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Love Is More Important Than Being Right

I am a resilient, stubborn woman. The thing with stubbornness is that it can be confused with a nobler trait called ‘persistence’. The difference is, this belligerent behavior actually ruins relationships. And here’s what I’m now starting to realize: Loving others is more important than being ‘right’. 

The other day, I posted a moral statement online. Many friends agreed with the post, but one person did not and told the world that no one was going to change her mind. My emotions couldn’t believe the audacity of this person’s comment because I knew about their private life. Leading with my emotions to prove that I was right, I privately texted this person and said ‘how can you say such a thing when…’. I was in the wrong and clearly not loving this girl while trying to prove myself right. Sadly, this wasn’t the first time I’ve acted in this way. I have a rap sheet of defending what is right, versus being a defender of love.

Jesus delivered the raw truth. He never compromised or backed down from the hard stuff… but his final breath was love. Love meets people where they are at, in their sin. When we choose to go there, I believe we discover exceptional beauty in the image each person is created in, instead of the one we’d like them to be.

It’s difficult though because the closer you get to God, the more you see ‘wrong’ with the world. In the purity of God’s presence, it can seem unbearable to accept humanity in it’s fallen state at times. But then I look in the mirror and see a sinner, far filthier than any friend, with planks that jut deeper than the eye can see. I feel His sharp conviction cut me down to size as I recognize my flaws that go a mile deep and ten thousand miles wide, my moments of disgusting delight in a second of sin, my heart that hardens from hurt and heals crooked at times. I’m stuck in the struggle to be more Christlike without condemnation, seeking righteousness without preaching my own ‘right’ness.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

When God’s unfailing love gets inside you, it transforms the fear of being wrong into an agent of free-flowing love. Our hearts begin to conform to the consuming love of Christ and unconditional love for others becomes our focus. There is nothing more freeing than denying our own agenda and desiring to love without limits… like Jesus.

Lord, free my heart and let me choose love when my fleshly tendency is to be right. I get so wrapped up in small minded living; I even start to judge myself and others by the standards I set, not realizing these requirements are higher than yours. Your love is always deep enough and wide enough to engulf me wherever I am. It does not change or diminish regardless of my choices or consequences. It follows me into the depths and darkest parts. Transform my heart to be a reflection of this kind of unfathomable love. When other people stop loving, renew a steadfast spirit in me to keep on choosing love. Amen.

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Desperate, Even When It’s All Good

Sometimes the easiest moment to be on our knees, crying out for Jesus, is during the times when we have nowhere else to turn. It’s no wonder why we have seasons where we find ourselves in this place more often than not. Could it be that our loving Father wants to get close with His beloved and our trials seem to be when He can get our attention?

One of the more difficult times to be desperate for the Almighty God is when our needs have been ‘met’ and our situation is satisfied by our standards. We’re quick to toss up a praise for our circumstance when it’s good, but rarely make it to the floor in humble thankfulness to the Lord, and the seeking of His will with these blessings. Our gratitude might sound something like this, ”thank you God for your provision and giving this great thing to me. Sorry to cut our time short, but I’m really busy right now and gotta get back to my great things, so I’ll talk to you later.” You and I know the rest of that story; later doesn’t come until much, much later. Our pride tells us we deserve goodness and when God is ready to give it, we will already know what to do with it.

How can we lose sight of the depths of desperation and brokenness in our soul so quickly when all we’ve gained is merely ‘the world’? May I encourage you when the weight of sorrow, the sting of rejection, the pain of being alone or defeated in every way has been lifted from your life, cry out to Jesus. When you are showered with blessings, your heart experiences joy, your mind renewed, all goodness restored, get desperate for the deeper things of God. 

God, I wanna live desperate for you. You are the only true desire of my heart. Help me to live in a way that if you don’t show up, my life as I know it will be over, done, ruined. I need you Jesus. Be that gentle reminder when my heart starts to stray, my mind begins to forget, or when my walk looks more like pride than your merciful grace. I love you Lord. Let me be ever seeking and finding you all the days of my life. Amen. 

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How to Know if You’re a Controlling Person

Written by Donald Miller

If you’d have told me a month ago I had codependent tendencies, I’d never have believed you.

I don’t like it when people try to control me (especially indirectly through manipulation) and I’d have sworn I don’t do a thing to try to control others. But it turns out that isn’t true. For all I know, I might even be manipulating you right now. Raise your hand if you think I’m trying to control you. (I see that hand. Now put it down. Now scratch your nose.)

