God has really been impressing on me the importance of listening to Him. My girls and I are studying the Life of David via my Chronological Bible. I am so impressed with the way that David listened to God. He really tuned in to what God was saying.
God speaks in so many ways. Through others, through the Bible, through circumstances, music, literature, nature, and also through the gentle and quiet voice of His Spirit. We just have to be attentive.
In the past week, God has spoken to me so much. I doubt it’s more than usual… I think I’m just listening more! Two specific situations stick out that I want to share.
My husband has been under immense stress of late. God has blessed his business beyond what we imagined and there is much work to do. I have tried to make suggestions about how to reduce his stress, but he wasn’t quite hearing me. One morning I was thinking about what to say to him before he left for work (at 6:00 a.m.). Suddenly, I sensed the Lord telling me to get out a piece of paper and write my husband a note. I couldn’t believe how clearly all of my thoughts came together and how concise it was. I gave it to him and he ran off to work.
He came home that afternoon and told me that the office manager had just called him into her office and told him many of the same things that were in my letter. I had no idea she was going to do that! She insisted on a couple of things that I was also very upfront about in my letter.
I was so blessed. I really felt like I was going out on a limb… I didn’t want to tell my husband what to do, especially in regard to his business. The Lord used both me and the office manager to tell my husband what was on His heart. My hubby received it as a word from the Lord, and it drew us together in a way that I did not expect.
I had another moment this week as I was looking at a picture of a butterfly. The Lord spoke to me these words: You are the wing.
What? Was that you, Lord? Has my recent sleep deprivation and slight dehydration affected my mind? Where did this random thought come from? Why won’t it go away?
Sometimes, God speaks in abstract ways. I spent some time going back to Him to make sure it was His voice. I tried to analyze it. I tried to suppose what it meant. I started to panic and wonder if I could really trust myself to hear Him. I thought back to past situations when I misheard or misunderstood His word to me. I was a mess… and had to text a friend as I sobbed in the el pollo loco drive thru. (Strange, I admit, but it was my only time alone the whole week!!)
I wrestled for a bit and decided on letting it go and waiting for God to show me what it meant. Those of you with different personalities might wonder why it took me an entire day to get there… but I am a work in progress!
A few days later, I ran into a friend at church and she drew me aside to ask a question. She wondered if I would be available to help her with something. At that moment… I knew what it all meant. God wants me to be a wing and bear some of the responsibilities and burdens with this friend and another friend that is closely involved. It’s a pretty minor thing now, but God has revealed the potential for our venture, and I am excited!
What a blessing to hear Him, and then understand. I was relieved to get some insight in only a few days. The Lord has spoken to me before, and it has taken long periods of time to bring it all to fruition so that I could see and understand. Waiting is the hardest part, don’t you agree?
What is God saying to you this week? Are you listening? Write down what He says, ask all of your questions, make all of your excuses, and then surrender. Lay it down. Let Him handle it. He will provide ALL that is needed. He will open ALL of the doors. He will teach you ALL that you need to know. He will carry you ALL the way!
“You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:19-21
