Being Receptive

Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Hebrews 3:15 (New King James Version)

How well am I doing at receiving words of truth? It is easy when the words are what I want to hear, but it is another matter all together when they are what I strain against. Or when they pinpoint an area that needs changing in me. In my reading through the book of Jeremiah I am noticing the negative responses people had toward God’s prophets and hence against the word of God itself. As Jeremiah would say the very things God had instructed him to say, he often faced physical abuse and imprisonment, because his message was not what others wanted to hear. And the interesting part is that his words were often warnings of coming judgment with an invitation to obey. God sent prophets to warn His people and give them another opportunity to turn back to Him. Truth presented was not always truth received!

There are the times believers may sit in a church service and close their ears to what a pastor is saying simply because they don’t like the pastor or the message is not what they want to hear. It is necessary to heed the words in Hebrews, “Listen and don’t harden your hearts!” It is wise for us to ask God before a service begins to help us hear what it is He is saying to us. Sometimes it is like finding a small nugget of gold among the many words but the search is worth it. If Scripture is presented there is something we can take away with us that is profitable and life-giving. Our spirit will take it in if we but poise ourselves to receive it.

While I may need this reminder concerning sermons, I really need it even more for the times individuals are communicating truth to me. Many are the times I have asked for advice only to find myself straining at what is eventually said. This has puzzled me and I asked God to reveal to me the reason I do this. He let me see that often I misread the message because I assume some wrong things about the person who is speaking it. I assume their tone is harsh when it is not. I assume they are fed up with me when they are not. I assume they have a ‘you should know better’ mentality when they do not. The list goes on and on. The bottom line is this: my view of myself feeds a suspicion of another person’s heart and hence affects the way I receive their words. Now when I find myself closing up to another person’s wise and loving counsel, I can look for my own roots of resistance and deal with them in order to take in the truths that are meant to help me.

Father, the moment I sense resistance, help me to do the searching of my own heart. Thank you for the ones You have sent to speak life words to me. Amen.

Spirit Song - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC7RDZP7tFw&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Ready to Learn How to Live

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 1 Timothy 6:18-20 (New American Standard Bible)

What are the things I need to be instructed in and taught? That which does not come naturally to me. I often think about the ones God has sent into my life to instruct me and what it was He wanted them to teach me. If I was open to their words I was the richer for it, but if not, I remained unaware of how to take hold of life! I am well aware of the result of living in a Proverbs 5:13 mode of not listening “to the voice of my teachers nor inclining my ear to my instructors.” The lessons they desired to teach me fell on closed ears and an unreceptive heart. The tools for living they so lovingly wanted to place in my hands remained unnoticed and unused. It wasn’t that they didn’t instruct me. It was that I wasn’t allowing myself to be their student. I was too busy beating myself up over the things I didn’t know when all the while they were saying, “Let me teach you!”

Last night, a friend remarked during a study, that we have to be taught to do the right things. Living right does not come naturally to any of us. I had no trouble knowing where to apply her words to my life. What comes naturally to me is to live by my perceptions, opinions, and judgments of others. What I need to learn is how to know the truth, believe the truth, and walk in the truth. My perceptions are counter productive and destructive. Truth will set me free and allow me to take hold of life in a richer way. I have to learn the difference between my perceived truth and actual truth.

This is going to require some help. Just as I would no more perform surgery on myself (even if I were able to perform surgery) I cannot be my own instructor. I must be willing to sit at the feet of those God has called to teach me, just as He called Timothy to teach others. It will not only be individuals who will stand in as my instructors, it will also be the circumstances of life. Life’s lessons are not limited to one individual or one classroom. Jesus taught through various settings and used a variety of visual aides. He has not changed. If I truly see Him as my Instructor I will allow Him to use whatever means or whoever He chooses to teach me.

Father, I am ready to learn that which You have desired to teach me for quite some time. My ears are open, my heart is receptive, and my eyes are on You. Use whatever method or individual You deem best. Amen.

