Blog: Glimmers in the Fog by Kim Stiver

Never a Dull Moment with God

6/19/2019

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One of my favorite songs during my college years was “The Great Adventure,” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Looking back on it now, the western-themed music video filled with galloping horses and a leather-vest wearing Steven with big floppy hair seems so over the top and cliched, but back then — oh, that was cutting edge for contemporary Christian music. Somehow, though, despite it’s dated sound and the fact that I haven’t listened to it in ages, it came roaring back into my head today, playing over and over in my mind and reminding me to celebrate its central message: a life spent following God is never dull… never meaningless… and always filled with something new around the corner.

If you’re not familiar with the lyrics, the chorus challenges us to saddle up our horses, cause we have a trail to blaze into the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace. But my favorite lines are found in the bridge:
We'll travel on, over mountains so high
We'll go through valleys below
Still through it all we'll find that
This is the greatest journey
That the human heart will ever see
The love of God will take us far
Beyond our wildest dreams

If you want to join me in the fun and don’t mind falling prey to its catchy chorus becoming an earworm in your mind for the rest of the day, then check out this fresh spin (watch on YouTube) on the song with Steven and guest Bart Millard of MercyMe fame.

This song came galloping back to me — sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun — this week as my husband and I reached a box-packing, emotionally-charged crescendo in preparing to make a cross-country move from Maine to California. For many of my regular readers and listeners, you know that my year began with the passing of my beloved Dad, followed by the realization that God was calling us to go west. So I guess in some cheesy way, the expansive Rocky Mountain scenes of the 1992 video seem to fit with my outlook right now. I can choose to look at this move as the end of a chapter I don’t want to be over, or I can see it as a new beginning, trusting that God has purpose and joy waiting for us wherever He plants us.

There is not enough space here to tell you how deeply rooted we are in Maine with my family, the sweetest friendships, a church body with a mission we love, and a home we built ourselves. There’s no question that leaving is hard. Okay, beyond hard. I can’t even describe it, despite my propensity for wordiness. But this God has made abundantly evident: when He calls you to a new beginning, He always brings His peace and boldly blazes a trail. Like any challenging trail through unknown, mountainous territory, you may not see any further ahead than the next marker on a tree, but you can clearly see His hand at work around you. At times, you may also be exhausted, overwhelmed, and uncomfortable. But no matter how you feel, you’ll still sense His peace and presence. As Ney Bailey says in one of my favorite books, Faith is Not a Feeling, “You and I can either grow accustomed to listening to our feelings, thoughts, and circumstances, letting them control us, or we can be in the habit of taking God at His word despite our feelings and life experiences. We need to choose with our wills to believe that His Word is truer than our feelings.”

Since I will be packing up my office next week and will become like a nomad for the first half of July, today is my last blog post from the great state of Maine. So before the next adventure officially kicks off with a moving van carrying upwards of 200 color-coded and cataloged boxes (yes, I am that type of person), I wanted to share five of the lessons God has been teaching me or reinforcing with me during this prolonged season of major upheavals. Perhaps a few of them will also encourage you during your own seasons of change, doubt, or waiting. While I won’t be able to produce new blog posts or podcast episodes for the next three weeks, I am sure God will be filling my mind with plenty of ideas for new messages during the many days of driving through America’s heartland. So I am already looking forward to being back with you starting July 17th from sunny Northern California.

1. God is the provider of the feast, not unsatisfying snacks. Another way to say it is: God always brings us what’s best and He longs for us to never settle or take shortcuts to get second best. Throughout Scripture we see God as the founder of the feast, always offering His children the best when they choose Him. In John 2, Jesus performs His first miracle, which was turning water to wine at a wedding feast. Upon tasting it, the banquet manager exclaims in verse 10, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” What God has been speaking to me is that His best is worth waiting for, and when He does bring His plans to fruition, they will be far more than I could’ve imagined if I wait on Him and trust Him. Earlier in this process, I found myself praying for the equivalent of snack — just a taste of God’s glory — when what He had in mind was far more complete than I would’ve dared hope for.

