have an open, drama-free conversation.
Stress is a funny thing; it comes in various forms and can paralyze you, filling your mind with thoughts far from the truth. Stress is like a weight, and if we’re not careful, it will weigh us down until we can’t get up again. The quicker we take control of our thoughts and stressful situations, the lighter we will feel! The moment I gave up my worries and released the stress hanging on my shoulders, I thought I would fly into the sky like a balloon!
I want you to know; God knows your heart. No matter what you’re facing, He knows exactly how you’re feeling and won’t put you in a situation that isn’t right. If you’re not feeling peace, listen to your intuition and pray about it because the unrest is there for a reason!
When the day to meet and make our decision arrived, I felt myself start to panic. I couldn’t shake the unsettled feeling I was having and spent the morning praying that God would ease my uncertainties.
Before beginning the drive to meet and have our talk, I once again prayed that God’s Will would be done and everything would work out the way it should. Incredibly, just before getting in the car, I opened my GPS to see that all the roads were blocked! Every route was knee-deep in traffic, estimating my arrival time to be more than double what it should be! After weighing up all the possible options, I told the person waiting to meet me that I wouldn’t be coming and that we should just speak on the phone.
Almost immediately, the peace I had been missing was back, and I knew that God had His hand over the situation. It blows my mind to see what the Father will do to create the perfect solution. To make it even crazier, the moment I got off the phone, I looked at the GPS to find every road clear! If that’s not God taking action, I don’t know what is!
Life is full of meet-cutes. We are introduced to new people every day, but only a few will stay in our lives past the first hello. It sucks that I have to say goodbye so frequently, but I am thankful for each person’s time. Everyone comes into your life for a specific purpose; without them, we can’t become the people we are called to be.
This last month has been a whirlwind of emotions and growth that I am incredibly grateful for. 2019 is the year of change and identity. With each day, I’m learning more about who I am and what God has called me to do. This latest lesson has not only taught me to trust in God wholeheartedly but that He knows what’s on my heart.
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
Never settle! God has something incredible in store for each of you, but that can only happen if you are prepared to walk down the narrow path and keep your minds focused on Him. People may tell you that your standards are too high, but I say that’s a good thing! You deserve the best, and if you allow yourselves to accept that what you have is as good as it’s going to get, then you’re not going to get anywhere in life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be patient for what I’ve been waiting for than settle for something almost perfect.
My parting encouragement for you this week is to take your worries to God and ask Him to help you make the right decisions. Meditate on the Word and have a time of prayer, handing all your concerns to the Lord. It won’t happen immediately, but the things you’ve been praying for will come to fruition, and you will find the peace you’ve been seeking!
Throughout this month, one of the verses that kept replaying in my mind was 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” Whenever I was feeling overwhelmed and indecisive, this verse soothed my thoughts and reminded me that the red flags were God’s warning to me. Listen to your conscience and never doubt yourself because God has given you the gift to hear the voice of the Spirit for a reason! He will never let you down; our God is faithful and knows exactly what is to come, so trust in Him and don’t lose heart!