God's Talking: Are you listening?

Often in the hectic paces of life, it may seem that God isn't talking to us. We read the Bible, but it doesn't have the same effect. We pray and find ourselves wondering if we were heard.  We try to stay faithful, but find doubts creeping in. We know that God speaks through His word and answers prayers. But how do we know God’s will? How do we know if it is not expressed specifically in black and white scripture what God is saying to us?

  "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God." 

Job 37:14     

We may have our issues, that Job’s friends weren't such good friends to comfort a suffering man. Yet, that doesn't make everything that they say erroneous. The statement above is a good case in point, as it offers some very good advice. When we’ve tried everything else and we still don’t think we can hear God, you often have to be quiet in order to hear God speak. This means sitting down – you and God – and you listening quietly. Turn off the cell phone! Turn off the TV!  

One of the reasons why God may never speak to you could be because you’re never quiet. Cultivating a quiet mind takes practice and has to become a habit. God may actually be revealing His will to you, lighting your path, enlightening your wisdom, you’re not hearing because He’s getting a busy signal from you. You've got to reserve time alone with God. So, here are some things to think about....

• Is getting God’s dream for your life, voice in your life, will in your life worth one day of your life? 
• Have you ever taken an entire day and done nothing but be alone with God? 
• Have you taken advantage of Sunday worship, to get yourself in tune with the Spirit of God? Let God talk to you through the Bible. Relax. Think. 
• Have you tried writing down the thoughts God puts in your mind? 
• Have you determined to set spiritual goals that you know that God wants you to achieve? 
• Look through your schedule for the week – is God there? We work, do things that we consider important – is God there in your priorities?

Recently, someone determined to spend one day saying nothing negative about anyone or anything. They found this to be a great challenge, yet in doing so they heard God’s voice telling them that they had let their lives become controlled by this type of thinking. We go here..go there – have you ever asked God, “God, where do you want me to go? What direction do you want me to go?”

God speaks to people who take the time to listen — not just for a day, but also on a regular

basis. This is called a quiet time. We exercise it best, when The Lord’s Day is the most important day for us and we wouldn't miss it for anything.  You think you don’t have time for this? We’re talking about figuring out why you’re here on Earth, so you've got to make the time.

• Do you want to hear God speak to you? What are you willing to do about it?
• How much time do you actually spend being quiet and waiting on God to speak to you?
• What distractions need to eliminated so that you can spend more time with God?

          "Hear this, O ; stop and consider the wondrous works of God." 

Jim

UNMANAGED LIFE AND SPIRIT = UNGODLY!!

Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control.

Pro 5:22,23 

This proverb says a lot about people. One of the things that you hear a lot is how people suffer, how difficult things are, how they can’t manage, how that they have no joy in life. Granted, there is a lot of suffering that is well beyond our control, however there is a LOT of stuff that we go through that is simply brought upon ourselves. Many times, it is our own lack of self-control that gets us into the jams that we face. This is why the Bible spends as much time as it does talking about why we need to learn to manage and control what we do, how we feel, and how we express those things.

Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”  Emotion is an unreliable thing, and “your gut” is often wrong. As much as we do not want to hear it, it is our own feelings that lead us down a blind alley. Not everything you feel is right or authentic or will lead you in the right direction. This is why God tells us here in this proverb, that not controlling things like this could even lead to my own death. As a diabetic, controlling my sugar is paramount to my overall health. If it goes unmanaged, it could permanently damage kidneys, my liver, my eyes, my vascular system and more. Grossly unmanaged, I could even die.  That is why for me, self-control is a key to my survival. This is also true regarding my overall life and spirit too.  That is why we need God in our lives, because there are times simply as a human, that I cannot manage myself.  As Jeremiah stated long ago, “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.  Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. (Jer.10:23,24). “

Bullying is a hot topic these days, and no one likes to be or feel manipulated. We consider it degrading, demeaning and disgusting. However, we are our own worst judges and critics. The plain fact is that if you don’t control your emotions, they WILL control you, and you will be manipulated by your moods. What many people do not understand, is that in the background of these feelings, Satan’s favorite tool is negative emotions. He is the master of using fear, resentment, and worry to wreck our lives. This is why Peter, a man well acquainted with having this happen in his life, tries to teach us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet.5:8) God cannot rule your life if you and your emotions rule your life. Peter had learned that well, the night Jesus was on trial and he denied Him.  Paul reminds us too, because he did the same thing, “If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.” (Rom 8:8)

Even our own self-help gurus and motivational speakers tell us that you need to learn to manage your emotions if you want to succeed in life. How many people do we know who ruined their reputation because of something said in the heat of anger? Or missed a job opportunity because of their lack of self-control to get up on time? Study after study shows that our emotional quotient is far more important than your IQ when it comes to success. When you give your heart to Jesus that includes your emotions to be managed by Him. Giving our lives to God is not just what you think and do. He wants to be Lord of what is inside you too.  Again, Peter reminds us, “It means you have turned from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. (1 Pet 4:2)” 

What about your emotions do you need to surrender to God today?

Jim

Herding Cats and Managing Chaos

I had a fun discussion this past week, with someone about their position in management. Their summation of their job was "trying to manage chaos."  A most interesting description, almost like one I heard just recently when a person muttered that what they did was like trying to herd cats.

Life is a confusing thing and definitely not for wimps. It has many challenges and sometimes the directions are not certain.  And sometimes, reading the manual doesn't help.  I got an item just recently that came with "assembly" instructions, that may as well have bee written by someone trying to create a crossword puzzle. I had chaos in front of me and part 2A looked almost identical to part 10c and the diagram was so small, that you couldn't tell what went where.

We all face dead ends at times, whether financial, emotional, or everyday life. We're not certain where to turn, what decision to make, etc.  Prov.3:5,6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  We must learn that trusting God is the best way, even if we cannot always see the outcome and are not sure within ourselves.  We must stick to what we know to be true (1 Pet.3:13) and trust God to reveal to us the rest in His own time and according to His own will.

Sometimes, understanding is not a requirement for us to start down the path God lays out for us. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day.” (NIV)  We may not even understand until we make it to eternity. But the events, circumstances, and happenings in my life are not coincidence, chance or "luck." We are where we are, doing what we are doing for a reason. One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you and then state, "ah...now I understand."

In the meantime, be patient. God knows what He’s doing and part of your circumstance is to see if you trust God in this. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result, you cannot. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays—all the things that make you ask “why”—one day will all be clear in the light of God’s love. Until then, "Psa 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Jim