The Potter's Hand - A Capella Christian Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2fEr8S4vj8&feature=related

I am honored and privileged to share these devotional thoughts with you each day. Feel free to forward them on to those whom you think would benefit from them. Also feel free to copy them for your personal files or notebooks. May God individualize each one for you.

Eyes Fixed On Him

O our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You. 2 Chronicles 20:12 (New American Standard Bible)

When the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness they kept their eyes on the cloud during the day and on the pillar of fire at night. These signs assured them of two things: God's presence and God's direction in their life. There are many instances in Scripture when God would display a physical manifestation as a way for His children to be reminded of who He was. The rainbow after the flood reminded them that God keeps His promises. The bronze serpent on the pole reminded them that He is a God who heals.

This morning God wants me to see what it is I need to remember about Him. The times when I feel powerless to withstand the storms of life I am reminded that He is my protector and provider. When I have no idea what to do, He can give me direction. All the things that overwhelm or confuse me are opportunities for me to keep my eyes on Him.

How intently am I watching Him? Like an orchestra who watches and follows the conductor, like a well trained dog who watches his master's every move I don't want to miss the slightest movement of His hand or smallest inflection of His voice. It is so easy to try and come up with my own plans and my own sources of security. But when I learn to fix my gaze on Him and tune my ear to hear what He has to say to me, then I am poised for His direction and enablement.

The Christian life is not meant to be a solo journey lived out in my own strength and wisdom. It is a cooperative effort between God and me. He has so much to teach and show me. Any attention I place on Him is not wasted or in vain. He delights when I depend on Him, wait on Him, listen to Him, obey Him, look to Him, confide in Him, follow Him, and trust Him.

I have no trouble knowing when my eyes are directed on to someone or something other than God. Those are the times when hurt, disappointment, and discontentment mark my mind and path more than peace, joy, and delight. While I may not always be able to avoid a shift in my focus, I definitely can choose to redirect my attention back toward God at any time. He is aware of the times I fail in this area and He is also aware of the times I get it right and do it right. Today is a day to ask for His anointing and touch on my eyes to keep them directed toward Him. To allow Him to be my focus.

Father, You have my attention. May I hear and see what you have for me today. Amen.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Newsboys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQzAYQE-U4Q

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours.

Ears To Hear

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Luke 15:1

Jesus was approached by different people for different reasons. Some came for healing and miracles, some came to witness the healings and miracles, some came to criticize, some came to worship, and some (like in today’s verse) came to listen. They knew His words were capable of changing their life. They may have sat under other teachers for years, but Jesus was different. He spoke with authority but also with love. To them, His words were reassuring and comforting, not harsh, judgmental, and condemning. They were drawn toward Him and hungered for what He had to offer. He welcomed them and received them as they came.

Have you ever been in the presence of someone who really cared about you? They were concerned for you or interested in the deeper things of your life. You felt safe to confide in them and took their advice to heart. You wanted to learn all you could from them. That is how people felt around Jesus. That is how God wants you and me to feel around Him! He is still showing me what concepts and ideas I have that hinder me from richer fellowship with Himself.

The verse just before this one says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” It is more than just taking in sound. It is digesting what is heard in such a way that it changes the way I think, act, and speak. If I remain unchanged, I have not really listened. One evening, God surprised me with some self revelation I had struggled with for years. I could not grasp the reasons for a certain mindset that had always been in place from a very young age. Once I listened and received what He was telling me there was an internal shifting that took place. Throughout the night and even the next morning I woke still wanting to drink in the truth of His words. If I allowed them full access they would forever change this area of my life and I would walk in a freedom I had not yet realized. I found it interesting that although I wasn’t necessarily asking to be shown this, God knew my spirit was searching out the matter. He spoke, I listened, and life has not be the same!

Father, You have so much more to tell me on a personal level. Give me listening ears, a receptive heart, and a continued thirst for Your words to me. Amen

Word of God Speak ~ Mercy Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74&feature=related

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours.