2. God doesn’t need human cooperation to bring about His will. We simply can’t help thinking more of ourselves than we should. After all, we all live with the day-to-day disappointment of other people letting us down, frustrating us, or choosing the wrong path. So when people don’t seem to be acting the way we think they should in order to align with what God has planned, we may assume that we misunderstood God or that He will have to change His plans due to human misbehavior. But just as God both hardened and then softened the heart of Pharoah (in Exodus 11:10 and 12:30-32), we can rest assured that if God wants something to happen, it will. And if we trust Him to bring it about His way and in His timing, then we get the thrill of watching His handiwork unfold.

3. God gives us the chance to participate in miracles. Perhaps one of the saddest situations is when you or I try to wade through the changes of life alone. But just as Jesus included the disciples in the miracles He performed, so we should include others around us in both the work God is calling us to do and the decisions we need to make. We do this through prayer. And when we don’t ask others to cover us in prayer over big decisions, changes, struggles, and grief, then we rob them of the chance to participate in God’s miracles. When a close-knit group of believers spends days, months, or even years supporting someone going through a hard season, there is not only indescribable joy for each victory along the way, no matter how small, there is also an incredible amount of growth in the lives of every group member as they intimately witness the hand of God in all the details. In Luke 15:8-10, Jesus tells the parable about a woman losing a coin and then celebrating with all her friends once it is found. James 5:16 urges believers to pray for one another. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” And Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”

4. God never contradicts Himself. When a turbulent time engulfs our lives, God promises to work it out for good. But Satan is also working hard to divert us from God’s best or to get us to throw in the towel. Sometimes the evil tactics he tries on us are disguised in a veneer of goodness or practical advice. When my husband and I found a home we liked in California, after praying about it, we made a market-appropriate offer to the owners. They rejected our offer. Not once, but four times. This went on for several agonizing weeks, and all the while we were nearing our moving date without a place to live. With each offer, we came up a little more money until we had reached the maximum number God had laid on our hearts. As God’s Word calls us to be good stewards of the resources He gives us, we knew He didn’t want us to go any higher even though we could’ve found a way to do so. He had given us a line in the sand, regardless of how close the deal seemed. Many people said we shouldn’t let such a small amount deter us from a home we really liked. I’d like to tell you that sticking to our guns was a piece of cake, but as with any situation that we have the power to either solve on our own, or let the Lord handle in His own way, it was very difficult to remain firm. Each time I spent time in prayer, I simply heard, “Wait.” God impressed the same thought on my husband. Eventually, both sides reached a stalemate and we walked away from the property, believing that if God wanted us there, He would’ve made it work at the number He gave us. Several days after we let it go, our realtor called to tell us that the sellers had a change of heart and would indeed accept our offer and terms if we were still ready to commit. It’s hard not to fight for what you want. It’s hard to resist making things happen yourself when it seems like they fit with God’s plans. But if any part of the process contradicts a principle or a promise from Scripture — even if the outcome would be the same — then God wants us to be still and let Him take care of it. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Some versions use the word “silent” and others use the word “calm,” but all of them apply when all you want to do is squirm, yell, run, or fret.

5. God brings order to chaos, both in circumstances and most importantly in our hearts. This lesson has been especially hard for me to learn and it might be for you as well. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us that God desires order versus confusion or chaos. But clearly He allows chaos to occur in our lives from time to time. Just look at the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 walking on the water toward Jesus. He stepped out of the boat among the chaotic waves and wind to find himself rising above it all. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked unharmed through the continuing storm. But the moment he became aware of his precarious surroundings and began focusing on his impending doom, he sank down. When Peter’s focus was on Jesus, the storm in his heart was calmed. And, of course, we are no different. Jesus calls us to just let the circumstances around us simply be as they are. Through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to say with conviction, “Nothing around me matters more than Who’s in front of me.” It’s with this vision that we will see God’s hand working to bring order out of the chaos and show us a clear, strong lifeline to safety. In verse 32, Jesus didn’t calm the seas until the disciples placed their trust in Him. Once the work in their hearts was done, God worked to reveal a miracle. “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

