It is that time again when I join Lisa-Jo and hundreds of others writing for just 5 minutes. No backtracking. No editing. Just uninhibited writing on the word prompt supplied by Lisa-Jo.
TODAY’S PROMPT: Listen
There are so many voices in my head. LOUD voices. They tell me to do this.
Follow that.
Go here. Go there.
It seems to be a never ending cacophony.
It is only when I slow down. When I stop moving. When I listen…carefully, that I can begin to distinguish the good from the bad.
The right from the wrong.
The light from the dark.
And it is in those moments when I am still. Those moments when I stop that His voice comes through. That His will is distinguishable. That His voice is truly heard.
Sometimes He asks me to do things that I don’t want to do. Because they are hard…or different…or uncomfortable. Or just not what I want to do at the time. It is usually in those times that things don’t go well.
Listening to my will…my voice…doing things my way. Not good.
Listening to His voice…doing His will…much better.
Lord, you are asking me to step out in faith and stretch myself and I am SCARED. TO. DEATH. But I am listening and I am trying to be faithful. Please give me the courage to continue listening and even more courage to follow you.
STOP
Read other 5 minute writings on Listen here.
I also have a post on the ALLUME blog today…kind of along these same lines.
You can read that here, if you are interested.
this, Mary: " Sometimes He asks me to do things that I don't want to do. Because they are hard…or different…or uncomfortable." How well I know this place. I have heard Him calling me into unknown territory lately, and it is scary when I think abotu it, but when I remember that He is trustworthy, that He is FOR me, then I am able to take each trembling step, believing that He will walk with me. He goes with you, my friend. Obedience is the better place. Praying for you, Love you
Oh, Kris…thank you for your encouragement. Do you sense a recurring theme with me?? 🙂
oh yes, Mary … the raucous din does nothing to draw us to Himself …
Linda
Dear Mary
I don't know if it is the same with you, but I have found that when my heart is in a hurry, especially trying to be pleasing to our Pappa, then I am stone deaf and cannot hear a single word our Lord Jesus is saying! Oh, that we would just be still, listen and hear!
Much love XX
Mia
There are a lot of voices in my head, too. I call it chatter and sometimes it drives me crazy! You are so right, that we cannot hear Him thru the chatter. We cannot distinguish His will from our own unless we quiet ourselves.
Christy @ A Heartening Life
http://www.ahearteninglife.com
Dear Mary,
Oh, I can so relate to the struggle to be still and to listen for His voice, and then to obey. Yes, it is always better in the long run, even though it may be harder in the short run, to obey. Praying God gives you courage and peace as you follow Him. Deut. 31:8…praying along with you, my friend 🙂
I know that feeling, Mary. I don't know how we get past being so afraid, and get to trusting God, unless we simply go ahead and do that crazy thing God keeps bugging us about. Love you, girlfriend! (See you in SC!)
Scared is the best place to be, not because fear has any power but because we know it is not in our power but His alone what He accomplishes in our surrender. And there is nothing more fulfilling than walking the path of obedience with Him. Sending prayers and much love to you and you move forward, and a big hug and a fist bump too 🙂 xo
Whether it's kids or God, we have to slow down to listen don't we? Counter cultural!
Some days I wish God would just shout at me and get my attention, but I know He wants me to lean to discern His voice above all of the other voices. Beautiful post my friend!
This is where I am at, too, having to trust and being scared to death. But, it is something that I need to do, no matter how afraid of the outcome I am. I don't do well with the unknown.
Thank you for your post. Have a blessed week.