Not Being Hearing Impaired

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:35 (New American Standard Bible)

While here on earth, Jesus spoke many things to many people, but He knew not everyone would take in His words. He referenced this when He used the phrase “ears to hear.” He was not talking about the ability to hear sound. Anyone within the range of His voice could master that. What He was referring to had more to do with comprehending, acknowledging, embracing, and understanding what He was saying. Some would hear what He had to say and walk away unmoved and unchanged. Others would be a captive audience to Him and walk away forever changed. It would show up in their words, actions, and thoughts later on. The fruit would be evident.

Many people will sit in church tomorrow and there will be a variety of ear types. They will sit within hearing range of a minister’s voice but all will not really hear what he is saying much less what God is saying through Him. Distractions may abound in their head and the message will become a muffled sound to their ears. Some will not have the ability to take in the truths of what is being said because they have never had a spiritual opening of their ears by the Holy Spirit. They have never trusted Christ as their Savior and therefore remain spiritually deaf. Some will have issues with their pastor and refuse to believe God would ever have anything to say through him. Some will have such a distorted view of God that they long ago gave up hope that He would have anything to say to them directly. Some, through boredom, rebellion, or pride, stopped listening all together. Each lacks the ears to hear. They will walk away having not listened to or learned what God was so anxious to tell them.

Then there are those who will attend church tomorrow with ears anxious to hear God’s voice to them, because it is a daily practice for them already. Each time they open His Word, read a book, listen to a speaker, or hear a song, they ask God to speak to them through it. Their heart’s cry becomes, “Give me ears to hear you, Lord!” They are attentive and attuned to what He wants to tell them. The conversations are powerful, personal, and profound.

For decades I was “hearing impaired.“ I have since learned that I could possess ears to hear if I simply asked for them and then started listening. By God’s grace it is getting easier to distinguish the difference between my own thoughts, my Father’s voice, and the words of the enemy. That has been His desire all along for each of us!

Father, my ears need a touch from You each day. I want ears to hear and a heart that is receptive to all that You desire to tell me. May my face light up every time I know it is Your voice I am hearing. Amen.

Assured by His Presence

Lo, I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 (New American Standard Bible)

These were the words spoken by Jesus as He gave the great commission to His disciples, but they serve as words of comfort to me this morning. Right now, in this moment, I am not on a spiritual high and neither am I in a valley of despair. I am somewhere in the middle and I just need the reminder that He is with me even now. I am glad He knows what I need.

Earlier as I read Scripture and a number of devotional books nothing in particular stood out. Actually, I was finding it hard to concentrate and focus. That always makes me wonder. In fact, it can fill me with thoughts that are far from secure. God knows that about me and wants me to learn to relax with Him. To know that right now, He still holds me, watches over me, and nudges me forward.

While I am one who loves excitement, today feels so normal it is almost scary. And God whispers, “I am with you.” I don’t know what today holds, and He says, “I do and I am with you.” I feel uncertain, but He says, “I am very certain and I am with you.” He is inviting me to live out of His words in Matthew 11:28-30 which say, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

My soul needs rest. To be still and know that He is God. No striving, no struggling, no trying to figure it all out. Just rest, stillness, and knowing Him. For He knows that unless I learn to “settle in” with Him in this moment, I will not be ready to walk with Him through more challenging moments. It all comes down to yielding and trust. Tenseness must give way to His voice. Life has slowed down and God wants me to slow down as well. Not necessarily on the outside. I will still head off to work in about an hour. But rather to slow down internally. Savor the preciousness of His presence. Trust the moving and impulses of His Spirit rather than the direction of my own personality, temperament, and flesh. That in itself will make an otherwise ordinary day extraordinary!

Father, I am not use to this. Without Your persistent assurance I don’t think I would see this as beneficial. So today I choose to rest in You. Amen.