I realized I was a controlling person not long ago when a therapist caught me in the act. I was wondering out loud why a friend was doing what she was doing and the thearpist questioned why I was trying to get inside somebody else’s head.

“What does it matter why people do what they do? Are you trying to predict behavior to gain a sense of security?”

It was a terrific observation. Trying to figure out why people are doing what they are doing is a preface to trying to control or influence them indirectly. If I really wanted to know why they were doing what they were doing, I could just ask. But I didn’t want to ask because it was none of my business. They had a right to think and do as they wished.

Turns out controlling tendencies can hide anywhere.

And most of the time (if not all the time) we don’t know we’re doing it.

The therapist went on to explain how relationships should work. She put three large couch pillows on the floor and stood on one of the outside cushions. She then had me stand on the other outside cushion so there was an empty cushion between us.

*Photo Credit: BillDamon, Creative Commons

*Photo Credit: BillDamon, Creative Commons

“This is my pillow” she said, “and that is yours. This is my life and that is yours. The pillow in the middle represents our relationship. So, my responsibility is all about the pillow I’m standing on and yours is about yours. Together, we are responsible for the relationship. But at no point should I be stepping on your pillow.”

What she meant by that was this:

I can’t change anybody. I can’t force them or guilt them or shame them into doing anything. All I can do is stay on my pillow and ask myself whether or not I like the relationship. If I don’t, I can tell the other person what I want in a relationship and see if they want the same thing. If not, I move on, and so do they.

In marriage, of course, it’s much harder. You can’t just walk away. But in business relationships and friendships, and even in dating, the model works quite well.

I found the metaphor freeing, actually. No more wishing people would change or explaining “if they only did it this way we would be better friends.” Instead, I just say “this relationship doesn’t work” and there’s nothing I can do about it. If I’ve explained what I want in a relationship but the other person isn’t on board, no harm no foul.

It’s difficult in some relationships, I know, because sometimes you have to watch people destroy their lives, but that’s just the point. Their lives are theirs to destroy.

I found the principle to be true in business, too.

When somebody tries to sell a little too hard, they are on my pillow so I back off or set better boundaries. It’s also a great way to find and enter into relationships with clients. If they want what you’re selling, great, and if not, that’s also great. Business relationships work better when they’re natural and not forced and everybody stays on their pillow.

And in my spiritual life it’s the same. If somebody is giving me a guilt trip, they’re on my pillow. I believe much of evangelicalism is influenced by leaders who don’t realize they are standing all over their congregation’s pillows. Some leaders feel incredibly insecure unless they are managing the lives of everybody around them. Make no mistake, this isn’t strength, it’s incredible weakness. Just tell the truth, explain the consequences, and let people make their own decisions.

Here are a few ways to know whether you might be a controlling person:

1 You imagine a life in which somebody else was different, and indirectly try to affect their change.
1 You get angry when things aren’t going your way and you let people know it.
1 You can only be surrounded by people who are submissive to you.
1 You give the silent treatment to people you are angry with.
1 You are often tempted to show somebody the errors they don’t see in themselves.

What ways do you tend to step on other people’s pillows? Do you shame people (I’m guilty of that) or give them the silent treatment? How do you try to influence others without being direct or when their lives are none of your business?

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Extinguish Fear Once and For All

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by a powerful enemy army, no matter which step you take, he is there to snatch you up. Recently, I had been in this battle where I felt so handicapped by fear that I didn’t want to step out of the house or online. I was believing the enemy’s lie that my life was limited by his destructive schemes. Sometimes the battle is not for you to fight, sometimes it is God’s. However, we must position ourselves in this confidence of Christ and throw down the spirit of fear of the enemy. We must be still, fill our hearts with the Truth and see the salvation of the Lord.

If you’re facing fear in your life, hold tight to God’s Truth and know that He is right there with you in the midst of your struggle. He’s given you His Word to encourage you in the walk. Here are some scriptures to face your fears with God’s victory! I hope this will be potent ammunition in your battle as you fight the good fight of faith as more than a conqueror. This victory is yours because the Spirit dwells in you if you have trusted Jesus as your personal Savior. I read these words out loud and declared them in my prayers. Start by thanking Him with complete assurance, knowing that what you’re asking is already on its way.

