There are days I seem to have thoughts and questions mulling about in my mind constantly. If I were to attempt to paint a picture of what this seems like it would probably look like a highway or more so, like a four way intersection.
Options can lie before me adding to the turmoil already existing in my head. And the questions are many …
- What should I do?
- Which way do I go?
- What is God’s will in this for me?
- What if I make the wrong decision?
- How will I know if I have made the right decision?
- What school should I attend? Who should I marry? Which job should I pursue? Should I start a family now? Which house should I buy?
And the list can be endless.
Then there are the days when the nudging happens inside of me. Maybe you have experienced them as well …
- Make the call.
- Send the card.
- Bring a meal over.
- Go talk to that person.
- Tell the stranger, “Jesus loves them.”
Whether with the questions (and their answers), or with the nudgings, I always wonder how I can be certain it is from God.
Isaiah tells us this, “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, NLT). Isaiah assures me of three things:
- God will instruct His people. He will tell us Himself and we will know it is Him.
- God will no longer be distant. He will be right behind us.
- He will actively be guiding. He gives clear directions, each day, to guide us throughout our lives.
God guides His people today through His Holy Spirit, Whom resides in us, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13, NLT)). God has not left us to figure life out on our own. He has given us His Word and His Spirit to engage with us.
May we not harden our hearts to hear His voice when He speaks to us.
May we respond to the nudgings, obeying as He asks and leads.
We need to listen to …
The Voice within.
Today I am joining … Three Word Wednesday and Tell His Story and Wedded Wednesday and Works For Me and Women With Intention .
“Whether with the questions (and their answers), or with the nudgings, I always wonder how I can be certain it is from God.”
When I feel these nudgings, I always assume it’s Him if the situation aligns with His Word. Now, do I always WANT to follow these nudging? No – but that’s also the selfish part of me. I need to work on that. 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I’m visiting from Women With Intention!
You have given the perfect litmus test – if it aligns with His Word, it is Him nudging. May we have hearts that are willing to follow. So glad you stopped & shared that. May you have a blessed Easter!
Great post and I love your Wednesdays with Winnie! I think we spend too much time focusing on whether the question or nudging is from God that we lose sight of what God is trying to tell us. I love the comment above that says she assumes the nudgings are from God is they align with His word. Hmmm! I like that perspective. Have a blessed Easter Joanne!
Mary, like you, I thought the previous comment provided us with a wonderful litmus test – if the nudging aligns with God’s Word, it must be Him. May you have a blessed Easter!
Joanne, I’ve been thinking a lot the last week or two about listening to God. And listening or attending to those “inner nudges” is important. I love that Isaiah scripture. It’s so reassuring that we CAN hear his voice! Blessings on your Easter!
Betsy, it is wonderful reassurance that we can hear His voice. This week I read Psalm 85:8, “I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.” May we be women who listen carefully. May you & yours have a blessed Easter!
Have you run into Jesus . . . Continued by J.D Greear? He does such a great job helping the Christian to discern the voice of the Spirit. It’s something I struggle with and found the book to be very helpful and freeing.
Michele, thank you for the book recommendation. I am going to check that one out. May you have a blessed Easter!
“God has not left us to figure life out on our own.” –> AMEN. I’m so grateful for that. And for your words today.
Left to myself, I do not think I would be able to figure anything out. He is the only One who makes sense of it all. Kristin, may you & yours have a blessed Easter!
Wonderful! Love that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and that God is so involved in our lives – if we can just tune in to hear Him and then say “yes” when He calls.
So very true, Kathryn. Just this week I read Psalm 85:6, “I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.” May we be listening carefully. Have a blessed Easter!
The power of the Holy Spirit and the ability to be still enough to hear Him and strong enough to obey – you’ve captured it so well here, Joanne.
Thank you, Tiffany. Trying to learn this & apply it more faithfully to my life. May you & yours have a blessed Easter!
I’ve battled with the same thoughts! Thanks for the encouragement and for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! 🙂
It is always wonderful to join you on Wednesdays. Thank you for hosting & growing an encouraging community. Blessings!