Hearing the Invitation

But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God. Psalm 40:17 (New King James Version)

My ability to see God as my help and deliverer begins with the realization of my neediness and bondage. Until I see the truth of my mindsets and internal world I will not see the necessity of allowing God to come to my aid. As long as I walk in independence of Him I will not be able to establish my dependence on Him. These truths became clear to me one morning as I journaled a note to myself and began to see the extent of my own neediness and God’s extravagant offer of fulfillment. What follows is a look into the first of many steps toward freedom for me. With tears and timidity I wrote:

You do not like feelings of loneliness and insignificance. When they come you seek to anesthetize them through contact with people. Although a phone call or good email will relieve you for a moment the feelings stay hidden in the shadows only to resurface a short time later. Let them be what draw you to God for comfort and company. Each can be an opportunity to cry out to Him for His filling and presence. God desires to fill you with an awareness of His deep love. You have yet to fully embrace that truth and live out of its experience. That is why you are still looking to other sources. All your desire for affection, attention, affirmation, encouragement, and security is legitimate but the way you go about attempting to receive it all is where the problem lies. Allow God to show you His availability and capability to be your All in All. Allow Him to be the One to nurture and protect you. Receive your true identity from Christ. This is not a matter of success versus failure. It is a process! You live in a fallen world and possess a fallen nature, therefore you will always be in need of Him. The deepest places in you need His touch. Open yourself up to receive all He longs to give you on a daily basis. Don’t feel that because you still experience these feelings and longings that you aren’t “getting it.” You have spent so many years looking to substitutes that looking to God needs to be learned and experienced. Whether it is every 5 minutes or every hour keep pressing in to Him. Keep looking to Him. Keep resting in Him. Let Him saturate your entire being so that relationships can be a joy rather than an attempt to get your needs met. Value the ones who are in your life at the present. Relate to them out of your relationship with your Father. You are precious in His sight and He will complete the work He has started in you. He is wooing you to Himself even now. Reach out and receive all that He extends to you. Accept His invitation to be completely loved by Him.

I had to ask myself, “How do I refuse an offer like that?” I am finding that not only does God extend such a radical invitation to me, He does amazing things when I dare to take Him up on it. As I am learning to look to Him for comfort and direction, I am able to let my friends off the hook for being primary need meeters in my life. To God be the glory because without Him THAT would never have happened.

Father, I never rested long enough to hear Your words of invitation to me. I now turn to You to find what no one else could supply for me. Amen.

Full Attention and Perception

They do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, nor do they consider the work of His hands. Isaiah 5:12 (New American Standard Bible)

It is a sad commentary indeed for this verse to be hung over any situation of a believer’s life. It is a statement that should cause each one of us to sit up and take notice. We know and serve a God who is never absent, unavailable, or disinterested. He is in the midst of us, inhabiting our very body. He has promised to work all things out for our good. He is inviting each one of us to pay attention and consider all that He is doing! Whether it is in the physical, spiritual, emotional, social, or mental aspects of our life, God is working and desirous that we are take notice.

If I am in the same room with people I dearly love and respect I will tend to focus my full attention on them. I watch them and listen to them with great interest. I do not want to miss a thing they do or say. THAT is the way I want it to be with my heavenly Father. I want to be enraptured and captivated by His every move. I want Him to systematically remove anything or anyone that would pull my attention away from Him. There can be NO competition for my focus or my heart.

He knows when I am searching for Him and wanting to see His fingerprints throughout each day. He delights in the times when my eyes dance in wonder over seeing Him in action. My spirit eyes want to see and my spirit ears want to hear it all! I don’t want to be sight or hearing impaired in any way.

When things don’t go my way, I don’t want to assume there is no work of God to be seen in it. When the unexpected takes place, I don’t want to miss all the ways God is actively involved. When unwelcome changes knock on the door of my life, I don’t want to loose sight of the fact that He is sovereign and in control.

Each one of use were personally formed by God in our mother’s womb. He has not taken His hands or His eyes off us for one second. From eternity past He has planned out each day and nothing will take Him by surprise. I revel in that! I stand on it, find my security in it, and hold to it come what may. My God is faithful. My God is involved. My God is active. My God is working!

Father, I delight in You. I want to take notice of Your deeds. My eyes are on You and my ears are turned toward You. What awesome sights and sounds await me! Amen.