Whatever your circumstance may be (financial, relational, vocational), pray these scriptures over your life and for the strength to be courageous and filled with faith to the glory of His Name! Be vigilant and disciplined until the word is so ingrained in memory that they fall from your lips in prayer.

Here are a few. You can find more on a separate page I’ve created here on my blog for more scriptures references.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

Now this is what the Lord says – the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel – “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1

He is to say to them: “Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them.” Deuteronomy 20:3

He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

His heart is assured; he will not fear. In the end he will look in triumph on his foes. Psalm 112:8

Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

The Lord is my light and my salvation – Whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Psalm 34:7

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:4

Fear no more, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming. John 12:15

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” John 14:27

Heavenly Father, even right now, I am reminded and made so aware of your joyous deliverance from the enemy’s attempts to strike up fear. You are my King who rescues in times of need, my Prince of Peace when the storms rage on, the one, true Almighty God who has claimed victory and promised us eternity. My Abba Father has set up His protection all around me. I have nothing to fear. I am secure in the shadow of your wings. Infuse my mind with your Word and let me hold fast to your truths.

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Building Faith For The Future

Sometimes our circumstances can cause anxiety but what I’m here to remind you is that despite the outward situation, our good and loving Father will always bring something better out from the ruins that gives all glory back to God for something so marvelous. Most of the time, His work is being done in us during the ‘wait’ for a physical condition to change. This time of patience and trust in Him builds a faith for the future.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25)

It scares us to lose these necessities, but honestly, most of us don’t consume the basics of these needs. We buy into the pleasures of food and clothing and what frightens us most about losing them is that we would lose some human praise or admiring glances if we didn’t have nice clothes and that our taste buds would miss the rich flavor of certain foods.

And to this Jesus responds: If you are gripped by anxiety over these things, you have lost sight of the greatness of life. Life was not given primarily for physical pleasures or the approval of man, but for something greater—the enjoyment of God. The things of this world can not provide the greater things of life—the pursuit of God’s gracious favor, the love and joy of His spirit and the hope of eternity in His presence.

There’s another problem with anxiety though; it leads to sinful actions and attitudes. Anxiety about finances can cause coveting, greed, hoarding and stealing. Anxiety about succeeding at something can make you irritable and abrupt. Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn, indifferent and uncaring about other people. Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth and lie about things. If worry could be conquered, a lot of sins would be overcome.

Here are some reminders from Jesus and Paul about God’s promises to battle unbelief:

“Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

“So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not come back to me empty but accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

“My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

“As your days so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25).

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).

“If God is for us who can be against us!” (Romans 8:31).

“…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3–5).

“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:4).

“none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living” (Romans 14:8–9).

“He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

“He who calls you is faithful. He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

“He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Rest on the promises of God and find your security in His Truth. I pray you find peace as you look back at your own testimony and see that He’s never let you go yet. Time after time, our great Provider has been there holding your hand, sometimes carrying you through it. My hope is that His word will reign supreme in your heart and mind as comfort that He will never let you go. Your solid stance on the Rock will keep you steady, though the winds may blow, you cannot be carried away with the shifting sands. When you wake up on the other side, you will see that just as He provided a way in this situation, He will also do it again and again and again. He is greater than your circumstance! Believe it and let Him build your faith for an even greater future.

Excerpts from Battling Unbelief by John Piper.

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Raising Up A Child

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10

We can be quick to credit an open door of opportunity as Jesus pointing us down a path. But what if that door is really an opportunity for you to step up and close it? When a parent raises up a child, there comes a time when they no longer dictate decisions and give a kid some authority to make their own. This freedom to make choices is to strengthen our moral compass.

Our Heavenly Father has kingdom work for each of us. But in order for the Almighty to entrust His plan to His children, our integrity, morality, honesty, wisdom and the gifts of the spirit are continually being pressed down, refined, and shaped. Good doors of opportunity will swing open so that we can exercise our wisdom to close it and choose God’s best. As we grow in Christ, the devil turns up the heat as it becomes harder to thwart our integrity.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11

As we pray for growth in God, He extends us more freedom to fine tune His pointer on the compass of our hearts. He doesn’t force a door shut or open, but let’s His children choose. As these swinging doors open, it’s our discernment that decides who sits in the hinges.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Want to know what path is from God? Pray about it first. Then look for the path less traveled by masses. The one few, yet wise folks are taking. The one that requires more strength from God to stand on and less of your own stamina. What scares you? Now throw off everything you know or have done, every fear and financial burden. Recall the dream God gave you as a child and pursue your God given passion down that narrow path few have the courage in Christ to take.

