The Bible speaks to us where and how we are today. The more you read it, the more it will speak to the very things you are going through. You can read the same passage every day and get something new every time!
When a verse catches your attention, dig into it. Look at each word. Read different translations and notice where they differ. Sometimes it’s replacing “thee” with “you.” Sometimes parts are rearranged. Sometimes it seems like the words are completely different.
Let others help you understand what God is telling you through that verse. Do some research. Look at commentaries. Ask your search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc.).
The more you engage with the verses that grab your attention, the easier it will be for you to hear God’s voice, speaking to you through those verses.
For God speaks again and again,though people do not recognize it.
Job 33:14-18
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalms 46:10
If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
Malachi 2:2
But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster
Proverbs 1:33
Devotion
How often in a day do you find yourself bored? In the “old days,” you might have counted ceiling tiles, looked for dirty clothes under the bed, examined the shoes of the lady ahead of you in line, or pulled lint out of your navel. Today, you play games or watch videos on your phone.
News flash! That down time is on purpose, a gift from God. It’s a time to reflect. Count your blessings. Pray for guidance. Recite Bible verses. Sing songs of praise and worship. Spend time with God. Listen.
If you listen with your heart, God speaks to you non-stop. Put down your phone and listen. Turn off the television and listen. While your babies are sleeping, listen. It’s very important to learn to listen to God’s voice. It’s so important to God that “the word ‘listen’ appears 278 times throughout the books of the Bible.”[ConnectUS] Practice listening. You might not hear His voice the first few times you try, so keep at it. The world is shouting at you. Ignore it. Find the whisper. It’s a gentle, quiet voice filled with love and hope and peace. That’s the one you should hear. Focus on it. Listen.
Notice I said, “Listen.” It means you don’t just hear something. You strain for meaning. You lean into it. You take action. Hearing is passive, requiring nothing of you. Listening is participating.
When you ask God for help or guidance, you have to give Him time to respond. Don’t just say a prayer, jump up, and run back to your day. Hang out with God. Spend some time listening for His voice. Before long, you’ll find it’s easier and easier to hear what He is saying. Doing what He commands will bring you more and greater joy and peace and happiness. Therefore, just listen.
Prayer Focus
Listen to the Master
Prayer
Lord, help me open up my ears so that I may hear Your sweet, gentle voice. Amen.
23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:23-26 (NASB1995)
Devotion
People can be exasperating at times! That is when we, as Christians, are called to show how strong our faith is. We are called to show we are different. We are called to show those same people, in the moment we find them most intolerable or shocking or even horrifying, that God loves them – even when they don’t seem, to us, to deserve it. That is when we can be the catalyst for a most unbelievable and glorious victory for Christ!
If it’s the person behind you in line, step aside and let them go ahead of you. Tell them you are sharing the love of Jesus. If it’s your boss or a coworker, bring them a gift. A cup of coffee, a bouquet of flowers, a box of cookies, or perhaps a fruit basket, would completely take them off guard. You might be surprised at the change in them (and in you) over such a small gesture. Someone talking during a movie might talk less with a mouthful of popcorn. Use your imagination! Let the offender know the gesture or gift is from Jesus, who loves them.
We Christians are called to respond differently to challenging situations. We are expected to show the Light of Jesus in every aspect of our lives. Now, this is easy for us most of the time. We don’t have a problem showing our faith when we have enough money to pay our bills. We can easily shine when we attend a friend’s birthday party. It is much more difficult to be Christian when someone cuts you off in traffic.
Although it sounds trite and insincere, truly as yourself, “What would Jesus do?” There is a reason why this has become popular among the faith community. When you make it part of your automatic response to every situation in life, you will find the response God wants you to have. The more you practice this, the more readily the answer will come to you. This is because you are learning to listen to the voice of God. He is there with you, providing you with an answer, every time. By asking this question, you are opening your heart to His guidance.
Prayer Focus
People we find annoying, hurtful, or mean.
Prayer
Lord God, help me get past the walls other people have put up around themselves. Give me a way to reach out to them and show them Your love and mercy and grace. Help me lead them to You. Amen.
Spread the Love 