Over the past six months, God has been teaching and revealing so much more to me than these five lessons, but since I am only beginning to grasp their meaning and understand the depth of their impact, I’ll save the rest of them for future blog posts. In the meantime, I hope you’re encouraged in your own seasons of change, doubt, waiting, fear, and loss. There is no storm God doesn’t have a plan to use for His glory. There is no problem you face in which He won’t walk beside you and give you peace. There is no dull moment in any life lived in order to grow closer to Jesus. You may think that nothing is happening. It may seem as though nothing is changing or that nothing ever seems to go in your favor. But you must believe that those perspectives are your own, and not God’s. There is nothing that is not already known by Him. There is nothing that remains unsolved in His future. And so, He asks you and me to rest in the waiting knowing that every moment of our lives can be useful to Him. Every situation can be redeemed… in His timeframe, not ours. Finally, there’s always a new beginning. And it often comes in the darkest hours before the dawn. But that’s exactly when you can let God’s light shine the brightest in your life. Others will look at you and may remark on the darkness you’re facing, but if your eyes remain on Jesus, then the only thing everyone else will be able to talk about is Him.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

5-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling

God’s Adventure Spotify Playlist - Created just for this message, this music playlist will fuel your passion for God’s adventure and encourage you during times of change. (Yes, you can listen to the playlist for no charge when you sign up for a FREE account!)
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week.
While Glimmers is on vacation for the next 3 weeks, if you need a daily devotional, I encourage you to check out the free plans in the YouVersion app or John Piper’s online daily devotional.

Day 1 - God is the provider of the feast, not unsatisfying snacks. Read Philippians 4:19 and Ephesians 3:20 several times in a few different versions. When have you settled for second best in the past? Why? What is it that you are currently longing for Him to provide? Ask Him to show you any ways in which you are impatient in waiting for His best. Pray and ask Him to give you discernment in seeking only His best and not counterfeits or shortcuts.
Day 2 - God doesn’t need human cooperation to bring about His will. Read Acts 17:24-25, 1 Chronicles 29:11, and Psalm 115:3. How does knowing the God is sovereign over everything bring you comfort when it comes to replying on other people for important things in your life? Spend time in prayer asking God to reassure your heart of His love and control over your life.
Day 3 - God gives us the chance to participate in miracles. Read Matthew 28:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:11. What does this passage tell you about God’s invitation to us to participate in His work and plans?
Day 4 - God never contradicts Himself. Read Hebrews 6:16-20 and Numbers 23:19. In what ways have you wondered about apparent contradictions concerning God, the Bible, or His control over your life? Meditate on these Scriptures and pray them back to Him. Consider memorizing them and repeating them to yourself during times of doubt.
Day 5 - God brings order to chaos, both in circumstances and most importantly in our hearts. Read Joshua 1:9, John 14:27, 1 Corinthians 14:33, and Psalm 37:23. Whichever verse spoke the most to you, spend time reflecting on how it speaks to your heart and circumstances. Then pray it back to God and ask Him to search your heart and speak to you.

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Too Much of a Good Thing = Not Enough Jesus

6/12/2019

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Too Much of A Good Thing Equals Not Enough Jesus

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Human history is filled with powerful stories about what happens when an individual or a group of people hit their “enough is enough” moment. Usually, it happens after a long time of enduring the consequences of too much of a good thing. In other words, something that was once perceived as a good thing — whether it actually was or not — goes really south and eventually reaches the boiling point. It is that point at which change is sparked…when the powder keg of freedom is finally lit. While there are things, habits, or relationships that may not be good for us from the start, the self-induced chains that sneak up on us most often are those things that once had harmless or even beneficial beginnings.

I often marvel at how many times I’ve had to reach the enough-is-enough point with issues in life. I used to believe that I would eventually be savvy enough to recognize the encroachment or overrun of anything long before I would have to begin the hard work of making corrections and recovering from the consequences of having or doing too much. But now I have come to understand that as long as there are things to be enjoyed and productivity to be pursued, Satan will always try to lure me to pursue something good until it spoils. I may learn how to draw impenetrable boundaries with one specific thing, but as long as I’m living on this earth, new things will keep appearing. God will continue to provide tremendous blessings, but the temptations to overuse them will keep coming. After all, that’s Satan’s self-assigned job. He’s passionate about twisting anything good into something bad. But my God-assigned job is even more powerful. I’m called to be passionate about relying on Jesus to help me both enjoy the blessings and endure the trials for His glory. Neither the pursuit of good things or the struggle over bad things should ever eclipse my love for —and trust in — God.