Listening to His Voice

I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8 NKJV

Peace accompanies the voice of God. Turmoil and confusion do not! I am learning to identify the times when the voice I am listening to is no longer that of my Father. In the past week I have had two distinct times of the enemy of my soul speaking lies to me and the result was a loss of peace. Uncertainty replaced confidence. Confusion replaced objectivity. All seemed dark and all seemed hopeless. I marvel at the extreme nature of my own thoughts. Both times were attacks on the journey God has had me on. His first tactic was to cause me to question my motives for the journey. His second was to cause me to question the source of that journey. These became terrifying times for me as I lost all sense of direction and reasoning. This quickly turned into condemnation, fear, and shame. NONE of these are of God! He does not use them as tools in our life. They are the calling cards of Satan himself, and he desires to use them effectively.

Deliverance comes and peace returns when I purposefully listen for God’s voice and He WILL speak. As we work together to identify and renounce the lies, He gives me truth to own and peace to embrace. I relish the settling that comes over me and the return of confidence and assurance in God’s love, presence, and provision. My mantra becomes, “Identify the enemy and listen to my Father!”

A person once asked me what I meant when I said, “God spoke to me.” I assured her it was not an audible voice (although at times it comes close). It is primarily through the vehicle of thoughts that I know are not my own. These are not random thoughts but rather distinct, accurate, and timely. For decades I use to think God only spoke through His Word. I was not aware of the variety of avenues He uses. While His Word is certainly primary, He also speaks to me through music, nature, conversations, sermons, experiences, books, and prayer.

I do not want to limit Him in any way. I want to be like the Bereans in Acts who “received the word with all readiness of mind.” I want to listen with expectancy and intensity. I want to allow God to speak to me in any way He wants, at any time He wants, for whatever purpose He wants. It may be to correct me, enlighten me, motivate me, teach me, or assure me. At times His voice has me in awe and at other times it has me in tears. May my ears stay open and my heart stay receptive to all that He has to say!

Father, You are such a communicator. I do not want to miss anything You are saying to me. I treasure Your words and purpose to hear You. Speak, Lord, for I am listening. Amen.

He Still Amazes Listeners

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Luke 2:47 (KJV)

God is still able to astound a listener with His understanding and answers. Time and time again I have gone to Him seeking His understanding and answers. As I wade through the issues of my own life, who better to turn to than the One who created me and knows me better than anyone else? He knows my history completely. As David said, “He is acquainted with all my ways.” He has a perfect view and vantage point of my entire life….from beginning to end. He is aware of every breath I take, every thought I think, every word I speak, and every action I take. He understands what makes me tick, what brings me pleasure, what hinders my progress, what weighs heavy on my heart, and what lies buried in the caverns of my soul. He knows my longings, desires, ambitions, and dreams. The intimate details of my life are not only known by Him but are safe with Him. His understanding, insight, and knowledge of me is truly astounding.

And just as astounding are His answers to my questions…whether verbalized or unspoken. The very things that boggle my mind are cleared up as I take in His answers. My questions to Him are never seen as insignificant, childish, or unnecessary. They are welcomed and in time answered. Sometimes they are answered even before I have found a way to ask them. Nothing compares to receiving instructions and explanations from Him.

This morning I found myself once again wanting to be under someone’s spiritual care. I have known the preciousness of someone taking my hand and walking me through the rugged terrain of my soul. They shared insight and wisdom that I thrived under. Question and answer times with them felt safe. I was all too happy to remain in a “spoon-feeding” relationship. But God is letting me know while that may feel good it is not the best way to walk with Him. He wants me to be under His spiritual care. To bring my questions and concerns to Him. To look to Him to nurture, teach, direct, and sustain me. Who better to fill that role than the creator of the universe and designer of my life?

Father, may I listen to all that You have to say to me today through Scripture, songs, books, friends, or quiet thoughts. Speak into my open ears and receptive heart. Amen.

Leaning in the Right Direction

Incline you ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live. Isaiah 55:3 (KJV)

I love learning the meaning of words. Without the aid of a dictionary and good concordance I lose the rich meanings of words and hence the valuable lessons God would teach me through them. The word “incline” has my attention this morning. It has the idea of bending or leaning forward, to be drawn toward an opinion, to put oneself in a position of being persuaded. I was surprised to learn that we are told in Scripture to incline two things: our heart and our ears. I immediately wondered what the connection was. God was all too eager to show me!

