Wow this blessed
me and i thought about sharing it on the blog.
By Nicole Kauffman
Have you ever struggled to discern God's voice when
facing a decision?
You know that itching feeling
when it comes to discernment. The one where you just want God to shout out which way to go?
I’ve been there. Too many times.
I’ve faced decisions,
crossroads and major life changes and stood frozen, afraid of making
the wrong choice.
If I’m being honest, my career
path has been far from normal. The best way I can think to describe it is as a
wrestling match between my desire for security and God’s call for me.
It took years of scrambling, trying to find a career, for me to finally
take a leap of faith and follow God.
And let me tell you, along the way, I have faced so many
decisions. I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to discern God’s voice above
the noise.
Today, I want to share with you 3 powerful ways to discern God’s voice when
you face a decision.
1. Be Still
God often does not shout above the noise in our lives. When we
fill our days with busy schedules, distracted hearts and occupied minds, we
push out any opportunity to listen to God.
I have faced the most loneliness and discontent at the end of a
busy day, a busy week, a busy season.
It is only when we slow down, that we open
our hearts to hear God’s voice.
The Lord said, “Go out and
stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to
pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered
the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind
there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.After the
earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle
whisper. -1 Kings
19:11-12
Satan
wants us distracted with the fires and earthquakes in our lives. He wants us busy
and burdened so that we are unable to hear the gentle whisper.
I want to encourage you to set a specific time aside to be still
for the Lord.
Choose a day, or a specific time during the day that you can sit
quietly before God and meditate on Scripture, pray and be still.
When you do this, you will see past the noise and hear God’s voice.
2. Don’t Listen to Fear and Guilt
How often do you act based on fear or guilt?
Avoiding a conversation, changing your decision, not stepping up.
I have done so many things in my life because of fear or guilt.
And often, when I face a decision, these two things are on the forefront.
Whether I’m afraid I’m not good enough, or afraid of the unknown,
or weighed down and timid because of guilt, I have found myself facing immense
guilt and fear when it comes to some major decisions.
I have wrestled with the doubt that the fear I feel is a sign to
stop and turn around.
For God has not given us a
spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. -2
Timothy 1:7
God calls us forth in power and
in love.
When facing a major decision, consider your motivation. Are you
choosing based on fear and guilt or God’s love and power?
3. Keep Moving
One of the greatest ways that Satan can work in a time of decision and
discernment is to paralyze us with doubt.
There are so many crossroads as we grow in our faith and move
forward in our lives. We will face decisions of all different sizes.
It may be as small as who to sit with or as big as leaving a job
for ministry and everything in between.
Decisions and discernment are a part of life. And we cannot let that stop us from
our true calling.
It is important to seek
God’s will in every decision you make.
However, do not let the process
of discernment keep you from moving forward.
Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit. -Matthew 28:19
When you face a time of discernment, be sure to ask yourself this:
Are you loving others and serving the Lord?
So long as you are doing this, you will be walking in God’s will.
In conclusion Take time to discern God’s voice, but then make a decision and
keep moving forward.
If you are facing a major
decision in your life now, I would encourage you to spend time every day with
the Lord.
When
you do this, you will find that His plan for you will
unfold.
He
will direct your paths when you lean on Him.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths
straight. -Proverbs 3:6
I hope you were blessed ?
I hope you were blessed ?