Sometimes we know that a good thing has turned sour long before we do anything about it. I’ve been waiting on my enough-is-enough moment regarding a particular issue for a long time. I’ve seen it coming for months now, and I’ve even longed for it, but have been unable to make it arrive any sooner. I’ve also simultaneously dreaded reaching that point, because when it arrives, it brings with it the discomfort of change, the difficulty of discipline, and the limitations of new boundary lines. But my life is crying out for it after a prolonged season of excess and counterfeit freedom. For me, reaching the point of being fed up enough to make a change is kind of like insomnia. The more I try to make myself fall asleep, the more elusive it becomes. Whatever this mental hurdle is called — I’m sure there must be a name for it — I have encountered it in almost every area of my life at one time or another. Whether it’s insomnia, an over-committed schedule, overeating, or even relationships, the motivation to finally draw the line in the sand and return to balance can be one of the most difficult things in life to find. And since there is no aspect of life that is not vulnerable to being overrun or overindulged, we can often find ourselves craving the motivation to make a change in multiple areas.

Two people in the Bible who articulated what it’s like to deal with having too much of a good thing are King Solomon and the Apostle Paul. While there is much to glean from their writings on the subject, they each handled the problem very differently. Solomon allowed the blessings of God to become his god until it was too late, finally seeking redemption at the end of His life. The gifts of marriage, financial comfort, and physical indulgence completely engulfed his every waking hour, eventually making him numb to anything meaningful, including the Lord’s presence. In Ecclesiastes 1:14, he gives us the theme of the book: “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Time and time again, he reminds us that the pleasures of life, the knowledge of the world, and even the work we perform, all have bottomless pits. There is no point at which we can experience complete satisfaction in anything other than God. Ecclesiastes 1:8 says, “All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.” And we read in chapter 6 verse 7: “Everyone's toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.” Ecclesiastes is a cautionary lament from an old man who allowed himself to become so ensnared by good things that many years of his life were wasted wallowing in regret and feeling the pain of self-induced consequences.

Solomon is a great example of a mistake we often make when we reach our breaking point. As you read Ecclesiastes it becomes clear that he took everything to the extreme. When he reached the bottom of trying one thing, he’d push another thing to the brink. Just as his ancestors did in the desert when they gathered too much manna (see Exodus 16:13-20), Solomon ignored God’s boundaries and ran after excess of blessings. The result was the same: a beautiful thing became spoiled and unsatisfactory to consume any longer.

Sometimes when we finally declare, “Enough is enough,” and design our action plan for change, we only turn around and fall into a different pit of extremes. Rather than embracing the much-needed adjustment with a healthy intensity of change, we take drastic measures, somehow trading one obsession for another. Like rebounding from a bad relationship into an opposite — but equally detrimental — one, we feel compelled to wipe away everything associated with the thing we had too much of. And, so yet again, we often to respond to an imbalance in our lives with another imbalance. For example, the person who couldn’t say no and becomes so burned out on volunteering that she pulls out of serving altogether. Or another common case is the dieter who swears off an entire food group, versus learning the valuable discipline of eating in moderation. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, we can all relate to the mistake of going to extremes in an act of desperation. That’s because when we let anything reach a severe level and feel the gravity of the choices that got us there, our human nature tells us to counteract it with equal force. Ever since the Garden of Eden, humankind has felt the need to punish itself once exposed to the light of conviction. Yet the only One who could adequately punish us for our sins instead offers us forgiveness and wholeness forevermore.

And this is where the example of Paul’s life gives us the very hope which Solomon was struggling to find until the end of his life. Although he wasn’t a king like Solomon with limitless power and money, Paul had tasted what it was like to go to extremes and come up empty. As a paid mercenary for the Jewish leadership council in Jerusalem, Paul had a blank check when it came to persecuting Christians. And he was passionate about it too. He also earned plenty of cash doing what he loved. But then Jesus stepped into the picture and everything changed. After Paul’s conversion experience with the risen Christ, I’m sure he was tempted to punish himself, but instead, he was saturated with the grace and mercy poured out upon him by Jesus and then spent the rest of his life sharing the same with others. Rather than endlessly searching for earthly satisfaction as Solomon did, Paul allowed Jesus to bring it to him. Just listen to how differently Paul looks as life compared to Solomon. Philippians 4:11-13 says, “I’m not telling you this because I’m in need, for I have learned to be satisfied in any circumstance. I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.”

