Who Are You Listening to?

Here is  an article that I wrote for Eden Christian bookstore:

http://www.edenchristianbookstore.com/client%20lounge.htm

As I was walking across a college campus, I literally observed that everyone who walked in my path were on their cell phones.  My spirit was disturbed at this sight.  Not because people were on their cell phones, but because of what the Holy Spirit whispered to me during this moment, “Who are they listening to?”Why do we spend so much time on our cell phones?  Of course, there are those who need it for business.  But, I would guess that those college students that I saw were not in the middle of an intense business transaction.   Let’s face it.  Most of the time we are so distracted that we cannot hear God speaking to us.   For instance, once during a bible study at my home, one of the participants could not get fully engaged into the flow of the discussion because of the text messages coming from their blackberry.  It really bothered me.  After that, I had to inspect myself.  Who am I listening to?

Recall Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” I believe there is an interesting principle in this scripture. Whatever you listen to causes an increase in faith in that which you listen to.  On the contrary, whatever you are not listening to causes faith to decrease (hence, doubt to increase).  Take a moment to reflect about what you believe about your dreams, spouse, or God.  Do you doubt your dream will come to pass?  Are you dissatisfied with your spouse (if single, are you beginning to doubt if you will ever find the “one”)? Do you believe that God is against you?  All of those beliefs did not come from God.  God speaks to us through the person of the Holy Spirit words that produce life and hope.  God convicts and not condemns.  Satan, the author of all lies, whispers such discouraging words.  If you listen to them long enough, they will become your words.  Then, you will believe them and a new belief system will have taken root.  Think of your mind as a soil.  Ideas are seeds, words are water, and meditation is sunlight. When an idea is planted, words are required to nourish it, and meditation causes it to grow.  To help tune your ears to the voice of God, here are three P’s: People, places, and postings.       

God often will speak to you through people (and so does Satan).  So, surround yourself with people who speak life to you and are supportive to your dreams.  When you are endeavoring to begin a new venture, find at least two godly people who can serve as supporters.  Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no counsel the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”  Insulate your ears against those (and media) who speak death.       

Places are key to developing an ear for the voice of God.  Have you ever noticed that it is easier to listen to God while doing yard work or in nature?  It is because you have separated yourself from the cares of the world and have quieted your mind.  Designate a quiet place in your home, job, and other places where you spend a lot time.  Spend a few minutes there everyday.  Listen as God will begin to pour ideas, encouragement, and peace into your soul.   I absolutely love those moments.  Eventually, you will be even be able to hear His voice in the middle of a noisy crowd.   

Posting the word of God in your atmosphere (e.g. office, bathroom, car…etc) will do wonders to helping you hear His voice.  Every time, you look at the posted scripture it water the principle of that scripture.  Your subconscious will meditate on the word. Listening to sermons on audio will do the same.  When you know His word, it is easier to know and listen to His voice.  (John 10:27 “My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”)

As you go through your day, ask yourself “Who am I listening to?” I believe God is trying to speak to you and offer hope, direction, and peace.

Fight for your dream!

A Dark Period Unposted Part 2: I will not be denied!

July was a challenging month for me.  I was in a constant battle with discouragement.  But God, would send stories like this one to encourage me. Enjoy:

 Over lunch, a dear friend shared with me the most amazing story of shear determination.  A friend of hers whom I’ll call Dizzy D., got the alarming news one morning from his soon-to-be ex wife.  “Yeah, my parents are taking the kids to California for the summer.  They are at the airport right now.”  Immediately, Dizzy D. bolted to the airport determined to see his beloved children before they left.  Dizzy D. arrives at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport, one of the most well secured and busiest airport in the country, with one mission in his heart, “I will not be denied! I must see my children.” Dizzy D. weaves through the security line and gets to the first ticket check point.  Frantic internally, Dizzy D. calmly declares to the security agent, ”My children are back there.  I must see them.”   He agrues with the agent until they let him through to the next.  At the security line, Dizzy D. exclaims, “May children are back there. I must see them.” Withing a few short mintues, Dizzy D. is hugging his precious children goodbye.  The only thought going through Dizzy D.’s mind was, ”I will not be denied!”

When you are fighting for your dream, those words, “I will not be denied,” need to be your battle cry.  You must make up your mind that there is nothing that will stop  you.   Medititate on this poem, The Man Who Thinks He Can, by Walter D. Wintle:

THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN

by Waler D. Wintle

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you dare not, you don’t.
If you would like to win, but you think you can’t.It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose. you’re lost.
For out in the world we find,
success begins with a fellow’s will,
its all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed,you are.
You’ve got think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before you can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or the faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

Keep fighting for  your dream!

A Dark Period Unposted

For those who keep up with my blog, you may have wondered why I have been so silent.  I have been through a tough stretch in relation to my calling.  But, God has laid it on my heart to open up more to you all and share even more.  So, over the next few blogs, I will share some posts that I did not publish.  I pray it comforts you as you fight for your dream!  Enjoy this post, written on July 10th. 

Do you give of yourself too much? Or, do you ever feel like people are always pulling on you?  Have you ever wanted to just disappear for awhile?  Well, from time to time I feel that way.  Is this shocking?  Why do most people assume that optimist, inspiring people, or upbeat individuals never have a bad day?  I am an optimist.  I inspire people. And, I am an upbeat individual.  I love the way God made me.  But, that does not exempt me from being irritated every now and again from the pleothora of people who attempt to suck the life out of me. 

Last night, I hit the wall.  I attempted to go to sleep, but could not.  I was terribly exhausted from an arduous weekend filled with ministry work, two road trips, and some late night spiritual warfare, not to mention my sweet 16 year old neice is visiting.  All of the things God has called me to do had been weighing on me for weeks, but on this night, it finally crushed me.   I cried without shedding tears.  I screamed for help, but no air left my mouth.  I attempted to run, but my legs were too weary.  Where is my God?  Why is He so silent? Does He see my pain?  Does He care? 

I was so tired spiritually that I had no unction to pray.  My flesh has numbed the Word of God to my heart.  Darkness has now covered me.  I am afraid.  I am afraid that the old man who was so familiar with sin would be resurrected.  I am afraid that the darkness of old would attempt to kill my dream.  What do I do?    Tired, but restless I mustered up enough energy to move from my bed.  I drifted through my dark house downstairs to my living room.  My blood red sofa caressed my carcacus as I collapsed in it. 

Have you ever felt this way?  I wish more people would be honest enough to admit they have felt the pressure or have felt like giving up.  So, many of us walk around with this cloak of invincibility, but in reality we are so vulnerable, even fragile.  God did not make us to be independent, but rather interdependent.  It sometimes bothers me that people assume that I don’t struggle or have bad days.  It was not until I read about  the struggles of Jesus.  In particular, His vulnerable period in the garden of Gethsemane.  He was alone crying out to God.  His disciples, who were supposed to be on post, were asleep.  Jesus was distressed about the bitter cup of His calling.  The weight of the salvation of mankind pressed His soul.  Don’t we dare forget that Jesus was a man. He bled just like you and me.  His humanity is sometimes lost in religious rituals.   It is the bleeding side of Calvary that inspires me so much in times of peril.  God always sends a word to encourage me:

2 Corinthians 4:16-19

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.