Expect to Hear from God

 

When we go to church on a Sunday morning, or a mid-week service or a Ladies Bible study, we go, expecting to hear from God. We go, hoping for God to speak to us. We want Him to show us His will through the verses of scripture and the expounding of the Word by the speaker.

Well, at least we should go with this intent. Church shouldn’t just be a social gathering where we catch up on all the latest gossip and try out our new dress and pretty little notebook and pen.

No. We need to hear from God. We need to go expecting to hear from Him.

But I want to put something to you. What if you woke up each and every morning, expecting to hear from God? What if you didn’t just rely on the preacher’s words, and the Bible study leader to teach you? What if, each day, you opened up God’s Word expecting to hear a word from the Lord?

What if you became proactive and dug into the Word of God yourself? Often, we become so lazy when it comes to study, that we are content to let our teachers and preachers do all the hard work. They spend hours in the Word of God, seeking His will as to what they should teach. Praying, studying, researching, writing and trying to make sure that what they teach is in line with God’s Word and able to be communicated clearly and understandably.

But we don’t have to wait all week for God’s Word to come alive. We can feast on the precious Word ourselves, every day. We are so blessed in this day and age to be able to hold in our hands many copies of the Bible along with commentaries, devotionals, study helps etc. Really, we have no excuse!

We can wake each morning, expecting to hear a word from the Lord. We can come to Him prayerfully, humbly, expectantly.

We ask God to speak to us. We wait to hear. But God is always speaking to us. He gave us His word. We just need to sit and read it!  

Proverbs 2:1-6 KJV - My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

We need to incline our ears. Open our eyes. Search for the hidden treasures. Cry after knowledge. Seek wisdom.

Psalm 119:18 KJV - Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

It really is up to us. God doesn’t expect the preacher or teacher to be the one that has to spoon feed us on a weekly basis. It’s wonderful to be able to sit under the Word of God and be fed, but we must be willing to put the spoon to our own mouth. We need to dip it into the endless supply that God gives us and feast on the table He has spread before us.

Psalm 119:103 KJV - How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Make it a point to wake each morning, expecting to hear from God. Open His Word. Ask Him to open your eyes so you can see what He wants to say to you. Then, go out and act in obedience. Remember what you read and let it carry you through your days.

Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Love it. Share it.

Psalm 119:162 KJV - I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Psalm 119:97, 162 KJV - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. ... I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focus 

 

Well, it’s almost midday, and I’ve been working on business paperwork and emails since early this morning. The last 3 weeks have been so busy that I have been unable to keep up with my usual bookkeeping etc. So, finally having a free morning, I’ve jumped right in to tackle it all and check off yet another box on my to-do list.

Doesn’t it feel great to get one more thing crossed off your list? When your list is never-ending and only seems to grow longer as you mark one thing off and yet another appears, it sometimes seems like nothing ever gets done. The days roll by, the wheels keep spinning, the lists keep growing, the needs are pressing, and the anxiety level rises.

I just wanted to take a quick break from my paperwork to write a short little note of encouragement for those of you who feel like they’re struggling to make it through each day. How do we make it through the long and hard days?

With God’s help, that’s how! We can do nothing in our own strength.

Here’s a few verses and things to keep in mind that have helped me.

Focus on facing forward. Yes. Keep looking ahead. The bible tells us in Philippians to look forward. Forget what’s gone on before and press forward. At the end of your busy days, don’t focus on what you didn’t get done, focus on what you DID get done. Focus on the things you were able to cross off your list.

Philippians 3:13-14 KJV - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Focus on the positive. Now, I’m not promoting some weird positive thinking philosophy, but please do remember that what we think about affects our behaviour.

Psalm 103:2 KJV - Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

The bible tells us to remember God’s goodness to us. In other words, focus on the positive. Remember what God has done for you. Don’t dwell on what you see as the negatives in your life.

Focus on God’s promises. What a blessing it is to recall God’s promises during times of discouragement and trial. God promises us so many good things and we need to remind ourselves of them daily. They will encourage your heart and help you to persevere and keep on.

One of my favourite promises in God’s Word is found in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What a blessing it is to know that God will give us rest. We can lean on him.

Focus on facing your trials knowing that God is with you. I take great comfort in knowing that God is with me each and every day. As I struggle through my daily chores, my never-ending lists and the daily grind, I know that God is with me. I know that he walks before me, he walks beside me, he’s with me.

One of my favourite verses of scripture is found in Isaiah. I have been comforted more times than I can remember by this beautiful promise.

Isaiah 43:2 KJV - When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

I hope these verses and thoughts will encourage your hearts and help you as you strive to become a Godly woman. Stable, faithful, steadfast, with your eyes firmly fixed on God. We don’t want to be women who crumble under pressure. Don’t quit. Don’t despair. No giving up and no giving in. No excuses. Let your trials shape you and mold you into a stronger, more spiritually mature, Godly, Christlike woman.

Eyes fixed on Christ. Focusing on what He has done for us. Leaning on his precious promises and facing our days head on, knowing that he is with us.

Isaiah 41:10 KJV - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.