Paul was deeply satisfied through the power of God. Solomon was riddled with emptiness and disappointment after chasing everything but God. Paul knew the secret to see the travails of the earth as meaningful and valuable. Solomon spent his whole life searching for the secret, only to declare that everything was meaningless in the end. Paul figured out that just because something wasn’t necessarily harmful, perhaps even what most people would call good, doesn’t mean it’s beneficial at all times. Solomon viewed the world as his oyster and erroneously believed that God had given it to him to have as much of it as he wanted. When he saw something as good, he fooled himself into believing that it was also beneficial in vast quantities. But here’s how Paul viewed it in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31: “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

The secret to living life in balance is filtering every choice through the light of the Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit. And when things do get out of balance — when you’ve lost your focus on glorifying God in a particular area and something that once was good has overrun your life — the secret to reaching your enough-is-enough moment is exactly the same. Whether you’re in a state of balance or just beginning to realize how out of balance life has become, clinging to Jesus is the antidote you need. Everything that can be experienced in this world — even the blessings of God — turn to ruin when out of balance… when consumed too much… when they become more important to us than the Gift-Giver Himself. When the thing, relationship, or habit we long for consumes more of our thoughts than Jesus, then it’s moved from being a blessing to being an idol. We’ve moved from a Sabbath margin mentality to a self-fulfillment mindset.

By contrast, we can never overdose on the Bread of Life. We can never exhaust the mercies of our Savior. We will never reach the end of His goodness. We can never max out on the fruits of the Spirit. John 6:57-58 describes the never-ending satisfaction of knowing Jesus more: “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Every longing of our hearts that threatens to throw us out of balance points to a spiritual deficit. Every. Single. One. We cannot separate any part of ourselves from who we were created to be in Christ.

In most things we long for, we’re actually seeking comfort of some sort. Sheila Walsh said in her book The Longing in Me, “We long for peace, but we often grab control because it makes us feel that we are doing something.” For most of us, that good thing turned bad because we began to seek it not for God's intended purpose, but to fill a need in our lives… a hole in our heart… caused by a wound, a disappointment, or an unmet ambition. But no matter what drives our desires, God desires us to be with Him even more. There is no yearning on earth that can compare with how much He wants us to rely on Him, trust Him, and cling to Him for our deepest needs. Our Father delights in us and He longs for us to do the same by seeking Him first for our longings… by inviting Him into our cravings and desires and letting Him fulfill them through His presence and His means. Not our own. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Did you catch that? When we run to God for our longings, He promises us joy. Not only that, but He rejoices in our need for Him. Psalm 147:11 says, “But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”

If you are in a place of balance today, take a moment to praise God for the sure footing you’re currently enjoying. But if the Holy Spirit nudged your heart about something that might be a little off-kilter in your life, don’t ignore it or pretend you didn’t hear it. Don’t wait until the problem reaches the boiling point. Declare right now that enough is absolutely enough. And if you’re concerned about whether you’ll have the sufficient motivation and willpower to truly follow through, then I have two suggestions. First, believe and trust in the Holy Spirit to display His power each time you take a step of faith in the right direction. And second, make Paul’s rally cry your very own. Romans 6:12-14: “Sin is a dethroned monarch; so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings. So then, refuse to answer its call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding your body to Him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! You live now for His pleasure, ready to be used for His noble purpose. Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has! You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.”

So, go ahead my brother or sister in Christ. Draw your line in the sand and commit to not letting the winds and rains of life wash away every trace of your intention. No matter what comes your way, your victory is already secure if you cling to Jesus.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide: For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week.

Day 1 - Read Matthew 6:19-24 twice, first in the ESV and then in The Message version. Now, in whichever version you prefer, go back and read it a third time, but instead of money/treasure being the topic, substitute whatever thing, person, or habit you currently have too much of — or desire too much of. After reading, spend time with the Lord in prayer and journaling about the state of your heart. If God whispers anything to you write it down.
Day 2 - Our bodies are gifts from the Lord to be used for His glory. Read Romans 12:1-2 and ask God to speak to your heart about the ways He wants you to serve Him, care for your body, and allow for breathing room in your life to live abundantly in His grace and by His schedule. Write down any adjustments that He wants you to make.
Day 3 - Every waking moment of our lives is designed to glorify Jesus. While that’s impossible to do within our own power, the Holy Spirit enables to grow more and more in that direction with each step of faith and obedience. Read Colossians 3:1-8 and consider any areas of your “old life” that have come back or you have never been able to defeat. What line in the sand do you need to draw today with God’s help? Write down your next baby step in that direction.
Day 4 - Whatever we consider our work, whether it’s a job, raising kids, volunteering, etc., we are to do everything as for the Lord. Read Colossians 3:22-24 and ask the Holy Spirit to whisper to you of any ways in which you are working for something other than for His glory. Write down your next step.
Day 5 - Look back over the last four days of scriptures and the ones mentioned in the blog post. Ask God which one He wants you to revisit and spend more time studying? Memorize it by making flash cards and putting them in your car, on your mirror, or anywhere else frequently visible. Read Deuteronomy 11:18 and then spend some time in prayer.

