Just Listen

you know as i read over my blog entry from friday night, i am just so surprised how quickly i can get in league with what the enemy is doing. satan comes as a thief - to steal, kill, and destroy. he is also described as coming as an angel of light. he is so sneaky and tricky, and it is easy to be skunked by him.

but that is why the Bible is so important - it gives wisdom and instruction. in that book we can find the answer we need for each moment. and then there is the voice of God. God loves to talk. He has a still, small voice so a person has to quiet them self and listen closely. the knowledge of what is right and what is unselfish - that is usually the voice of God. i have heard it said often that people feel like they are in the desert - they can't hear what they should do. i am going to make a blanket statement - because i don't know each and every situation. if you can't hear what you should do and you have been praying for God to show you what to do. be still, know that He is God (there is no one else that can answer you with what you truly need....) and listen better. quiet the worry, concern, all the things that pop into your mind, and calm the emotional. like i said satan is tricky and he uses ANYTHING to distract us from God's word and His voice.

i see it like this. God sent His Son, Jesus, to stand in my place and give me the ability to come to Him for anything. when i believe that Jesus took my wrong doings, all that i would mess up, upon Himself, He actually made me okay to be in relationship with my Creator. soooo that leads me to believe that God really wants to be friends with me. that He really wants me to know what is on His heart and how i should behave. He did not go to all that "trouble", sending His Son to die for me, just so i could keep being confused and wonder what the heck i am supposed to do in this life. HE WANTS TO TALK TO ME... and i am not talking about this audible voice booming directions. i find that i don't "hear voices" but i know when wisdom is being put into the situation and i want to follow what is wise.

i.e. if someone says something stupid and hurts my feelings, wisdom would say that there is a bigger issue and it may have nothing to do with me. so i should not blast that person because i may be misunderstanding the situation. most likely even if the person has a "problem" with me it really is not about me but something within them they are battling... and since hurt can become a big issue in my heart, i need to get rid of it as soon as possible. so wisdom says "let it go and let healing come into your heart". that is so much better than carrying around the chip of hurt. it gets heavy and makes me hard to be around.

that is the way i hear God at times. and sometimes i really believe i hear in my conscience - "becca, back off. this is my deal and you don't need to get involved." like i said not an audible voice, just like a knowing inside that i need to extract myself from the situation asap and let God do some work.

so what is this post about? well, i guess i am finding it is very easy to believe a lie when i am letting hurt and pain restrict my life. so, friday's blog was for me too. i can not let my junk get in the way of what God is trying to do in my life and with my marriage. i must trust Him to work things out and keep myself focused on Him and getting rid of the stuff that has been stopping me from trusting Him and living a life that shows how wonderful God is.

i have been holding part of my heart from my husband. very rarely being the loving, easy-going, fun person that God made me to be. i am lighthearted, but i don't let it show. i am beautiful, but i would not believe it. not until God did some major work in me. i am amazed at how i can view myself now, because of a wonderful work God has done. He is actually changing the way i see life. bringing a lightness to my viewpoint. and best of all i am trusting Him with things i have held so dearly (and messed up so horribly i might add..).

there is a freedom in letting go of what i so dearly want to hold onto. and it is an almost daily decision. but you know what? God gave me some specific desires, and promised to bring them to pass. and when He promises something, it will happen, no matter what the eyes see. that is why it is specifically said to not walk by sight but by faith.

faith is believing when it looks like things are hopeless. God never makes things look hopeless - that is the enemy. i know i have complete authority over satan because Jesus stripped his power when He died on that cross. therefore i have hope of things i don't see (marriage being healed, children being born, becoming a meek and gentle woman) and trust that God will make them come true, i only have to be obedient to what His word says and what i hear Him say to me. and when i blow it, i can ask forgiveness and healing allowing Him to restore. His grace is so beautiful, and He gives mercy every day. i have hope.

so i am not focusing on the wrongs i am doing - that would just get overwhelming. and i am not ignoring them. but i am asking for change to happen. and God is so loving when He makes changes in me. He points out my behavior or the attitude that is wrong. then He shows me what a better choice is. then He GIVES me the strength to make that decision. amazing, He does practically all of it. well technically, i think He does it all, because He gives me the courage to make the decision and the desire to have the change. oh and He has had to yank my chain too. i get so stubborn and immature - thinking my way is best or He is taking too long, or even that i just don't want to do what is best. but He is so loving, even in that correction. He draws us to change because His love is so great.

if you are struggling with a situation the most important thing is to realize you can't do it but God can. and if you are willing to trust Him to work in the situation, and use you - even if you only can trust that He wants to work in the situation, things will change. God is Healer, Redeemer, Restoration, Peace, Patience, Love, Joy, Comfort, Father and Mother to the orphan, able to meet every need, Hope in hopelessness. He is all that and more. quit struggling alone and call out to Him, He is right here already.