Dont let go!

At 6.00 o'clock every morning, I pass through Mt. Carmel’s church.

Change is a vital part in life. The most false notion a person can ever have is that he or she never changes. I have many a time heard people say that they have never changed. At times, I have uttered the very same words, myself. But it isn’t true you know? Consider this, in the 24 hours that we have in a day, we are constantly undergoing a change. Yesterday’s Sun that rose, wont rise again today at the same time. It may vary by seconds. The people you met on your journey yesterday will differ from the faces you notice today. Some of the faces you will familiarize yourself with and some will just be faces that you will see today and will remain in your memory for some seconds. Then it’s all gone.

It's been years now, and I was used to always working the afternoon shift. Staying awake till 3.00 a.m was never a problem. Waking up early, that was a major concern. Yes there were reasons. Whatever the reason, sometimes we limit ourselves. It’s been a good change, since then.

Something I have learned with God is that He loves to watch us learn to trust Him. Trust in Him in all seasons. Not just when everything works smoothly, but when it rains too. I have heard people complain and wish that it would rain as per each person’s convenience. And I see that God is the best listener. He takes every little wish in His stride.

When we pray for something, we pray with all our hearts. Sometimes, we are in such a hurry, expecting it to happen on the word ‘Go’. But God does not work like that. He likes to see if we are ready to accept what He is about to give us. So every now and then there will be something new-something unexpected-that pops up in front of you. If you show a hesitation, it does not show your desire for what you have prayed. Let me explain: If you have prayed for something-then you have to be prepared for expecting a change. God wants to give you-the desire of your heart. But He wont give it to you until you are prepared. He does not want you to goof up on the big assignment. STEP 1:So God being God-brings small changes-and if you take the right steps-STEP 2:if you show your joy and trust in Him then you are showing that you are ready . I have just named the steps-Just to help you understand. So whatever it is that you seek from God-you are ever more close-when you walk in His will-accepting the changes that He brings about with all His wisdom in your life.

In the time that I have gotten to begin to understand my conversations with God, it’s been an incredible walk with God.

786 in my Bible-refers to Abraham-I would see this number often-before I could come across it in my Bible and till I could figure the answer. What God was telling me is to have a faith like Abraham. Never give up.

God wants us to be like Abraham-to have faith and to be able to be open and accept change. To be like Noah-to trust and to bring Gods vision to reality-by faith. To be like Moses-to be on Gods command-to lead His people through the Red sea.

LISTENING TO GOD

Scripture makes it clear that the Lord wants to talk to every one of us:

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” - Isaiah 30:21

The really sad thing about not talking and listening to God, is that you miss a golden opportunity to draw closer to God, to get to know Him better, and to let Him know that you realize that you want and need His help. When you fail to talk and listen to God, you greatly limit God's ability to accomplish the things that He wants to do in your life.

James 4:8 states, "Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you".

Talking to God
Remember God can read your mind and that He is constantly observing your inner most thoughts all the time. He knows what is going on in your heart and your mind far better than you do. Jeremiah says in 17:10, "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds."
We are living in a world that rarely thinks about Jesus and seldom talks to Him. Just think of it. The creator of the entire universe will be personally listening to you each and every time you talk to Him.

Initially, He may watch for a while to see if what you are doing is only temporary and whether or not you will stop it after a few days. But if you continue, then God is going to be extremely pleased and I believe He won't be able to wait to begin to communicate with your heart-from His.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand". John 10:27-28.

Listening to God is probably the most important thing that will ever happen to a person. And your spiritual life doesn't begin until God speaks to you and you finally decide to listen. It is for this reason that you need to not only talk to God constantly about everything, but you must also listen for God to speak to you. And the best way to listen for God to speak to you is to look to your heart and your mind for His answer. Most people expect God to answer them in some divine way or somehow speak to them verbally, right out of the heavens, but that isn't the way God operates. God speaks to a person’s heart and to their mind. When Jesus Christ is dwelling within a person He is communicating constantly with that person's, heart. His answer may even be in that certain feeling that you have. However for most people, especially in the beginning, they need to be quiet and really listen for God's answer because it is so very easy to block His answer out.