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How to Hear the Voice of God Part 2

6/5/2019

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How to Hear the Voice of God Part 2: 6 Hallmarks of His Voice

How to Hear the Voice of God Part 2: Six Hallmarks of His Voice

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Last week’s blog post highlighted the four ways we need to prepare our hearts to hear God’s voice and eight of the most common methods He uses to communicate. To get the most out of this week’s message, I would suggest listening or reading to part 1 first.

Have you ever misinterpreted an email from a friend or co-worker? It’s such a common occurrence, I bet every single person on earth who uses email has made inaccurate assumptions or has misinterpreted what the sender was trying to say. Then we all know what happens next. Either we sit and stew on it because we don’t want to call or visit the sender in person to clarify the meaning, or we do the most dreaded thing we all know we shouldn’t do (but we do it anyway)… we hit the reply button and send back a completely inappropriate response based on what we assume we heard. As we have all painfully experienced, mistakes happen when we assume. (And, yes, I think the acronym for assume fits, but I won’t repeat it here. Ahem.)

This is kind of how listening to God can be. When He speaks to us, it’s not like receiving a phone call from your best friend, whose voice you can often recognize just by the way she breathes or the way he clears his throat. With the Almighty’s voice, there’s no audible tone or style to hear. No inflections to indicate humor or anger. In short, most of us have so little familiarity with what He’s saying — either because what He’s asking us to do is so surprising or because we’re simply new or out of practice with hearing His direction — that after He’s spoken, we may spend minutes or hours second-guessing what we’ve heard. We can make some radically wrong assumptions. We can jump to conclusions. Sometimes we miss out on a blessing because we were too unsure to act when He spoke.

As you become more and more familiar with His unique voice in your life, which happens over a long period of time and with frequent practice, you will begin to clearly experience for yourself the signature characteristics, or hallmarks of His voice. These hallmarks are helpful in knowing what God’s voice sounds like and understanding His nature. However, even when you think you’ve heard from God clearly, never skip the step of seeking Scriptural confirmation. As we said last week, God’s Word will never contradict anything He personally lays on your heart. That means the principles and guidance outlined in the Bible must always — without any exceptions ever — must agree with, or support, whatever it is you’ve heard in order for God to even be considered as the source. Here’s an example: If you think God is telling you to go ahead and make a big purchase, but you are currently drowning in debt or struggling to tithe regularly, then the voice you’ve been hearing is either coming from your own desire or Satan’s temptation.

Beyond the principles and guidance, Scripture also gives us clear indications of God’s character, style, and approach. While these are more subjective than a specific command like tithing, these hallmarks of God’s guiding hand can be critical tools in discerning His voice in less obvious and more nuanced situations. While God is too big and simply unfathomable to pin down as a personality type (Romans 11:33, Isaiah 55:9), there are clear indicators of His voice that can be gleaned throughout Scripture. Just as important, the hallmarks of what is NOT His voice also materialize out of the preponderance of evidence in Scripture. Whether it’s your own voice or Satan’s sinister attempt to distract or misdirect you, knowing what the Bible indicates is not His voice is equally important.

Before we get into the six hallmarks, also keep in mind that a secondary confirmation of what He’s saying to you can come through the wise counsel of others. But, seeking input from spiritually mature friends, a Christian counselor, or your pastor, should never carry more weight than — or take the place of — direct Biblical confirmation. If God truly said something to you, then He’ll make sure you get confirmation in His Word in some manner. It may come through a Scriptural suggestion from a friend, in a sermon, or a myriad of other ways. But if you keep your heart open to God’s direction and are willing to surrender any of your own wisdom and desires, He will give you a confirmation in His Word, repeatedly in your prayer time, and secondarily through others and circumstances.