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Success Doesn’t Mean God’s Favor

There’s a trap the enemy tries to seduce Christ followers with by drawing a conclusion that success in this world equates with God’s favor upon us. Psalms 84:11 says “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” But what if God’s favor doesn’t look the way our world sees success? What if the Christian martyr who is slain in the name of Jesus did not find favor with people or in the land and yet still had God’s favor to be there?

God’s favor is His presence. His spirit that guides our daily walk to bring back glory to Him. So often we seek success by our own strength; if I practice more, if I move to that place, if I had those attributes, then I will have ‘made it’. But we forget that God’s favor rarely translates into riches and fame in this foreign land. God’s favor comes from obedience to His spirit and word.

Our illustration for the favor of God is in the life of Jesus himself. He didn’t receive many warm welcomes with His messages, especially from the ‘rich’. Jesus warned “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven.” And just because you don’t have much money doesn’t mean you are exempt from this passage. Covetousness for riches and ‘stuff’ can be hidden in your heart. When Jesus spoke, He gave all credit and fame to God the Father.

By the worlds standards, favor looks more like the kings, rulers and Babylonians drawing crowds with popular beliefs and messages. After all, there are many stories of evil people in scripture who were allowed success. Today we see it too. And while it can be difficult to watch other’s gain popularity and ‘success’ around you, let Jesus’s words be a reminder of the Truth that goes beyond what you can see. “I say to you, do not worry about your life…” God reminds us to be careful only about one thing—our relationship to Him. “The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22).

Jesus knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Place your confidence in Christ that when you throw off the world’s desires for your life and walk in God’s favor, you can expect to see a “thiryfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold return” (Mark 4:8, 20).

Lord, I choose you. Always. Forever. First. You are so good to me. You have ravished my heart with your beauty that goes beyond any riches this world has to offer. Help my heart not get caught up in what my eyes can see. May my gaze and attention be fixed on you, I press into you. All of my love is for you. You are the reason that I live and breathe. You bring life to me. I just love you God.

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Discernment And Testing The Spirit That Speaks

Every spirit that presses on our heart needs a tried and true testing for accuracy and validity, no matter what your calling unto God is. Discernment is desperately needed in the body of Christ. 1 John 4:1-3 warns believers “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. There are several ways you can test the Spirit to know it’s true source.”

Prophecy can be delivered through and revelations given to imperfect people, so we must always test the spirit. There is always the possibility of mixing up a word from God, because our Heavenly Father chooses to use wounded people and so we are encouraged in 1 Corinthians 14:29 to “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” Sometimes sincere people dilute God’s word by simply adding their own insights, drawing from things in their own psyche, heart, emotions, concern or sympathy to what started out as an authentic, God-given revelation. We need to learn to discern when God has stopped talking and man has continued on.

On the flip side, we ourselves must be careful when sharing revelations or visions that God has given us for someone else, so that we don’t add anything. At the very least, we need to preface anything that comes from our own interpretation. Personally, I’m not comfortable injecting my own thoughts in a message for someone else. I’m confident God will give them insight into what it means or He wouldn’t have given the vision in the first place. At all times we must seek the Lord’s wisdom.

1. Does the revelation edify, exhort or console? The end purpose of all revelation is to build up and encourage the people of God. Anything that is not directed to this end is not from the Lord. Jeremiah the prophet had to fulfill a negative commission, but even his difficult message contained a powerful and positive promise of God for those who were obedient.

2. Is it in agreement with God’s Word? God never contradicts Himself.

3. Does it exalt Jesus Christ? All revelation ultimately centers on Jesus Christ and glorifies Him (Revelations 19:10).

4. Does it have good fruit? God’s revelations produce fruit in character and conduct that agrees with the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:9, Galatians 5:22-23). Some that clearly are not the fruit of the Holy Spirit include pride, arrogance, boastfulness, exaggeration, dishonesty, covetousness, financial irresponsibility, immorality and feeding into addictive appetites and temptation.

5. If it predicts a future event, does it come to fruition? (Deuteronomy 18:20-22.) Any prediction concerning the future should come to pass if the source of revelation is God. There are some exceptions including the will of the person involved, messianic predictions that take hundreds of years to fulfill and those of national repentance where an entire nation (like Ninevah) repents and thus a word from God will not occur.

