Friday, May 2, 2008

Hearing God

Hey gals - Elizabeth's story is below if you've not yet read or posted about her. I want you each to know that I have prayed over the requests that have been posted here, in Jesus' powerful name.

A question was asked that is a common one, and an important one: How do I know that I'm hearing from God? Its not an audible voice that I hear, but more of a impression I get in my heart. Not a fleeting thought that pops in my head once, but an impression that settles upon me.

My good friend Lysa TerKerust provides some great guidance on this subject in her book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. She has 5 questions she asks herself when trying to discern if something is from God:

  1. Does what I'm hearing line up with scripture?
  2. Is it consistent with God's character?
  3. Is it being confirmed through messages I'm hearing at church or during my Bible study time?
  4. Is it beyond me? As we're seeing in this study, God likes to do things through us that we couldn't do ourselves.
  5. Would it please God?
For me, sometimes a sensation I can feel accompanies it, but not always. As many of you spoke of, there is a certain peace that often comes once I decide to obey. I might still have some nerves or jitters about proceeding - especially if I think it is beyond me - but I receive a certain peace alongside those jitters.

Also, as I hope you are discovering through this study, the more plugged in I am to God - meaning the more I read the Bible and obey it, and the more I pray and think about spiritual things through out my day - the easier it becomes for me to recognize God's voice and to notice Him at work in my circumstances. And naturally, the more I am into the Bible, the better I can answer Lysa's 5 filter questions listed above.

Hope this helps someone. Be back later ~ Rachel

PS_Three of the P31 gals have had their blogs locked up this week by blogger and they can't get on to post at all. I don't know what that is about exactly, but pray it doesn't happen to mine.

23 comments:

  1. Hi ladies, I am sorry I haven't been steady in this study. I do want to lift up a prayer request. My father was let go of his job in October. He has two weeks left on unemployment and no job. He has applied for many, but others got the job. My parents are having a hard time. My dad is depressed and feels that God has let him down and does not care about it. Deep down I know he does not believe this, but please pray for peace and comfort. I pray for a job, but I believe he has to get his confidence up once more to find a job. They will possibly have to move.

    Thank you Rachel for all that you are doing and thank you to each one of the ladies on this website.

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  2. Elizabeth - beautiful name and beautiful woman. Can you imagine what it must have felt like to feel the child leap in your womb because the mother of my Lord had just come to visit me? What a time to have lived when Jesus was coming into the world. But what a time we live in too. We have the sure knowledge that Jesus did live in this world and did die to save us. We can say like Job 19:25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. He has invited us to stand with Him and I am more than glad to accept.

    Janet
    Latrobe, PA

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  3. AnonymousMay 02, 2008

    Thank you, Rachel, for this post. It helps to have filter questions to go through when examining that your goals are really God's goals for you.

    I have been quietly enjoying reading along with all of you. I find myself anxiously awaiting each of your posts, Rachel, and have learned so much from each of them!

    RV from MN

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  4. Thanks so much for the information! I'm currently doing an online study of Lysa's book on leliachealey.blogspot.com. It's a great book on not only saying Yes to God, but also how to hear from Him. :)

    I loved reading about Elizabeth! :)

    Prayers and Blessings!
    Rebecca

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  5. Strange. I will pray about it. I don't want mine to be locked up too.

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  6. To the moores: I am going to post something that may be a help to your dad. My blog has been dedicated to my Heavenely Father and I've asked Him to let me know what I should put on there. When I read what you wrote about your dad and his job some scripture came to my mind that helped me through a very difficult time in my life.
    AliceE.

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  7. Rachel,
    I always enjoy stopping by your blog and reading your insights and those of your blogging friends.

    Hey thanks to you and those blogging friends for your prayers. The Lord has interveened and unlocked my blog. Praise the Lord!!!
    I think Suzanne is also up and blogging again.
    I can't wait to see you at She Speaks.
    You my friend Rachel are a blessing!
    Zoe

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  8. AnonymousMay 02, 2008

    I need to get that book!! I love reading anything about involving my FATHER. Thanks again for the wonderful study!

