Hearing Godâs Voice â Part 2
So, you want to hear Godâs voiceânow what?
The first and most honest question to ask yourself is this: Am I willing to obey what I believe God is saying to me?
This is a crucial starting point. A genuine âyesâ is not the outcome of hearing Godâs voice; it is the precondition. A willingness to obey creates the soil in which discernment can grow.
Jesus once asked His followers, âWhy do you call me, âLord, Lord,â and do not do what I say?â (Luke 6:46). His words are sobering. If we consistently ignore what God makes clear, we begin to live as though He is not truly Lord. Over time, something subtle but serious happens: our ability to hear dulls. Our spiritual sensitivity fades. Itâs much like slowly losing your native language after living for years in a place where itâs never spoken.
As followers of Christ, we are invited to receive His direction above every competing voice and opinion. When we sense that God is leading, our posture matters. Letâs receive His word thoughtfullyâand then...
Practice Discernment and Humility
Have you ever encountered a false prophet?
More searchingâand more uncomfortableâhave you ever been one?
How would you know?
Scripture is clear: Godâs plans for us are good. Yet the path to that good is not always pleasant or easy. The apostle Paul reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That does not mean all things are good. Many are not.
We live in a fallen world. Difficulty, loss, confusion, and suffering touch every life.
The good news is this: God is present in it all. When we turn toward Him, we gain wisdom, purpose, discernment, help, peace, and joyâoften right in the middle of the struggle. He deepens our faith. He forms our character. He builds our lives as we learn to prize relationship with Him above outcomes. He is with us.
False prophets, however, tend to promise positive futures while missing what God is actually doing now. They say what people want to hear. They aim for affirmation rather...
A Better Way to Measure
Do you ever catch yourself sizing up your lifeâwondering if you measure up to others, or even to your own expectations?
We all do this. We compare ourselves to people, timelines, and unspoken standards. And honestly, measuring isnât wrong in itself. It can help us grow. But if weâre using bent or broken rulers, the results will always be off.
Scripture is often called the âCanonââthe true rule of faith. It gives us a trustworthy way to understand what really matters. But even then, we can take biblical ideas and twist them into something that misses the heart of the Kingdom.
The disciples did this more than once. In Matthew 18, they were busy ranking themselves, trying to figure out who was the greatest. Jesus interrupted their scorekeeping with a startling correction: âUnless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.â (Matthew 18:3)
He wasnât talking about childishness. He was inviting them into humility, openness, and the simple clari...
The Battle Behind the Struggle
Have you recently faced difficulties or felt a sense of hopelessness? It may be more than challenging circumstancesâit may be evidence of a spiritual battle. Scripture reminds us that life is not just what we see on the surface. There is a spiritual realm, and it is in conflict. There really is a God, and there really is a devil. Angels and demons are at work, and humanity is caught in the middle of their war. Whether or not we recognize it, this battle is real.
The apostle Paul addresses this reality in Ephesians 6:10â20, urging us to âput on the full armor of Godâ so we can stand firm. Our goal is not just to survive the fight, but to remain standing when it is over. Spiritual standing must become our way of life.
Here are four ways we can stand:
1. Stand On Godâs Truth.
Godâs Word is truth. Jesus prayed that His followers would be sanctifiedâset apartâby this truth (John 17:17). Paul urges us to renew our minds by it, so we are not shaped by the worldâs lies (Romans 12:2). This ta...
Beyond Ease: How Struggles Shape Our True Purpose
The Lies We Believe: Why Life Isn't Meant to Be Easy
Most of us grow up believing that happiness, financial stability, good health, and an easy life are the things we should naturally expect. As Americans, these beliefs are deeply ingrained in usâthey shape the culture we live in, the media we consume, and even the air we breathe. We may try to resist or question these ideas, but if weâre honest, we often buy into them.
But hereâs the truth: These beliefs come with serious flaws.
The First Problem: These Expectations Are Simply Not True
The idea that life should be a smooth ride of comfort and success isnât just unrealistic; itâs misleading. Everyone faces hardship. The truth is, unless Jesus returns first, we will all experience difficultiesâsome of them deeply painful.
