Listening When God Speaks

You know, it's amazing just how much God will show us when we slow down, listen, and look for the ways He is speaking. A week or two ago when I was at the gym, I went to use the ladies room before my run on the treadmill. Usually a trip to the bathroom is nothing out of the ordinary, but this one has stuck with me ever since. There are only two stalls in the tiny women's restroom and that night, with a lady coming in right behind me, one stall was filthy and the other was clean. At the time I was in a rush, so without thinking I scanned the room and slipped into the clean stall before she had the chance to. And let me tell you, friend, as soon as I bolted the lock shut, the Holy Spirit convicted me. I have never felt so uncomfortable in a bathroom, ha! ​​

God cares about how we treat others no matter where we are or what kind of a day we are having. He wants to teach us how to love people as He loves them and anything less just won't do. I wish I could tell you that was the only time I thoughtlessly put myself first or brushed someone aside, but it's not. God points it out every time, and I am made all the better because of it! So, with all of that said, I wonder if you would give me permission to ask you something that I've answered myself recently: when the Holy Spirit speaks to you, do you listen even if He is saying something you don't want to hear? 

"For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

- Romans 8:14 AMP

I know, I just went "there" didn't I? This is one of those questions that hurts to answer and one of those lessons that stings to read - but even still, wouldn't staying stuck and unknowingly making big mistakes hurt far worse? So, this is all I would like to propose to you, my lovely friend: how about today we go into a private room to meet with the Lord and decide to answer tough questions like the one I just asked you. Go where no one can overhear, in a frame of time when you don't have to look presentable and it's safe to cry all of your mascara off, and listen for whatever the Holy Spirit might want to say. 

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish."

- Jeremiah 33:3 AMP

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour."

- 1 Peter 5:6-8 AMP

Now, also please hear me when I say that there is so much God wants to speak to you about, and most of it is good. For the first few years I walked with the Lord, I was so used to being hurt by people who were supposed to love me and didn't. God knew this. Each time I came to Him, He would persistently tell me how much He loved me until I was a blubbering mess. But soon, that shell around my heart broke away and I was able to receive His love and see myself as a child of God. When you are a child of God, you can receive correction without doubting your Heavenly Father’s love for you. We all make mistakes, but what matters the most is how we learn from them. There is a big difference between condemnation and correction. Condemnation watches someone walking towards a trap and mocks them for not seeing it. Correction lovingly shouts, “Get out of the way!” When the Lord corrects you, He is helping you to see yourself, your life, others, and His heart more clearly. 

“And have you forgotten his encouraging words spoken to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t underestimate the value of the discipline and training of the Lord God, or get depressed when he has to correct you. For the Lord’s training of your life is the evidence of his faithful love. And when he draws you to himself, it proves you are his delightful child.’ Fully embrace God’s correction as part of your training, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children.” – Hebrews 12:5-7 TPT 

So sweet reader, all I am saying to you is that all kind of shells can form around your heart. All kinds of lies and half-truths can take root there. All sorts of burdens can stick to you and a host of emotions can attempt to rule you. Keep the lines of communication open with your Heavenly Father. For the sake of your precious heart, lean into every prompt the Holy Spirit sends you. Listen every time He speaks, even if it seems silly. I can promise you, it's never silly. Every whisper, prompt, nudge, “feeling,” and instruction from God means something - usually something good and wholesome for YOU when you heed them. 

"Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]."

- Romans 12:1-2 AMP

You have a Heavenly Father who wants to help you every single step of the way, and today I just want to encourage you to let Him. Partner with Him. Leave an opening for God to speak over every aspect of your life. Know that He sees you in the supermarket, when you’re stuck in traffic, at the office, when you are with your family, and even in the bathroom of your gym, ha! God wants the best for you. He loves you too much to leave you on your own. But even more than that, God loves you far too much to let you be less of a person than He created you to be. Hearing tough truths from Someone who truly cares about you is never a bad thing!

- Kelly