    The moores: I will pray for your father. I am currently going thru the same thing except it is my husband. The place he was working shut down and went to another county with only some employees. He too is discouraged after being turned down by others, but I refuse to believe that this is it. I believe GOD is going to do the miraculous. GOD has been my provider. HE's been faithful and he's been my PRINCE OF PEACE. THe best is yet to come for your father.

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  9. AnonymousMay 02, 2008

    Rachel, thank you so much for this post!! This helps me tremendously...especially those 5 filter questions!

    LOVE this Bible study! Bless you for doing it! :)

    Pat in NYC

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  10. To all who are posting here instead of Elizabeth's story, please go back and read Tate's answer to anonymous on fasting. It is truly enlightening.

    Bless you all for your faithfulness, openness, and friendship on this blog!

    K.

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  11. AnonymousMay 03, 2008

    Hey I just want to tell you that my husband has been in that same boat as well looking for a job. We have been agreeing in prayer and, he made the comment to me the other night that he was not going to worry about it anymore whatever happens just happens and God has to do it! An when he let go and let GOD he got a phone call and now he has a job PRAISE THE LORD! God is good all of the time . One thing that I have noticed is that God is always on time but we just have to remember that His time is not our time. I will keep you all in my prayers.

    I realy look forward to all of your postings Racheal thank you and may God continue to bless you in all that you do. Sometimes they are not here before I go to work so I read them before bed.

    Love in Christ - Racheal -Fl

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  12. Hi Girls

    This week has been very strange. I had so many days to come to the Father in prayer and thanksgiving and the enemy placed something continually in my way. Friday I got sun poisoning from falling asleep in the sun and I was throwing up all night! I loved that you put this posting "Hearing God"..that is so cool!! I just got done on my blog about when I heard from God at a Retreat in '05. The ones of you who go on to my blog know that I have been posting last week and tonight about my retreat in NJ a while ago. Well this time I was finishing telling everyone my story. The amazing thing is I didn't know Rachel was going to talk about hearing from God. The posting I wrote was just that..I heard from God and obeyed His gnawing at me. Please everyone go and read, I truly believe it will touch someones heart.

    I also don't hear an audible voice but I do feel..its something that always needs listening to and being obedient. If you aren't obedient to God's calling or listening He will constantly try and get your attention. My entire life was changed when I heard His voice. Now I'm so excited to know that you all will be going onto my blog to read about my life changing retreat in April of '05!
    Praise God!
    Donna

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  13. I read it! Moores family, I am right now lifting your father up in prayer that he will get another job.....Claim it and it will be so...I just got a job as a live in nanny and on the surface everything would be great and while making income to supplement my disability I would also be serving the couple with their 18 mo old. I am real disappheointed after working for 2 weeks. I have a low tolerance for alcoholics because I was raised with an alcoholic mother who I long have forgiven. However, I'm having a hard time dealing with this woman who adopted this beautiful child nine months after marrying, but wants to sleep til noon every day because she drinks all throughout the day as well as takes pain pills and muscle relaxers. Her husband even said he was the one getting up every morning with the baby, feeding her, playing with her while mom zones out. They had a nanny and a housekeeper, but now hired me to do both, but expect me to work 72 plus hours a week and only have one day a week off for a small salary. Please in turn pray for me. I really need the income, but I think I'm being taken advantage of here. Moores, God is good....all the time and if we're patient and obedient, He will supply all our needs. We think about the circumstances instead we should think about what God is trying to show us. Rachel O., you will never know how much this Bible study has enriched my life. I'm going to sleep on my situation because after a good night's sleep, things usually look much brighter. To all my Sisters in Christ...I extend my blessings to you and look forward to your comments as well as Rachel's enlightening words. Jo Ann/Bakersfield, Ca.

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  15. Any of you who have read what I wrote to the Moores are welcome to read what I wrote for them. It may be a help to any of you. I will be praying for all of you. Sometimes we can't remember all the requests or names but the exciting thing is God knows what each of you are going through and will know who we are praying for.
    AliceE, NC

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  16. AnonymousMay 04, 2008

    Hey Ladies, I have a good report my husband got baptized today, Praise the Lord. It's been a long time coming, But God is always on time.
    Cassandra From VIrginia

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  17. AnonymousMay 04, 2008

    Rachel, I just clicked on "Labels" on "hearing God" at the end of your post and found quite a rich message there. It's from your post on July 25/07.

