Date:
Tuesday,
June 16, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 43-47
Message Title: Listening For God
Hello My Friend,
When was the last time you honestly just sat still and listened to all the things that are around you? It is amazing what you hear when all is quiet, birds chirping, rain dropping, the wind, the air conditioning coming on, a fan whistling. Whether they are peaceful or annoying, it does not take long before you get use to them and do not notice them as much. Now, think back to the time when you first received Christ as your Saviour, or realized that it was time to have Him in your life, you were scared, excited, and eager, you heard God speaking to you and listened to every word He said. Just like that noise that becomes something we do not notice after some time, God's voice can become something we do not notice as well. We can hear His voice again, we just have to be still and listen. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” - Revelation 3:20.
As Christians, we all have times in our lives when we really feel the presence of God, and yet other times, often times of struggle, we find ourselves wondering where He is. It's times like these when we need to remember that God is always with us, He's not forsaken us, He's just standing back to see how we are going to handle all this. We can handle times of struggle when we do not see God by praising Him. “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” - Psalms 43.
It's easy to praise God when things are going good, but wait, is it really? How often do we praise Him when things are going our way? We might be surprised at how little we do. God wants our praise when things are going well and when they are not. Sadly, but not intentionally, we do forget to praise God when things are going well, and if it happens too often we can be sure that affliction will come since it's the only way He gets our attention sometimes. “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:6,7,13-16.
Whether we realize it or not, it is much easier to hear God's voice when we are in the midst of struggles. Why? When things are going well we can become confident that we can handle everything on our own and do not need God's help. God wants to be in every part of our lives, He never wants us to get to the point that we think that do not need Him. When struggles come, that is when we need to stop and think if we have neglected God in any way. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalms 46:1-5,10.
While we do not intend to forget that God is with us even when things are going well, it happens more often that we realize. However, God does know our heart and if it takes affliction to get us to be still and listen to Him, that is what He will do. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” - 1 Peter 4:12-14.
God truly is our refuge during our affliction, He will give us hope and encouragement even through the darkest times. I do not know how I made it through twenty-five years of my life without hearing God, but I do know that He was watching over me the entire time waiting for me to be still and listen to Him. I admit it was in the midst of a severe struggle that I finally heard Him. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:10.
God speaks to us in many ways, most of all through His Word, without His Word we would still be trying to make it through this journey on earth without going insane, which incidentally many have and survived. David faced a lot of struggles, but he knew he could not get through them without God. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” - Psalms 48:1-3,8-10,14.
Yes, even upon death, God is our guide, we will either be directed to heaven or hell, no amount of money, serving God, or power we have here on earth will save us from hell, we must have received Jesus Christ as our Saviour before we die or we will be sent straight to hell upon our death. God is speaking to you in some way, be still and listen for Him, He will give you what you need.“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” - Mark 4:23-25.
Today's Prayer: God, In the midst of my struggles I admit that I do not always hear You speaking to me. I try so hard, but cannot hear You through all the noise in my head telling me to just give up. Lord, break through the voices in my head and all the distractions of the day and let me hear You. Help me to be still and listen for You among all the chaos, lead me and guide me in Your will, and help me to trust You through my struggles, I know I can endure them through You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Chapters: Psalms 43-47
Message Title: Listening For God
Hello My Friend,
When was the last time you honestly just sat still and listened to all the things that are around you? It is amazing what you hear when all is quiet, birds chirping, rain dropping, the wind, the air conditioning coming on, a fan whistling. Whether they are peaceful or annoying, it does not take long before you get use to them and do not notice them as much. Now, think back to the time when you first received Christ as your Saviour, or realized that it was time to have Him in your life, you were scared, excited, and eager, you heard God speaking to you and listened to every word He said. Just like that noise that becomes something we do not notice after some time, God's voice can become something we do not notice as well. We can hear His voice again, we just have to be still and listen. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” - Revelation 3:20.
As Christians, we all have times in our lives when we really feel the presence of God, and yet other times, often times of struggle, we find ourselves wondering where He is. It's times like these when we need to remember that God is always with us, He's not forsaken us, He's just standing back to see how we are going to handle all this. We can handle times of struggle when we do not see God by praising Him. “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” - Psalms 43.
It's easy to praise God when things are going good, but wait, is it really? How often do we praise Him when things are going our way? We might be surprised at how little we do. God wants our praise when things are going well and when they are not. Sadly, but not intentionally, we do forget to praise God when things are going well, and if it happens too often we can be sure that affliction will come since it's the only way He gets our attention sometimes. “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:6,7,13-16.
Whether we realize it or not, it is much easier to hear God's voice when we are in the midst of struggles. Why? When things are going well we can become confident that we can handle everything on our own and do not need God's help. God wants to be in every part of our lives, He never wants us to get to the point that we think that do not need Him. When struggles come, that is when we need to stop and think if we have neglected God in any way. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalms 46:1-5,10.
While we do not intend to forget that God is with us even when things are going well, it happens more often that we realize. However, God does know our heart and if it takes affliction to get us to be still and listen to Him, that is what He will do. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” - 1 Peter 4:12-14.
God truly is our refuge during our affliction, He will give us hope and encouragement even through the darkest times. I do not know how I made it through twenty-five years of my life without hearing God, but I do know that He was watching over me the entire time waiting for me to be still and listen to Him. I admit it was in the midst of a severe struggle that I finally heard Him. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:10.
God speaks to us in many ways, most of all through His Word, without His Word we would still be trying to make it through this journey on earth without going insane, which incidentally many have and survived. David faced a lot of struggles, but he knew he could not get through them without God. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” - Psalms 48:1-3,8-10,14.
Yes, even upon death, God is our guide, we will either be directed to heaven or hell, no amount of money, serving God, or power we have here on earth will save us from hell, we must have received Jesus Christ as our Saviour before we die or we will be sent straight to hell upon our death. God is speaking to you in some way, be still and listen for Him, He will give you what you need.“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” - Mark 4:23-25.
Today's Prayer: God, In the midst of my struggles I admit that I do not always hear You speaking to me. I try so hard, but cannot hear You through all the noise in my head telling me to just give up. Lord, break through the voices in my head and all the distractions of the day and let me hear You. Help me to be still and listen for You among all the chaos, lead me and guide me in Your will, and help me to trust You through my struggles, I know I can endure them through You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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