Now on to the six hallmarks. When the many Biblical accounts of God speaking are viewed holistically together, certain patterns, tones and defining characteristics emerge to give us these defining features of what His voice sounds like, as well as what it does not.

1. God pushes us out of our comfort zone, without imparting fear, a sense of foreboding, or worry. Only the wisdom of an omniscient (all-knowing) God who loves you beyond your wildest dreams and knows you better than you know yourself, could simultaneously ask you to step out of your comfort zone while giving you a shot of unexpected motivation and courage. When God asks you to do something, most of the time it will be something that you would not naturally want to do or think to do. Whether it’s a simple command to talk to a stranger or to sell something you value more than you should, when God speaks it goes right to the heart of the matter and the Holy Spirit gently but insistently pushes you to obey. And once you step out on faith — and not a moment before then — strength, courage, and peace flow. Philippians 4:6-7 makes it clear that when we are communicating with God, He gives us peace, even when the task at hand is difficult. Jesus said His peace rests upon us always in John 14:27. He wasn’t ambiguous when He said that. If something is from the Holy Spirit, there will be a sense of peace.

2. He uses repetition to get His message through the noise of life and emphasize His point. It’s a universal truth that human beings need to hear something at least seven times to be able to recall it. Seven! Advertisers know this proven fact, and that’s why you can recall some of the most annoying commercials on television. So if God is trying to get your attention, you better believe He is sending the message multiple times and through various ways. Two or three people might mention the same Bible verse to you. You may then sense His leading in prayer about the same thing and then again in the sermon you hear on Sunday. When you notice that a Bible verse, message, or theme starts popping up repeatedly in your life, immediately begin to pay very close attention. Journal about it and begin praying over it. In the Bible, Jesus repeated things of great importance multiple times. In the book of John alone, the word “believe” is repeated more than 100 times, emphasizing the need to place your trust in God before any of what is promised in His Word can manifest itself in your life. When Jesus explained the path of eternal life to Nicodemus, He began by repeating the word “truly” as a way of indicating the supreme importance of paying attention to what He was about to say. John 3:5 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

3. His direction can always be confirmed, but not through circumstances alone. A message from God will always line up with Scripture. If it doesn’t fit with the Bible, then dismiss it immediately, no questions asked. Don’t even entertain the thought or search for a different verse or interpretation to justify what you think you’ve heard. Secondary confirmation can also come through wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14 and 12:15), especially if it has to do with a decision that may not be a question of right or wrong, but more of a case of choosing between two paths, such as whether to accept a new job offer or move to a new location. The Word tells us to seek the counsel of mature, grounded believers to pray with us and ask for discernment. But I’ve learned the hard way, as have many others, to never rely on circumstances or the input of others to make the final confirmation of what you think God said. Evaluating the circumstances in your life and using your own assessment to make a decision based on that alone is no better than reading tea leaves or flipping a coin. In other words, no matter how tempting it is to be guided by obvious circumstances, don’t do it. Charting a course for your life based on what’s happening around you is one of Satan’s best deception tools for Christians because he can veil himself in light and never be noticed until it’s too late.

4. God usually delivers immediate instructions with authority, but not in a compulsive, frantic, random or bargaining manner. While God still chooses to anoint some with the gift of prophecy, most of His communication with us is about everyday dependence on Him. Usually, He gives us just enough instruction for the next step ahead (Psalm 119:105). The Holy Spirit will lead us day by day, not reveal the long term plan. We are to live in the present, not focused on the future. He gives us new mercies each morning, just for the day ahead. As we learn to listen for His voice throughout the day, what He asks us to do will become clearer over time. As we obey in the small things, He gradually gives us bigger things. On the other hand, Satan, or sometimes our own sinful desires, will throw random or frantic ideas at you that are compulsive or hyper-urgent. Satan loves to give you this intense feeling of pressure, like a used car salesman making you believe that if you don’t act now you’ll miss out on the best deal of your life. James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” What an excellent verse for testing everything you hear!