If we hold on to the expectation that life is supposed to be easy, weâre setting ourselves up for disappointment. When trouble inevitably comes, we might feel confused, overwhelmed, or even hopeless.
But thereâs ...
When Life Feels Too Complicated
Do you ever feel like your life is just too muchâtoo many tasks, too many responsibilities, too many demands on your time and energy? Most of us go through seasons like that. Life piles up, and in the middle of the overload, even our faith can start to feel like one more thing we canât quite manage.
In those moments, we might be tempted to step away from our usual spiritual rhythmsâprayer, Scripture, worshipâthinking theyâll only add to the pressure. But in reality, thatâs when we need them most.
Because at its core, the Kingdom of God is not complicated. It is grounded in simplicity, focus, and peace.
The prophet Micah put it beautifully:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
Thatâs it. Thatâs the heart of what God asks from us:
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Do what is right. Not just for yourself, but for othersâespecially for those without power or voice. Justice isnât a side project;
...
How Are You As A Connector?
Some time ago, while on a walk in a park, I was noticing different kinds of connections between mothers and their toddlers as they strolled along.
Some moms had their coffee cups in hand and their child in tow. Their eyes were glazed over as if in a daze. They were with their child, but at that moment they werenât âwithâ anybody.
Some were texting and checking the internet. They were somewhere else in their minds and focus.
Others were doting over their children, overloading them with words, tones, object lessons and tactile experiences. These ladies were MOMs âthey were âWITHâ their children.
How are you as a connector?
Are you passive and somewhat disconnected?
Are you distracted, often thinking about other things while relating to people?
Are you overborne, smothering others and making it hard for them to breathe emotionally, psychologically, intellectually or physically?
Or, are you able to simply be present with those God brings into your life?
Jesus âAppointed twelve--de...
Timing is Almost Everything
Have you ever felt like your words did more damage than good â even if what you said was correct? Or maybe you've disappointed others for not saying anything when it was hoped that you'd speak up?
Itâs easy to lose in the communication game.
Sometimes we donât know what to say, and sometimes we do; wisdom is when we know what to say, as well as when and how to say it.
âA word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.â (Proverbs 25:11)
Godâs revelation includes divine insight. Godâs timing releases Kingdom power.
When you are called upon for counsel it is important to respond with more than your opinion. Your opinions donât really matter to other people. What they need, whether they know it or not, is a word from the Lord. Such insight rarely simply drops from heaven. It requires a robust understanding of, and familiarity with, Scripture. Much of the language and truth of the Holy Spirit springs from the Bible text.
We need to be people of the Word. We also need ...
Do You Have What It Takes To Lead?
What does it mean to be a good leader?
There are hundreds of books, on this topic, stored on shelves and in cyberspace .
What are the key ingredients of real, spiritual authority and leadership?
Do you have these qualities?
Could you ever be a solid leader?
I say, âYes!â
In the United States, we are tempted to think that leadership looks bold, forceful, dominant, overbearing and maybe even boastful. Leadership is for the strong â those who can overpower all contenders. This, however, is not true.
True leadership is based on genuine authority, and ALL authority comes from God. Godâs authority is not marked by pride and earthly power.
When Jesus chose His disciples, he chose 12 of them. Why 12?
Many believe that this choice represented the 12 tribes of Israel; that Jesus was creating a new order â a kind of âNew Israel.â It is interesting that one of the first glimpses we have recorded, in the book of Revelation, of the throne of God, includes 24 seated elders. (Revelation 4:4) This...
How To Be Lifted
As people get older, they are prone to âsoftenâ in more ways than one. Most importantly, peopleâs hearts tend to get softer â and they become humbler as the decades start ticking away. Much of our culture looks at this softening process with suspicion, wondering if itâs the fruit of humility or lack of backbone and/or drive. Even if it is humility, the public square often doesnât honor the character of humility. Yet, Godâs economy is quite different.
Both James (the brother of Jesus) and Peter (one of His closest followers) wrote, âGod opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.â (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5) God opposes those who exhibit pride â because they are opposing Him. When people act in a prideful way, they are not seeking God â and Scripture declares they are also not making room for Him in their thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)Â If not seeking God, and not including Him in our thoughts are marks of pride ââ many of us are often practically living in a prideful way.
Why is pride suc...