Only the one who has surrendered, is able to listen to God all day long.

The good news is that God understands our limitations. And in spite of all, God is much more willing to speak than we are to listen. I'm convinced that it takes only one thing to develop a listening heart, and that is willingness. But I'm speaking of a longing so deep, an openness so wide, so basic to the soul's survival, that it feels like the thirsty deer spoken of in Psalm 42, who longs for flowing streams.

Let's face it we usually listen for those things that will confirm what we already think. We want God's stamp of approval on what we've already decided. We aren't willing to be blindsided by grace.

Many of us are like Elijah, straining to hear the voice of God over the whirlwinds and earthquakes of our lives. But the truth is, life seems to constantly intrude on that process.

So how has God wired you for listening? Does the cry of a child in need call to you? The still, small voice is speaking—can you hear it? God is constantly reaching out to us. So notice what moves you, what excites you, what makes you lose track of time,  and listen to the message that God whispers in your heart.

I'll leave you with one other piece of advice that I heard from someone on a fortunate day. I was told that to develop a listening heart, I needed to live with one thought ‘Be open to Change.’

And the still, small voice WILL speak—I pray that we will hear it.

Galatians 2:20, "It is no longer I that live, but it is Christ that is living in union with me. Indeed, the life that I now live in flesh, I live by faith".

It is so very important to read the word of God daily because God will direct you to specific passages that will have a direct impact on the problems you are facing and the questions that you have. God continually instructs a person, and allows a person to grow in their spiritual daily walk. And most importantly one is able to love and obey God more today than he did yesterday. The knowledge about God is through the Bible.

The Holy Spirit is the one Who instructs a person in how to lead a life which is pleasing to ‘Abba, Father’, and it is The Holy Spirit who tells the world about Jesus Christ.

It is in prayer where you can have a one-on-one conversation with the Almighty God. Our prayer gives God the authority to have an incredible communication with us.

When looking for answers from God, most people ask how they can tell if the possible answers and solutions that they have floating around in their heads are from God. We need to remember that we are all on God's time schedule. We need to be patient and wait on the Lord. He will bring the answer when the time is right.

God wants you to talk to Him and to trust Him. He will show you how you can achieve a life filled with peace and happiness. God wants to be involved in every aspect of our life

Christ is in charge.

Are You Listening to God?

They said to Moses, ’You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die’ Exodus 20:19

We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God—we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them “If you love Me, keep My commandments” John 14:15. Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.

“You speak with us ... but let not God speak with us ...”

Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional.

CONCLUSION: In Isaiah 6, The prophet is walking close to God, so that he overhears the conversation of the Trinity. He was listening with the heart and was able to respond in obedience. ‘Who will go? Here am I, send me!’ It’s not so much the place where you are, as your presence in that place. Availability is obedience.

So then listening means being alert, observant, and perceptive to what is going on within us and around us. It is not a passive thing but a conscious, willed action to focus attention. We listen : to learn - to live!

REMEMBER: Sometimes when we are in the middle of a storm, all we want is for someone to say, “You’ll make it.”

No matter what the crisis is we want to know that it is possible to survive. This gives us hope. But even if you don’t have people encouraging you, you have something even better. God says you will make it.

No matter the struggle, He knew you would face this storm before you were born. He saw it coming, and He knows every detail of the situation. He knows how bad it feels, how hopeless it seems.

And, still, He says, “You WILL make it.”

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’ Jeremiah 29:11.

God has plans for us – good plans. And He cannot break His promise. Psalm 33:11 reads, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

Put the two verses together, and you see why God says to us with confidence, “You will make it.”

When you find yourself believing you cannot possibly survive your situation, remember the Lord’s promise to those who love Him. He has a plan set in stone to prosper you and give you hope. LISTEN!

PRAYER: Abba Father, as the world I know, collapses around me I pray that you watch over me. Don’t ever let go.