Hearing from God in Everyday Living
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The Invitation: My brother, the gardener, visited last weekend. He has a greenhouse, raised garden beds—and the green thumb in the family. It’s early spring, and he’s watering the seeds he planted in his greenhouse, waiting until they’ve matured enough to move to the beds. The greenhouse seeds take a lot of care. If he ignores them, it’s back to square one and starting over.
This thought came to mind as I asked the Lord why it seems I’m continually starting over in changing certain thought patterns. How does worry creep in—again—when my desire is to trust God? Perhaps fear becomes larger than faith, or I step into the fixing mode instead of waiting on God. It’s different for all of us.
At first, it takes a lot of nurture to change thought patterns. Daily practice. Then the transformation takes root, and the maintenance is occasional. Just as I marvel at the new blossoms of spring, I marvel when I realize the new way of thinking has become the regular way of thinking. I reap the fruit of nurture.
My brother can’t put a seed in a seedling pot and hope it will grow, and I can’t grow a new way of thinking on hope alone. I must nurture it with prayer, practice, and perseverance. Are you willing to nurture one new thought pattern this spring? If so, perhaps this summer you’ll realize a new way of thinking has become your regular way of thinking—and marvel.
But the seed in the good soil,
these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart,
and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.
—Luke 8:15 (NASV)
Try it out: Lord, Your ways of thinking are what I want to hold firmly in my mind. I ask You to weed out any mindsets that don’t line up with Your Word and plant new seeds of truth. Then show me how to nurture the truth with perseverance through prayer and practice.
Lord, if I have a pattern of thinking that needs to be replaced with Your way of thinking, reveal it to me.
(Any thought that is tied to “things will never change,” “I’m not enough,” “God has forgotten me,” etc. are like weeds that need to be pulled. Take time to listen.)
Lord, what do You replace that thought with? What is the truth as seen in the Bible?
Show me what it looks like to weed out the old pattern of thinking and plant a new seed?
Then show me how to nurture the seed so it will grow and become my regular way of thinking.
Now, tell me why it is important to persevere in this place, and what will grow from nurturing this new way of thinking.
But the seed in the good earth—
these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what,
sticking with it until there’s a harvest.
—Luke 8:15 (The Message paraphrase)
The Invitation: I like to be comfortable. I like to know what I’m doing, feel confident in my abilities, and have a clear sense of direction moving forward. When I wander too far off the comfort path, I am tempted to turn back to what is familiar. I’ll stop pursuing the dream or possibility—the very thing my heart desires—because uncertainty and the unknown make me nervous.
My heart’s desires often reside in the unknown, and wandering into that territory requires trust. New circumstances, challenges, and opportunities will require me to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading. I know the Lord leads me to freedom—healthier relationships, living more like Jesus lived, and no fear. But my self-talk promotes comfort and can be quite persuasive.
Thankfully, the voice of Freedom is not swayed and continues to challenge me to believe and act on scriptures that bring liberty. Staying comfortable has a great cost. Will I choose freedom even though I won’t always be comfortable? Yes.
At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free!
We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.
–Galatians 5:1 (TPT)
Give it a try: Lord, I desire freedom over comfort. I want to cherish the truth ,and I refuse to go back into the bondage of the past. Lead me into places that require me to trust in Your goodness and kindness. I’m willing to leave me comfort zone.
Is there a place in my life where I am choosing comfort over freedom—over how You’re calling me to live?
What is it costing me?
Show me, from Your perspective, what freedom looks like in this place.
(Respond to the Lord. Will you come into agreement with Him? Will you give it a try?)
The Invitation: Despair, doubt, and death? How could those have anything to do with a good day? Yet the day Christ was crucified is called Good Friday.
It looked as if God was dead. And physically, as man, He was. It looked as if Jesus was not the Messiah, the One who was to save His people. The healings? The hope? The heart-changes? Had it all been a fraud? And then He said, “It is finished.” What did He mean?
The disciples went back to fishing. They were finished with the Jesus chapter of their lives. How could they have been so misguided? Confusion, self-doubt, and fear for their lives. For three days.
It’s only in hindsight we call that Friday good. For Jesus overcame sin and death and made the way for us to be with God for eternity. The most valuable gift we can ever receive was birthed in the midst of betrayal, torture, and isolation.
We can’t compare our difficulties with what Jesus went through. But may we choose to look at every circumstance with God’s perspective, believing that in three days or three years we will see that God worked good in our lives. May we live with the hindsight of the disciples, knowing the love and power of God. And may we share the good news with others.
Good Friday? Yes. For through the death of Jesus, God brought us life—eternal life—and a personal relationship with our heavenly Father. No matter what’s going on in our lives, this is a good day—a day of promise.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the LORD has planted for his own glory.
—Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)
Give it a Try: Jesus, thank you for enduring the pain and humiliation of the cross. Thank you for trusting Your Father in the midst of crisis, and thank you for all the good that came out of that Friday long ago. Specifically I want to thank you for: ______________________.
(Take a few moments to be still. Reflect on all Christ gave you. Remember He is for you.)
(If there’s a place in your life that looks or feels impossible, continue praying.)
Lord, I bring this impossible situation to You. On the cross, you already did what is needed to bring healing and restoration. But will You give me Your perspective or a promise to hold on to today? What do You say or reveal to me? (Take some time to listen in God’s presence.)
Page 6: What If. . .
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword,
drew it and struck the high priest’s servant,
cutting off his right ear.
(The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away!
Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
—John 18:10-11 (NIV)
“Drink the cup the Father has given me” jumped out as I read the verses in John. When this happens, I know it is God speaking to me through His Word. So I asked, “God, what do You want me to know?”
I sensed Him inviting me to look at how Jesus lived, not only in this scripture, but throughout His life. So, I in turn, invited the Holy Spirit to enlighten me! *
Your list may look different than mine, but here are a few things that encouraged and challenged me:
When I live in the present, I’m not focused on regrets, how I thought things would be, or what I wish would happen. I just do the next thing. I make the phone call, offer a helping hand, ask the hard question, or pray.
I plan for the future, but I don’t live with a mindset of things needing to change before I’ll be okay. I live each day, knowing my future is eternal life with Christ. I partner with God in the simple or difficult things before me, believing they will make a difference in others knowing the love of Christ.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing
Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.
—Author unknown, but popularized by missionary Elisabeth Elliot
Try it out:
Pray: Lord, You modeled living in the present. You listened to the Father, You watched what He was doing, and You joined Him. I want to do the same. No matter what the cup-of-the-day holds, I want to be willing to drink it. Increase my belief and trust that You work all things together for good for those who love You (Romans 8:28).
Lord, from the What If? message today, what is one thing You want to personalize for me?
Does anything in my thinking need to change?
How do I live this out?
Show me how You’ll be present with me today.
Take time to respond to God. He has overcome the world. And He is present in your world.
* John 14:26
** John 16:33 (“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”)