6. Does the revelation turn people toward God or away from Him? (Deuteronomy 13:1-5.) The fact that a person makes a prediction concerning the future that is fulfilled does not necessarily prove that person is moving by Holy-Spirit inspired revelation. If a person, by his own ministry, turns others away from obedience to the one true God, then that person’s ministry is false-even if his predictions were correct.

7. Does it produce liberty or bondage? “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!'” (Romans 8:15) True revelation given by the Holy Spirit produces liberty, not bondage. The Holy Spirit never causes God’s children to act like slaves, nor does He ever motivate us by fear or legalistic compulsion.

Stick close to Jesus. Seek Him. Love Him! Give your all to Him. James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Desire intimacy with God and walk in obedience through your relationship with Him and watch as the channels separating you and Jesus fly open as He begins to pour His voice into your life.

(Excerpts from Exploring Your Dreams and Visions by James W. Goll)

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The Devil Is In the Details

Satan is the father of lies, a deceiver and one who twists the word of God. He casts doubt in what God says to conform a person’s desires with scripture, regardless of wisdom or the Truth. 1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP says “Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.” Sometimes our ‘good’ intentions are not God’s best.

Satan questioned God’s word with Eve and mocked Jesus in the wilderness, and he’s calling out to our hearts in the same manner as well. The devil not only draws us into doubt by questioning God’s word but even the Almighty’s authority. Since we can’t see or touch our Omniscient God, the deception of time and space causes us to think (or not think at all) that He doesn’t know when our minds and hearts are ‘somewhere else’. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

There’s an old saying, ‘the devil is in the details’, so take heed and pay attention to the place of your heart. You can be off caliber with God’s voice and think the messages you’re hearing are from His spirit. Testing everything with scripture and Proverb’s wise counsel, the Lord will reveal His will. There’s no one way to seek God, but there are some truths to hearing his voice. Here are just a couple on how to ‘get real’ with God and seek His spirit.

Completely devote your prayer and worship time to God. When you think about the things in your life that you devote time and attention to (ie: work, relationships), what does that look like? For the most part, devotion is more than a few minutes in the morning and a couple worship tunes. Don’t get me wrong, God is glorified and invited into our day with this kind of worship, but if you’re looking for the heavens to call down, it takes more than a small fraction of your time? This world consumes bombards our attention for most of the 24 hours we have, so which message do you think sounds louder at the end of the day?

I see a model in God’s call to give 10% of our income back to His kingdom. With this tithing message in mind, giving 10% of my day to Him is where I start. Anything after that becomes an offering. This equates to about an hour 15 in the morning and an hour 15 at night. But when I’m seeking something specific from the Lord, my time in scripture studies and prayer far exceed that designated time. I surrender to God, abandon all other demands, humbly crawl to my knees and drown my head in the clouds of the heavenlies. I stay there, sometimes all through the night, wailing in deep groans until He delivers. Note: This can be difficult for spouses (or parents) as 1 Corinthians points out that single people have the freedom to be anxious for the Lord while married people have divided interests between their spouse and God. If you’re married and/or have children, you may have to wake up earlier than your spouse and kids to seek the Lord in this capacity.

My second tip is to set your mind and heart aside and diligently throw off the distractions and lures of the enemy. Remember, the devil is in the details so be proactive in your music choices-let no explicit lyrics, no sexual messages or careless words of fame and riches sneak in through your ears. The devil is a sneaky snake. He catches us off guard in these small, behind-the-scenes areas of our lives. Be cautious of your television viewing- mind-numbing storylines, drama or sexuality that captures the gaze of your eyes. Be aware of the places you’re in- bars, nightclubs, lounges and sometimes other people’s houses. Be mindful of the people you’re surrounded with- nonbelievers, lukewarm believers, sexual partners, shady friends/acquaintances. Also, be cognisant of where you’re spending your time. Is it wrapped up in smaller distractions or on purpose in prayer? The purpose of all this is to protect your thoughts, heart and mind as you open the flood gates to God’s voice.

From my own life, I will share that the enemy tries to lure me to turn on the television and ‘just have it on in the background’ or ‘to just unwind’, but truthfully, it consumes my subconscious attention and draws me either into a show or is just something to distract my mind from where it needs to be – seeking God with all my heart, mind and soul. Sometimes it’s a temptation to text with family and friends. Or spin that old record to relax. It doesn’t take long before I recognize my spirit starts to shift. And it’s very difficult to turn a freight train back around once you’ve begun venturing down a path.