    Psalm 119:60 "I will hasten and not delay in obeying Your commands."

    You're so right in saying that we often give to much glory in the times that we were not obedient, or just delayed in being obedient. It's like we take pride in the delayed obedience.
    I have a testimony to tell, but may it be on God's goodness and faithfulness, and not focused on what the enemy was doing in my life. satan loves any kind of glory.

    God has been speaking to me to continue to trust Him for His plans for my life. Sometimes I'm so scared that I won't hear Him, and somehow miss His plan for me and our family. But if God can speak to me about trusting Him, I'm sure He can clearly communicate what His plans are! I want to be sure that I obey Him "hastily" and not miss out on anything that He has for me.

    I too, find it confusing sometimes as to what I'm sensing is from God or not. The guidelines you posted from Lysa's book are good, but I question if some "sensing" is from a religous spirit or from God. I wonder how I know for sure? I know that the enemy would have us do empty works that sound good, that we think are from God, but instead "leads to death". For instance getting the thought to do something good for somebody at a time that I know that God wanted me to rest or spend time with Him. Later I find that the "good thing" that I did wasn't fruitfull at all, or needed at all.I know that satan does this to confuse us and to distract us from God's true character. I have come to a much greater peace on this subject lately though. I'm still not always sure, but have found that when the enemy speaks lies labeled under "good" it brings such death to my spirit, there's no life in it. God's peace accompanies His word (as longs as we're not fighting it). I've joined a homegroup at our church again, and find that when I have spiritual authority over me, and am accountable to my homegroup I'm much more at peace in my walk with God, and in hearing from Him.

    Rachel I like your testimony on how you obeyed God, and stepped down from ministry roles to spend time with Him. I think that's so awesome. This is not an empty religion for man to see, but a living testimony of a relationship with the one true God. As I'm sure you know, this Bible study is part of the fruit that came from your obedience. I had to step down once too, from all leadership to relax and spend more time with my son. It was such a relief, and much easier on both of us. God is good, loves us like crazy and knows best!

    Connie, Canada

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  18. Hi, Rachel,
    I just read your P31 devotional and wanted to comment on how it touched me. I identify so closely with your husband's story...right down to the joy of the sound of cleats on cinders! I still love that sound. The parallel you drew between his story and standing sure-footed in God really paints a picture for me. Thank you for sharing this part of your life.
    Laura

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  19. AnonymousMay 05, 2008

    Thanks Rachel--my Sunday School class of 35 ladies is doing a Charles Stanley study on his book, LISTENING TO GOD. God has so much to tell us and wants us to know Him...I'm awed. Those 5 filter questions you posted go right along with that.
    Since you are praying for requests, please remember my son's need for a job. His funds are fading and he's not hearing anything from interviews or job sites in the chemical engineering field. He has 4 years experience and is a Godly guy involved in his church. I plead multiple times daily before God's Throne and know He will help my son but I have "Mom worry", ya know!

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  20. AnonymousMay 06, 2008

    I loved the hearing God from you Rachel...Thanks for sharing this..

    JoAnn/LA

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  21. AnonymousMay 07, 2008

    Thanks, Rachel!
    I read it.
    Karen

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  22. Excellent in which you broke it down Rachel.... I appreciate that :) Especially the part about accepting what God has revealed.... if I can be transparent, when God revealed to me that my ex wasn't who I was supposed to be with, it hurt... really bad. But, I realize now it was for the best for me....
    :)

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  23. AnonymousJune 07, 2008

    Hey ladies...do you know what it's like when you ask God to work on an issue you have such as patience? Be careful what you ask for because God is working intensely on me. I lost my temper yesterday and said some unkind words to my oldest and I really felt convicted. Today I had to make a decision to do the right thing where for about a month I was making the wrong decision about a important matter. Satan is so......slick and he is a liar. I just have not felt right and now thst I've made a decision that is what God would approve, I feel better, but still feel uneasiness because I am thinking about how that right decision will affect my future. But you know...that is lack of faith. God will take care of me. He always has and as long as I do the right thing He will continue to help me. Do you girls feel me? I ask for you to pray for me during this time. I need to practice what I preach. F.A.I.T.H.....mustard seed faith. Blessings to all of you! JoAnn/Denver

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