Listening to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of our God. That is one thing I am working on and having difficulty with lately.
How do you listen to or listen for the Holy Spirit? My initial answer would be in quiet and stillness, meditating on God. Does that mean sitting in silence thinking about who God is? Or is that meditating/mulling over passages of scripture and focusing on them, thinking about what they mean, how they apply to me, and leaving room for God to point out in some thought or way how I can apply the truths of scripture to my life?
Lately I've spent not enough time in meditating on scripture while listening for thoughts or ideas or directions that the Spirit might be directing me toward.
I have been cautioned by two men, whom I consider wiser and much older than I, in regards to listening to feelings and acting on feelings that come into my mind/heart. Yet, just as they also advised, if God is saying to do something, I must do it. If it is indeed God urging me through a thought or a person or a circumstance or especially His word, I am obliged to do it.
So, in times of worship and prayer I have wrestled with God and in times where I have fought against His Spirit I have sunk lower in my spirit than I can ever remember. But when I follow and obey the direction in my heart, given by God, I stand tall and am emboldened.
God says not to quench the Holy Spirit. I do hope not to.
1 Timothy 5:2 [Treat]"Older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
God is always right. It goes without saying. So, it makes perfect sense, knowing that He loves us, wants what's best for us, and commands us to do things that are right (and in the end are for our best and His best anyway). It is fitting then, that "treating older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity" turns out to be the most amazing way to treat women.
Truth. Honesty. Impartial Judgment. I've long thought that this was an area I was perfectly fine in. False. I am often tempted to be what we would call a "people pleaser." I like to give people the answers they would like to hear and not make people uncomfortable or upset. ... This is fearing people more than God. God has been working me over with this one. It is sin. It is crippling. It is a deadly trap to fear man.
Jesus Christ. Center and focus. John 15:4 -"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
I'll try to share more soon. Thank you for taking time to read this.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God.
-Stephen Bradshaw Mechling
that was good food for thought. i was especially made to stop and think about that one paragraph you wrote about fighting God and sinking low vs. following God and standing tall. Keep seeking God with your whole heart brother! it has been encouraging to watch the growth that has taken place in you over the last couple months.
ReplyDeleteIt sometimes feels like I'm not progressing and growing. It would do me well to stop and evaluate. So, thank you for encouraging me :) Thank you also for all the prayers.
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