Simple.
So many things in life are just that.
Yet there is one thing we tend to complicate.
God's voice.
{Photo-A-Day Challenge - Day 13 "Simple"}
I think of all the times I've wondered, "Is this God's voice I'm hearing? Or is it my own selfish desires? Could it be the enemy trying to distract me?"
Have you struggled to discern God's voice too?
Why do we make it so complicated?
It's not as hard as we make it out to be.
It's simple really.
Just like any relationship in our life, when we know someone really well, we know their "voice."
We know our newborn baby's cry. We know our little girl's character. We know our husband's loyalty. We know what our loved ones expect from us. Sometimes no words need to be spoken, yet we know what their hearts are saying.
We know all these things because we spend time getting to know our loved ones.
So why are we so resistant to getting to know our Creator? Maybe because it's uncomfortable. God's word can sometimes be confusing.
Maybe we're afraid of having to change. Or worse - we fear the message God is delivering. Responding in obedience takes courage and faith. Far more than we think we're equipped with, right?
Let's stop complicating the matter.
Let's remember God uses ordinary, everyday people like you an me to accomplish His purpose. He doesn't expect us to be Biblical scholars. His word is living and breathing, and our eyes will be opened to understand it if we take the time and put forth the effort.
It's simple.
When we want to know if it's God's voice we're hearing or some evil temptation, our first step is to get to know WHO God is.
That's it! We need to get to know Him.
Just like a close family member.
He is, after all, our Creator.
It doesn't get any closer than that.
Do You Have a Favorite Bible Verse Describing Who God Is?
The photo in this post is Day 13/Simple of the August Photo-A-Day challenge. It's my diamond cross pendant sitting all alone on my dusty bookshelf. I used Photobucket to crop it and add text. Have you tried Photobucket yet? It's so much fun and the possibilities are endless! I'm linking up with Barbie at My Freshly Brewed Life. If you love photography, I encourage you to click over to the link-up and check out a few of the talented photographers in bloggy land.
Rosann Cunningham
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Amen sister. I am learning through Christopher. His bible tells a simple story that makes me want to read my own bible (but it is still confusing). Today or tomorrow we are going to look for one for him that is a little more advanced. He told me that he still wants me to read his to him (of course) and wanted to let me know he wasn't going to be able to deal with a "black and white" bible like mine. LOL! I told him it WAS hard to "deal with" and we still read the new bible together. So I am looking forward to that.
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Kenya, do you own a good study Bible? If not, I highly recommend it. It really helps take all the confusion out of it. Sometimes just having a different translation helps too. My husband loves the King James version but when I read it I get lost in the thee's and the thou's. My version is New International and I love it. I've also seen some from the New Living Translation and the Message which are all much easier to understand as well. With a study Bible there's usually an explanation of what the scripture or verse means (for almost every single verse) at the bottom of the page and the description is written to what we face in our day to day life in present times.
I love that Christopher enjoys reading his Bible with you. Truth be told, I've learned a thing or doing that with my own kids. I've been wanting to try out the Adventure Bible's with them. Have you seen them? They look like they'd be fun to read, and the Bible is certainly filled with adventure.
Hi Rosann!
This is a topic near and dear to my heart right now. I've tried to get better at listening during prayer time but when I think I "hear" something, I always just question it. It's a difficult bridge for me between knowing God through his revealing in the Bible and hearing his voice specifically in my life. For example, many things He could be "saying" to me would be consistent with his character from the Bible, but how do I know which path he wants me on? I always wonder how much God "talks" to us directly through our prayer "interactions" vs. pushes our hearts one way or another. I guess where I have landed for now is that I must pray about *everything* and then step out in faith, trusting that whether God is "talking" through a perceived voice in my head during prayer or through a nudge to make a certain decision, He is guiding me where He wants me!
Natasha
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Hi Natasha! As usual, your lovely visit and comment have brought a big smile to my face. Thank you!
Have you read Priscilla Shirer's book, Discerning the Voice of God? It's pretty good and does help shed light on a few of those questions. I've had them too. Still do, really. But like you mentioned, we really need to be praying about everything. Even the day to day decisions. I try to remind myself that as long as my decisions are ultimately God glorifying (as opposed to Rosann glorifying), then they can't possibly be wrong. Looking at a "fork in the road" from that perspective sort of helps me discern which way to go. That's not to say I always get it right. I'm certain God has course corrected me a time or two...or ten. You and I have emailed on some of those tough decisions and I will tell you, the moment I take action on the "uncomfortable" thing I think God is pushing me toward, the unbelievable amount of peace He brings me about the decision. And I'm sure you would agree, there are moments when God's message comes through loud and clear and there's no doubt in your mind that it's Him. I had one of those moments yesterday when I watched a Lisa Chan (wife of Francis Chan) video I'll be writing a post/review on in the coming weeks. It's all about how we, as women, are constantly on the go - busy, busy, busy - and rarely take time to just stop and sit in God's presence. I've been feeling guilty the past week or so because I've been missing more and more of my morning time with God - so I can write. Not a good reason to miss that time with Him. Watching her video was like listening to a profound, yet loving request from God to get back to doing what I know is good and right and healthy for me.
Wow. I love how simple you made this topic. I actually just wrote a post today for another blog concerning hearing God's voice and following even if it means changing our plans.
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Thanks Audra! I can't wait to read your thoughts on hearing God's voice and responding obediently.
Writing from my phone so please excuse the mistAkes.
. You are right, when we get to know our Savior His voice is more clear. Or rather His ways. I have had a few audible times He has spoken and they break threw anything I am doing. I love His voice, and long to hear it again like that. I often wish He would just tell me to do things like He spoke to me those few times, but more times then not its come to knowing Him. as I know Him, His will is clear. Through the Word we can clearly see Him. And whateber happens in our lives , if we seek to know His will, it will not go against His Word. 
. Sometimes its to simple we don't want to do it. But then I think dying to our selves is something that is a constant battle.
I wanted to clarify, when I say audible, I don't mean a big booming voice. When I re-read that, I thought I'll bet it sounds like I mean that.. I mean to ME he sounds very audible, but no one but me will here it.
Sarah, you're so funny. I know exactly what you mean. For me, it's a small whisper to my soul, but it's sometimes so profound there is no question that it's God. You're so right - it's a daily choice to take up our cross and live for Him. So glad to know I have beautiful friends like you there to keep me encouraged.