What and who I listen to affects the way I think and believe. What I think and believe affects my actions and my words. It is like a domino affect over my life. It also epitomizes the reaping and sowing principle. That which I allow to be sown into my mind will be reaped in my speech and behavior. This is a powerful truth I must grab a hold of if I am going to live in victory rather than in defeat.

I go into today with some choices. I can perk up my ears and listen intently to the enemy’s lies, to my distorted thoughts, or the world’s philosophies if I so choose. Or I can turn my ears toward the voice of my Father and His living Word. If I choose the first option I begin on a mental, emotional, and spiritual descent. It will lead me downward every time. Once there, I begin to loath and condemn myself, have harsh thoughts toward others, and live outside the realm of truth. This continues until I determine to incline my ears toward the voice of my Father.

Oh the change and freedom that comes when I begin to take my thoughts captive, stand against the schemes of the devil, and do some serious warfare praying and speaking! As long as I continue to lean forward and listen intently to what God is telling me I walk with courage, confidence, and wisdom. As His Word fills my mind it has a ripple affect on every other area of my life.

I choose today to be attentive to His ways, His Word, and His whispers. All day long, conversations will come my way and I will have to discern which ones I will listen to.

Father, I determine to incline my ear to Your voice. Speak clearly to me so that I don’t miss a thing You have to say. Your words live in me. Amen.

Ears to Hear

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:35 (KJV)

While here on earth, Jesus spoke many things to many people, but He knew not everyone would take in His words. He referenced this when He used the phrase “ears to hear.” He was not talking about the ability to hear sound. Anyone within the range of His voice could master that. What He was referring to had more to do with comprehending, acknowledging, embracing, and understanding what He was saying. Some would hear what He had to say and walk away unmoved and unchanged. Others would be a captive audience to Him and walk away forever changed. It would show up in their words, actions, and thoughts later on. The fruit would be evident.

Many people will sit in church tomorrow and there will be a variety of ear types. They will sit within hearing range of a minister’s voice but all will not really hear what he is saying much less what God is saying through Him. Distractions may abound in their head and the message will become a muffled sound to their ears. Some will not have the ability to take in the truths of what is being said because they have never had a spiritual opening of their ears by the Holy Spirit. They have never trusted Christ as their Savior and therefore remain spiritually deaf. Some will have issues with their pastor and refuse to believe God would ever have anything to say through him. Some will have such a distorted view of God that they long ago gave up hope that He would have anything to say to them directly. Some, through boredom, rebellion, or pride, stopped listening all together. Each lacks the ears to hear. They will walk away having not listened to or learned what God was so anxious to tell them.

Then there are those who will attend church tomorrow with ears anxious to hear God’s voice to them, because it is a daily practice for them already. Each time they open His Word, read a book, listen to a speaker, or hear a song, they ask God to speak to them through it. Their heart cry becomes, “Give me ears to hear you, Lord!” They are attentive and attuned to what He wants to tell them. The conversations are powerful, personal, and profound. Each of us have the opportunity to possess ears to hear. We must simply ask for them and then start listening!

Father, my ears need a touch from You each day. I want ears to hear and a heart that is receptive to all that You desire to tell me. May my face light up every time I know it is Your voice I am hearing. Amen.

The Point of Entry

Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21b (KJV)

I am learning to hear God’s invitations to me. They are inclusive, extravagant, and lavish. I use to miss them when the words of God never seemed to leave the pages of Scripture and enter my heart. How easy it was to read this verse from Matthew and think it was only meant for the ears of the faithful servants who showed good stewardship. The invitation was for them, the joy was for them, and the closeness was for them. I did not know how to approach Scripture as anything other than an outsider. I was an observer rather than a participant. The words had no meaning for me. My lack of connection to the Bible was due to my not having an intimate connection with its Author. As my daily relationship with God changed it affected my approach to His Word.

