I live to hear the voice of the Lord. There is absolutely nothing more empowering, uplifting and life-changing for me than hearing the Father, our Creator, our Redeemer talk to me personally about what I am going through.  I yearn to hear His perspective on the external and internal struggles I’m facing and about the vision of where I’m headed.  This is the most incredible part of being in relationship with Jesus, as far as I’m concerned.

Most religions have rules and doctrine and have good works that people are supposed to do.  But the Christian faith has a risen, living Savior who still speaks to his disciples and calls us His friends.

My journals are filled with notes I have taken when I have stilled my heart and allowed the Lord to speak to me.  Below is one of those journal entries.

Here’s the backstory: My husband and I were encountering a difficult season.  For me, much of the challenge was with thoughts and fears inside my head that were overwhelming me.  My fears were like virtual reality goggles: everything I saw in my mind’s eye was making me stop dead in my tracks, even though the Lord had promised me that He was working on my behalf in the challenging areas.

My husband and I were also facing financial and relational issues with family members that were making us stressed and sad.  John and I have found that it’s hard to encourage your spouse when you’re down yourself!

So I did what I usually do when I can’t see my way out of a paper bag, so to speak.  I go to the Lord and ask Him what He has to say about the situation.  And He always faithfully speaks to me.  He aligns my thinking, He corrects my sinful attitudes (in such a loving way that I always feel lighter afterwards), and He gives Me hope and vision for my future.

I hope in sharing these “Jesus talking” moments from my journals that you will be encouraged to hear the Voice of the Lord for yourself.  I pray that you will get alone with Jesus, and ask Him to speak to you.  I’m not special.  I’m not some holy person that Jesus visits.  I’m a child just like you.  And what father doesn’t want to embrace and encourage his children when they come to him?

Keep your heart pure. Don’t let your life be reduced to the standards of the ungodly but rather lift your circumstances up to the level of your faith – lift them up to the level of your God.

This is warfare. How can you be trained for opposition and warfare if there is no war? Lean into Me. You and John must fast. I have given you free will to choose My way or your own way.

Don’t listen to the venomous accusations of the enemy.  Stay on the wall and be ready to fight with the sword of the Spirit.

Repent of your sins and be cleansed.  Then get up and fight in the Spirit. Don’t quit too soon.  This fight may be long so ask Me for endurance and grace and I will pour it out.  You win.  No one can stop what I am doing but My first concern is what I am doing in you and John through this season.

This battle is about learning to fight the real enemy in UNITY and with My STRATEGY.  Seek Me and I will guide you into all truth and speak strategy into your hearts. I will move mountains you cannot move.  Anger profits nothing. Fear destroys. Protect your hearts from these poisonous enemies of righteousness.  You shall overcome.

Now you:

• Have you ever stilled your heart and asked the Lord to speak to you?
• Did your mind start racing with thoughts that you were making the whole thing up?
• Did you have a hard time keeping your mind focused on the Lord?

I encourage you and challenge you to open a journal and prepare to write down what you hear. In the beginning of the Bible we find a Creator Who made everything we see and know with words.  And He hasn’t changed His methods. God has words to say about you and they are full of life.  His good thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore.  Prepare to encounter the living God and keep coming back.

If you don’t think you hear anything it’s because you haven’t learned how to focus on just one thing and quiet your mind.  We live in a multitasking society where you’re not considered productive unless you do three things at once.  But that technique backfires when trying to get quiet and hear from God.  In that place of reverence, there can only be one thing one our minds – Jesus.  And when we seek Him, when we knock, the door is opened and we can hear Him.

So don’t get weary or discouraged after one attempt.  My goodness, we spend more time learning how to use our cell phones than to hear from God!

Let’s pray:

Lord, we are so connected to this world that see around us.  Often it’s hard to remember that You are above all, You created all and You are sustaining all.  Sometimes, we feel like we are sustaining ourselves – and it’s scary because we know we can’t.  We can’t change the people in our lives who are hurting us or themselves. We can’t undo our mistakes and failures and we can’t make ourselves successful in the Spirit.  But You can do all things. We need to hear Your Voice in order to know what to do, how to change, how You feel about us and what You have promised. You said that the mind set on carnal things is death but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. Lord, we need life and peace. Thank you for reminding us daily to train our minds to focus on You and to be still and know You.

Psalm 46:10; Romans 8:6