5. He speaks to bring conviction and freedom, not guilt. Learning the difference between the conviction of sin versus guilt and shame is crucial in distinguishing God’s voice from the enemy’s. The Holy Spirit will search your heart, especially in prayer, or in a moment immediately following a sinful act, and He will urge you toward repentance. He will push you to ask for forgiveness. Guilt, on the other hand, is a feeling of condemnation, worthlessness, hopelessness, shame, or a sense that you cannot — or shouldn’t — be forgiven. Think of conviction as a revelation that you’ve done wrong with a clear desire to repent and then move forward in freedom. Guilt is a foreboding, heavy feeling that keeps you from forgetting your sin and past mistakes. Guilt will literally rob you of being effective for Jesus, and that’s precisely Satan’s goal. No matter what you’ve done wrong, there is forgiveness in Jesus. Believe it. Ask for it. Receive the gift and move on. Any voice that makes you want to stay in the pit of guilt is coercing you into rejecting God’s best for you. Romans 8:1 gives us this clear, matter of fact pronouncement: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

6. He speaks to draw you closer to Him and to love others more than yourself. He will never give directions that promote human effort, glory, or favoritism. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment. He replied with, “And He said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” So, God is never going to tell you to do anything that would tear down others or elevate yourself above others. And I am finishing up with this Scripture because it is the one you should repeat to yourself the most, especially when you sense the Holy Spirit leading you to do something in the moment, such as “help that elderly lady with her groceries.” According to Jesus’ words, you have all the confirmation you need to proceed. Other times, of course, you need to wait and seek more specific confirmation. But, again, remember that no message from God is too small to ignore. Even the smallest things could be the most significant in either someone else’s life, or even your own spiritual growth. You may think that He’s giving you “junior” level work to do, but He sees it as building blocks to a plan that He may take decades to unfold in your life. Trust Him. Listen to Him. Walk and learn with humility and a teachable spirit (Proverbs 15:31-33).

One of my favorite authors, John Piper, said God speaks to everyone — not just those who believe. He said, “Oh, unbeliever, God is speaking to you in your pain to warn you, and God is speaking to you in your pleasure to woo you.” But for those who believe, the sacrifice of Jesus turns our pain and suffering into instruments of sanctification, which simply means the process of becoming more holy… more like Jesus little by little. As for our moments of pleasure, with Jesus, they become reminders to praise Him and faint glimmers of the eternal joy that awaits us one day. In either case — in suffering or happiness — the Holy Spirit enables us to live supernaturally by displaying characteristics that could only be from God: humility, joy, gratitude, contentment, and hope in all circumstances. Living in this manner is one of the greatest ways we can speak to others about God. When we become vessels, albeit imperfect ones, that show glimpses of Jesus in everything we do, God speaks through us to a world that so desperately needs to hear Him. And what better way to live, than to not only hear His voice, but also become a conduit for His voice to a desperate and dying world around us?

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide: For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week.
Day 1 - Read Romans 11:33 and Isaiah 55:9. What do these two verse tell you about the nature and character of God? In what ways have you put God in a box? Think of a decision you need to make or wisdom that you need right now in your life. How might your own thoughts or ideas about what should happen or what you should do compare to what God might have in store? Ask God to lead your thoughts and pray for discernment and wisdom that is from Him and not your own.
Day 2 - Recall a time that God has asked you to do something out of your comfort zone. It may be something He whispered to you in the moment or a command in Scripture that makes you nervous or even frustrated. Journal about that experience and then read Mark 10:17-27. Read that passage a second time and substitute your own greatest desire instead of money/possessions. This passage isn’t only about money, it applies to any comfort in life that Jesus asks us to give up to follow Him.
Day 3 - When have you jumped to conclusions about God’s voice or direction in your life based on circumstances? How did things turn out when you did? Based on today’s message, write down and commit to memorizing a Bible verse that spoke to you about seeking confirmation in God’s Word rather than analyzing your situation or listening to other people’s guidance.
Day 4 - Which of the six hallmarks of God’s voice resonated with you the most at this point in your life? How has your obedience to His word impacted your ability to experience God or discern this particular hallmark? Read John 14:23 and James 1:22. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict your heart of any disobedience in your life.
Day 5 - Spend some time meditating on Matthew 22:36-40. Ask the Holy Spirit how He might be calling you to love others more. After spending some time in prayer, in what ways do you sense God leading you to serve others more? How do you think doing so will enable you to hear His voice more clearly? Write them and make an action plan to follow through.

Additional recommended resources for learning to hear God’s voice:
The Art of Listening Prayer, Seth Barnes
Discerning the Voice of God, Priscilla Shirer

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