My sister bought me a fabulous book a while back called, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" by Lysa TerKeurst. (BTW- if you have never done a Study with Lysa, she is great. Not quite the oversized personality that we love of Beth Moore, but she is great.) So, I have been incredibly overwhelmed lately. I don't know why and I shouldn't have any reason to, especially since Connor is in school now. You would think I would have more time to get the stuff done, but this week just hit me over the head and all things collapsed. The house was literally disgusting. There was laundry, clean and dirty, piled everywhere. Clutter was consumming every inch of every available space. It, honestly, made me despressed. Not just depressed and sad, but truly, in-a-mood, not looking forward to dealing with "tomorrow" depressed. Then I had a "smack me in the face, Jesus" moment, courtesy of Lysa.
(Just as a little background on this- Connor has gymnastics yesterday afternoon and I grabbed a magazine to take and read while I waited. Last minute, I dropped the magazine and picked up the "Yes to God" Study instead. PTL I did!!)
The chapter I did last night was "Hearing God's Voice." Lysa says, "Every day, God speaks to us. Sometimes He invites us to draw close and listen as He reveals Himself, His character, and His direction. Other times He calls to us to participate in His purposes. How do I know if God is speaking to me? How do I discern whether it is His voice speaking or just my own idea?" Lysa suggests you ask yourself these 5 questions:
1) Does what I'm hearing line up with Scripture?
2) Is it consistentwith God's character?
3) Is it being confirmed through message I'm hearing at church or studying in my quiet time?
4) Is it beyond me?
5) Would it please God?
"These questions are just a starting place. I encourage you to get a journal and start recording verses you study and some of your personal experiences with the things you are learning as you read God's Word."
Is What I'm Hearing Consistent with God's Character?
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." Romans 8:5
The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are by-products of Christ's control- we can't obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his. We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him.
Is What I'm Hearing Being Confirmed Through Other Messages?
When Gos is speaking about a particular issue....you can not escape it!
"We shouldn't be doing all the talking. God wants us to pour out our heartsto Him, and then He wants to respond to us. Jesus shared this parable: The watchman open the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:3-4)
He has gone before us and sees the dangers and trials we will face. He is telling us the way to go, the perspectives to keep, the things to avoid, and the things to hold fast to. Most of all he is speaking to us because we are His own and He wants a relationship with us. He loves us, adores us, treasures us, and has a good plan for us. He longs for us to know His voice and listen to His voice. The only way to know and trust God in this way is to spend time with Him.
When we invest in spending time alone with God, He will speak to us, and what we hear from Him in these quiet times will be echoed in other places.
"I ask for desire to want God more than anything else. I ask for the discipline to make my relationship with Him top priority. I ask for the discernment to know the difference between my own thoughts and God's voice. I ask for clear direction at each crossroad in my life. I ask for my relationship with God to be characterized by sheer delight rather than a sense of duty."
Last night as I lay in bed, I prayed and prayed and prayed for the energy and motivation to get my act together and back in line to be the wife, mother that God desire's me to be. While it took 8 hours, my house has never been more sparkling. I cleaned out pantry, 4 cupboards and 3 cabinets. Every room has been cleaned, the baseboards have been scrubbed, the windows washed and the blinds dusted, the floors bleached and every last burpcloth and t-shirt washed, folded and out away. I am so ready to open myself up for what's next and ready to listen to where God is leading me.
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