Hearing from God is not just for special, select individuals. God desires that each and every one of His children have a personal and intimate relationship that allows them to communicate with Him freely. But hearing from God does require that we take “self” out of the equation.
To open your ears to the words of God, you have to be willing. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open your ears. Spend time in the Word so that you recognize it when you hear it.
Expect an answer. Listen for a response from God in the scripture that you read, in the bible study that you are doing, or in the weekly sermon. Listen to your words with your children or FROM your children. God’s revelation often comes from unexpected places. At least you won’t have to deal with talking shrubbery.
Learn how to make the connection. When you pray and hear a response then ask for wisdom to connect the dots. I was working in my garden one day (a great time for me to talk with God) pulling weeds and working through some other issues. “Lord, I just need you to let me know that I’m going the right way.” Later that day, on three different occasions, I had someone tell me that I had grown spiritual, or that they looked up to my spiritual walk, or just gave me a pat on the back to tell me I was doing a good job. God answered my prayer.
Hearing from God is only the first step. Once you know that part, your part is to respond. God doesn’t show you something or tell you something just for fun. He has a purpose in mind. Noah wasn’t just supposed to build a boat; he was supposed to save the human race. Joseph wasn’t just supposed to interpret a couple of dreams; he was supposed to save two nations from destruction by famine. Responding with obedience to what God has shown you allows Him to accomplish through you what He desires to do.
And it is GOD that will accomplish what He wants to do. Recently, I set out to save a local, historical chapel. Everyone else had given up, but I was moved to do it. I prayed about what I could do. There was no money in our own budget to save the building. I committed to God that I would write fundraising letters and send out news releases, and I would trust Him to do the rest. No one stepped up and offered to pay. Only one newspaper even gave the story print time. I pushed on, speaking to groups and government officials, trying to find a way to save the building.
After a particularly long weekend, I got an email that said the church had been saved. Because of the article that was printed in just one paper, a new church (that had asked for the building four years before and had been turned down) had asked to move the building. We worked with them, they secured the funding, and the building is already on wheels and getting ready to roll.
It wasn’t how I would have done it, but it was exactly how God did it. He doesn’t ask us to understand it all. He just asks us to respond with obedience and to trust Him to do the rest.
Being able to hear from God is a gift that we have all received. If I can get beyond all my predetermined ideals and habits and focus on His word, then I open up the conduit for communication.
Pray. Watch. Listen. Respond. Trust.
God wants to use you. What’s your next step?
December 14th, 2007
My job is the coolest one in the world. Every day is full of new challenges, different projects, and deadlines. The people I work with are always growing and changing. I am MOM.
People who knew me growing up are usually shocked that I have chosen this profession. Others simply can’t understand how any one of sound mind and body would purposely choose to do what I do. Even my husband has flashes of “you are wasting your college degree with this path” but it usually passes pretty fast (especially if he is left alone with the kids and house for a day or two. Sometimes is only takes a few hours).
If the truth be known, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love this job. I do use my degree at least once a day. And the pay I receive is better than anyone around me that I know. Even on those days where chaos rules the roost, MOM is the best job I could ask for.
Most days I’m juggling the house chores, my work, the kids’ school work, the meals and the toddler. Most days I keep all of the balls in the air. There are those days when I drop on (or all) since I’m not Superhuman (just Wonder Woman), but those are getting farther and farther apart. I can see the attitudes and talents blooming in the children and it pushes me to be and do more in my own life.
It’s not that my job is more important than other jobs (although I think it is probably close). It’s just that it is more fun and exciting and ever changing. How many other people get up in the morning bracing for what is to come? You can schedule and plan, but every mom knows that flexibility is all that counts when it comes to triumphing through the day.
Moms are under-appreciated outside the home, and many times in the home as well. Few people outside the profession know, understand, or even care what goes on in a typical day or how much time we devote to the job. That’s why neighbors and family always call on MOM because she has nothing better to do with her time, right?
I think that the tides are starting to turn and more people are allowing themselves to choose the occupation of MOM (even some dads are making the choice). A revolution is on the way. Who knows, maybe we will have MOM in the White House sometime in the future (although there is really no time for such silliness when you have important work to do).
December 14th, 2007
As a writer, I worry about people stealing my work. I’ve heard and read about authors whose work was used by agents or editors without any compensation. If that wasn’t enough to keep me hording my writing in the desk, the internet now adds a whole new dimension to my paranoia.
Copyrights are one of those things I’ve heard about, but never really understood. I’ve always thought it was some intense process that required money. It turns out that copyright is just proof that you produced the work.
Some blog sites will say at the bottom that the work is copyrighted, but no special process was done. You can register something with the US Copyright Office – which will make it easier to prove it is your creative work if you have a need to fight any infringement – but that is not necessary for the work to be protected. The simple fact that you produced the work makes it protected.
The internet is still a difficult place to police copyright infringements. Even big organizations find they need more protection. So instead of worrying so much, I will just save my big ideas for print.
December 14th, 2007