It’s like this with fasting as well. The enemy would like me to make small compromises in my choices. When my fast consists of only veges and fruits, Satan will downplay the importance of ‘nothing else’ by convincing me that curry sauce on top of veges is still veges… so it will be okay to eat that dish. It’s these kinds of small compromises that dictate the rest of my choices made throughout life. They are the same ones he tried to deceive Jesus with. The devil is in the details and I firmly believe that is where decisions begin the descent or ascent in our lives.

I am often distracted. So during these times, I first pray declaring the devil to get behind me and I ask Jesus for the strength to stay steadfast in pursuing Him. I get on my knees and pray harder if my first attempt is unsuccessful. Then I turn up my worship music even louder and plug in headphones to be completely immersed in praise. I grab my journal and just start writing out the thoughts and prayers of my heart. I open my bible and start reading devotions or scriptures to get my head back in the Word.

Sometimes our circumstance calls for choices that are different than our neighbors, but they will never be different than God’s wisdom and Word. Many have been riding the same carousel in life, going around and around with the same choices and mistakes. You can fight all day long in your own strength to make changes but when you tap into the Spirit of God, there is a strength beyond what you can muster up. Remember, the faith of Daniel didn’t come in a moment of being in the lion’s den. Year after year, he stopped what he was doing to kneel and pray three times a day. Get serious about your pursuit of God today so that you can hear and see His truths unfold tomorrow.

Lord, I want everything you are. Shine your light into this dark heart and let it reflect the light that shines from you. Take this heart and make it glow. Give me your Word as a sword to draw against deception from the devil. Shine light on every evil the enemy tries to throw my way. I want to be more like you, Father. Help me to desire a deeper intimacy with your Spirit. I can’t live a single day, I won’t take another step without you Jesus.

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As I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Shhh… listen. Can you hear Him calling out to you? He’s there and His whisper is pursuing your heart. The search for God’s still, small voice in your life can be a challenge. Sometimes we hear a voice but struggle to discern the source. It’s difficult when distractions like work, family, friends or opportunities come knocking on the same door you were trying to close to get away with God. (That’s an infamous trick by Satan, by the way.) Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice comes from the discipline of quiet time and fasting. But what if you’re doing that and still stuck in the struggle?

Every day God is calling out to us in a million ways. He’s the great pursuer, He never gives up. He’s the Author and greatest grand daddy of true pursuit! But are we trying to get to know Him for who He is or for the blessings His hand will bring to our lives? Diligent quiet time, those moments when you spend less time talking and more time being still and just listening. This kind of surrender is a pleasing aroma to the heavens. It’s how we get to know our Heavenly Father and the sweet sound of His voice. No agenda. There’s a physical portion as well; humbleness in the presence of our Lord as we take to our knees and silence the sound of our mind.

A few months back I started to have wild dreams… prophetic dreams that I wrote down and shared with a few people close in my life. Dreams that later came to fruition. As I was studying scripture, I noticed how frequently God speaks to people in dreams, in fact, it’s a common practice. But most of us, like king Nebuchadnezzar, don’t know how to interpret these God-inspired dreams. So I started praying for a Daniel-like ability to interpret the voice of God in my sleep. I sought out wisdom and studied scriptures.

Dreams are filled with God’s encouragement, warnings revelations and prophecy. He’s given us the Bible to help guide us through interpretations, as well as His spirit. Over these last few months, I’ve gained alot of insight and I started praying for more of His voice as I rested. It has been an absolute adventure! I keep a journal next to my pillow to write down our journey through the night. In the morning, I scramble to read through the pages. One morning I read through chapters to a book I’m writing. Several times, I have been warned of the enemy chasing me. God exposes the devil at work, so the safest place I can be is in the shadow of His wings, close enough to the truth so that I may hear the warning in His voice.

In my dreams, there are no distractions. Just a journey with my Father through the seasons of life. It has been the most absolutely astounding walk I’ve ever been on. If you struggle to hear or discern the voice of God while you’re awake in the midst of endless disruptions, pray for His voice in your dreams. He’s pursuing you. Everyday. Are you listening?

God, you are so good to us. Even when we’ve strayed and made a mockery of your name, you are still on the throne and pursuing us, calling our hearts back to yours. God, your love is more than this mind can even imagine, but already, I am overcome with joy, peace and desire for more of you everyday. I fall short, but my soul is recklessly pursuing you with complete abandonment to this world. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your voice. Thank you for who you are.