Was I saved? Absolutely. But my spiritual life was limited to my interactions with people rather than with my heavenly Father. Rather than going to Him directly I looked to people to tell me about Him. Mine was a faith that was mostly built on the opinions and experiences of others. I couldn’t seem to hear what He wanted to tell me directly. There is no joy in that kind of Christianity. It becomes a life of neediness and continual searching.

But oh the joy that comes when props are kicked out from under you, securities are removed, and you find yourself alone with God. Entering into His joy is an invitation to join Him. Partner with Him. It is no longer being satisfied to let others nourish you by feeding off their plates. Instead it is learning to meet with Him one on one. It involves trust, obedience, submission, and conformity. It is a oneness that cannot be fully described.

Entering in means closeness and drawing near. It means participating in the same activities. Laying aside my own agendas in favor of God’s agendas. It means aligning my passions with His. Each morning the invitation is given anew and I must choose whether or not I will accept it. May I see the delight in His eyes and hear the love in His voice as He once again asks, “Will you join Me?”

Father, thank you for opening my ears so I could finally hear Your voice. I do not know what You have planned for today but I choose to join You for whatever that would be. I am ready to share in Your happiness. Amen.

The Master Teacher of Each Day

I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. Psalm 119:102

When I taught school, nothing blessed my heart more than seeing students sitting on the edge of their seat taking in everything that was being taught. I took delight in their hunger to learn. And God takes delight in my hunger to learn from Him. Throughout Psalm 119, David continually asks God to teach him. There is no doubt he sits on the edge of his seat of life with a ravenous appetite to learn from the Master Teacher. He knows it is the most essential element to his life.
What strikes me this morning is David’s realization that it is God Himself who is his teacher! David was not only in love with God’s Word but he was in love with the God of God’s Word. His appetite was huge, his passion was deep, and his teachable spirit was profound.

God has the same desire for each of us. He notices when one of His children is longing to hear His voice. He sees the eagerness in their eyes, the thirst in their spirit, and the openness of their mind to what He has to teach them. He honors the short cries of their heart like, “Show me Yourself. Teach me Your ways. Let me know You better.” He is a God who wants to be known by His creation! His intent is that we go through each day taking in His lessons of life.

Whether I am reading His Word, sitting under a speaker, reading a book, taking a walk, listening to music, or doing any number of other things, God wants to speak to me and teach me valuable things. I don’t want to miss any of it! I want Him to be my primary Teacher. So even when it is another individual doing the talking or writing, I want to sense His voice coming through their words. And I see that happen every time I really connect with what I am hearing or reading. It is like an antihistamine for my spirit. My thinking becomes clear, the truth is very understandable, and I walk in confidence that God has just given me a one on one lesson!

God’s classroom door is always open. May I step in, take a seat, and drink in all that He has to say to me today. It will affect not only my thinking but my actions, attitudes, and words as well.

Father, You are the ultimate Teacher. I am ready to listen and learn in Your presence today. May I not miss a thing! Amen.

Listening With a Purpose

So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him. Luke8:18

I find it interesting that this verse comes after Jesus has given two parables. The first being about a sower and the seed he is sowing. The seed falls on four types of soil. The seed will grow only in proportion to the receptiveness of the soil. Jesus was using this farm scene to help us see the truths of taking in God’s Word. God’s Word takes root as much as the heart is receptive to it.


Then He gives a parable about a lamp and how it is not meant to be placed under a container to block the light. Lamps are meant to give off light to help us see more clearly. Is that not the awesome task of each believer? To give off light so the truths of God and His Word are seen more clearly by those around us?

In both parables, something is being produced depending on a receptive and reliable heart. God’s Word does not return to Him void. When received into our lives it will produce fruit and part of that fruit is giving off light to those in darkness. We are not just lamps. We are beacons….lighthouses even! So if you find yourself in the midst of many unbelievers be encouraged! The darker your surroundings the more profound will be your light.

