Counselor’s Corner: Be Still to Hear God’s Voice

You will have difficulty hearing God’s voice if you are busy with one activity after another, or you are addicted to your electronic devices. It is important to get quiet before the Lord, and tune-out all distractions. This means turning off your cell phone or putting it away, turning off the TV an iPad and other electronics.

There are many things that compete for our time and attention, and numerous distractions pop-up unexpectedly. Learning to carve out regular time alone with God to hear His still, small voice is important in maintaining your peace, gaining wisdom and direction from the Lord for your daily life. For most people, having time with God first thing in the morning will help you throughout your day.

Reflect and ponder: If you have been feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or fearful, ask yourself, “Have I pulled away to be alone with The Father?” Things will come up in your life to compete for your time and attention even that will seem like a “good thing.” However, not everything that is asked of us or that comes our way is a good thing for us that is why we have to have time with the Lord so we can hear His direction. A lot of people end-up living frazzled lives because they just do whatever comes in their path. There will never be anything more important than daily time being still before the Lord.

Counselor’s corner:  I know this is a foreign concept in our western culture to be still, but too many people are not taking this valuable time and are enduring high levels of stress. We must learn to step away daily to connect with the Father. He has guidance and direction that He wants to bestow upon us, but we must receive that impartation daily, and not try and “store it up.” Our daily “manna” is given to us daily, not weekly or monthly. We must not put anything else before our relationship with God, and a relationship can only happen when you spend time together. God must first be on our schedules of priorities.

When we are still before God He will speak to us through His Word, through nature, through our spirit, through writing and journaling, and through worship.

He can also speak to us through a combination of these things. Check your schedule and see what you can cut back, such as Face book, Pinterest, TV, iPad, and carve out time for God. Put God first in your life. It is okay to say, “No” to the demands of others, to shut your cell phone off temporary, not answer your emails and face book. It is okay not to follow the crowd, and instead follow Jesus and sit at His feet.

In God’s presence you will find peace and rest.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

The Lord will fight for you while you keep still.

Exodus 14:14

Word of Encouragement

Some days are just easier than others. There are days when I seem to "fly" out of bed,and other days I don't want to get up at all. I began to ponder this morning of why that is. Perhaps we have not connected to our source of strength (Jesus Christ), like we should. I know for me personally when I have not truly plugged into time with God, I tend to not function as well. I have had a busy couple of weeks and have not truly just sat at  Jesus' feet and listened to His still small voice. Why you may ask? I have been distracted with my "to-do list." I do spend a little time praying and reading the Word, but I have not stopped in a long time to just sit before Jesus and wait for Him to speak. 

My thought is, "How can I stop and wait to hear the Lord when there is so much to be done and so little time." BUT, how can I not!

I encourage you to make the time to sit at Jesus' feet today and drown out all the distractions that come. You will have to actively tune-out the distractions, because they will come. Stop today and go and be with the Father. He is calling you today to be beside Him so that He can give you direction, guidance and to pour out His love upon you. 

Soaking in His Presence

One of the most difficult things that I have learned to do is soak in God’s presence. Why you might ask? Well, I get easily distracted and during times when I am supposed to be still before the Lord I am going over my to-do list for the day. Any Type-A people would certainly understand my dilemma. I enjoy spending time with God and basking in His presence, but sometimes I just can’t turn off my mind!

It takes disciple to practice soaking in Jesus Presence. Some days you will not feel like soaking in God’s presence, do it anyways-it will be worth it!

Soaking in His presence is like a sponge that when it gets wet it absorbs all the water, just like when we soak in God’s presence we should be so saturated with God that we are drenched. When our “sponge” becomes dry it is time for us to soak again in the Lord’s presence. How do you know when your “sponge” is dry? You lack peace, joy, love, gentleness, meekness, humbleness, and long-suffering (sounds like the fruit of the Spirit). When we are not abiding with the True Vine, we are cut off from the life-giving fruit. We need to abide with the Vine to bear much fruit. The key is not being more active in church or ministry but abiding and soaking with Jesus. When we are connected to our source of nourishment than everything will flow as a result. When we decide to do life on our own strength, we are dooming ourselves to failure.

What does soaking with God look like?

It is not about doing but about being. So many times we are consumed with reading “x” number of pages from our Bible, or praying eloquent prayers. But what if Jesus’ way is much simpler, and He says, “Sit at my feet.”

I always start with praise music to help me with being so distracted. I always go to a quiet place and sometimes I light a candle. The key is that there is no formula to soaking in God’s presence. Jesus just says come and sit with me. Some days I am quiet before the Lord and sing worship songs in my heart, others times I am up dancing and singing out loud, and there are times I read several scriptures and there are days I read only one scripture. Sometimes I pray over my home and blow the shofar. I even will walk my property and pray over it if God directs me. My prayer life looks different every day. There are times that I am continually petitioning the throne of God for my family, and there are occasions where I do some warfare praying (as I like to call it). I also journal and sit quietly to listen to God’s voice. Yes, God does speak to His people. Like I said earlier, being still and quiet has been a challenge for me, but through disciplining myself in this area I am so much better.

While you are soaking with God leave your cell phone and all electronic devices out of the area you will soak with Jesus. These will become a distraction!

There is not a set time for soaking in God’s presence. If you are in a hurry in the morning, then try this when you get home at night. Some days you may soak for 30 minutes and other times 2 hours. Yes, this can be difficult if you have small children or a demanding career. It is important that we do not make soaking with God into something legalistic. We all have extra time, perhaps not watching T.V, or getting on social media will give more time to be in the Father’s presence. Soak when you can, but ask God to increase your time so that you can do all that you need to do. I am always amazed when I take this time to soak I always have more than enough time to get everything done, even though my flesh says, “No way.” Trust me your flesh will fight this time. I very rarely think I will have enough time to soak and do all what I need to do.

Nothing will change your life more than soaking in God’s presence In God’s presence His joy is poured upon us, as well as peace, Divine wisdom, strategic plans to defeating the enemy, and healing. Our minds will be transformed as well as we center our thoughts on Christ not our circumstances.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullest of joy; at your right hand are pleasures fovermore. Psalm 16:11

In the cover of your presence you hide them from plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

What ways do you soak in God’s presence? What benefits come from soaking in God’s presence?