It only makes sense that Jesus would follow these two parables with instruction about listening. Listening is one of the most vital tools for taking in truth. And God has a conditional promise in this verse. The more you listen and take in, the more He will give you. I like that! There is always an increase as long as my ears, heart, and mind stay open. But with listening comes responsibility to take what I have heard and apply it to my life. James admonishes us to be hearers and doers of the Word.

Allow God to sow His Word into your life. Take seriously the need to apply it to your everyday life. The harvest as well as the light will be evident in more ways and to more people than you ever dreamed.

Father, plow up the soil of my heart so I can readily take in the seeds of truth You have for me. May the lamp of my life in Christ be bright. I am listening, Lord. May what I take in increase and make room for more. Amen.

Learning To Listen

You who are far away, hear what I have done, and you who are near, acknowledge My might. Isaiah 33:13

I have a friend with whom I could listen to for hours and never tire of her stories. When she speaks I pay close attention to her words because I want to gain insight into her life. I walk away from each conversation knowing more of how God has worked in her life. It restores the hope in me that God is working in my life as well.

God puts a lot of stock in the importance of learning about Him and His work. Whether it is something I hear from His Word, a sermon, a friend, a book or a song, as I take in the messages my view of God is enlarged. God wants me to be attentive and alert to the things He wants to teach me about Himself. That is one reason we have all the wonderful accounts in Scripture recorded for us. His Word is His own testimony of His character as well as His accomplishments. But He did not stop when the last verse was written.

Each of us have stories to tell of how God intersected our world at pivotal moments. Those stories are meant to be shared…whether with one individual or many. Each time I hear of God’s mighty work in someone’s life, His intent is that I would know that the same God is at work in me. When I see Him turn impossible situations to favorable ones in the lives of others, my faith is boosted that there is still hope for my own situation.

But it does not stop with hearing about His works. It is then imperative to acknowledge what I have heard. The stories are most affective when I take what I hear, agree with it, and see God’s right and authority to act on my behalf. To begin to take notice of what He has done, is doing, and will do in my life.

So what are the things I acknowledge about God today? When I hear another person’s story, what revelation of God will be a result of it? The word “knowledge” is part of the word “acknowledge” reminding me that I must first be aware of something before I can truly acknowledge it.

Father, my ears are open to hear You today. Your voice will travel through many vehicles to reach me. May I be attentive to all You have to say. Amen.

Hearing What He Has to Say

Let these words sink into your ears. Luke 9:44 NASB
Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Luke 9:44 KJV
Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. Luke 9:44 NIV

When was the last time you really paid attention to what God was trying to tell you either in prayer, through His Word, via a church service, through a book you were reading, or through an experience you were going through? I can tell when what God is attempting to tell me finally gets through. Things become crystal clear to me, my heart feels settled, my mind is at ease, and I proceed with assurance that I did not formerly possess.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples as He was telling them of His impending death. He speaks these words to me each time I open Scripture. In truth, there is much He wants to tell me….every day. I am always amazed at how quickly He will give me answers when I ask Him questions about things that puzzle me. There are times He whispers truth to me when my heart is perplexed over certain issues.

Just last week He shared two profound truths with me that I needed to hear and they had a huge effect on my present journey with Him. The first truth was that from the time He formed me in my mother’s womb, His love for me has not changed, diminished, or been altered one bit. It has stayed the same! I needed to hear that. I needed the truth of His words to sink down into my ears. To really get it! Tears came as the truth sank in.

The second truth was that many times I can embrace people, teachings, books, music, etc… and still fail to embrace Him. Still fail to look to Him to meet my needs, satisfy my longings, fill my empty places, give me direction, enlighten me on issues, and give me my worth, value, and identity. That is often the reason I may not feel as close to Him, as connected to Him, or as sheltered by Him. He let me see that this is a choice. So now I start my days choosing Him. I choose to abide under the shadow of His wings, to live by His truth, to follow in His steps, to gravitate toward Him as never before. Throughout the day, when necessary, I verbally state the same things to Him. May my ears continue to receive all He desires to tell me.

Father, may I never again be dull of hearing. The more I take in Your words, the more easily I come to recognize Your voice. Speak to me. Amen.