“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:5-6; KJV)

God has a plan for each of our lives (Ps 139:14-16) and he wants to guide and direct us. In the apostle John’s gospel, chapter 10 and verse 27, we read that God’s sheep (us) hear his voice. God does not speak to our minds but our spirits (our consciences or spiritual hearts) by way of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14; Rom 8:16). The Holy Spirit can do this by bringing our attention to scriptures (John 16:13-14) but also by simply dropping thoughts into our spirit (Rom 9:1). How do we know this is God? Well, in the word we read that God’s wisdom is peaceable (James 3:17). The thoughts God brings us will come with a sense of peace and assurance, so that we know that it is God.

Now for most of us our minds are often so busy it is difficult to hear from God. Much like the football quarter back trying to get instructions to his team when the crowd watching the game are yelling. We need to still our minds and we can do this by renewing them in God’s word (Rom 12:2); reading it, speaking it and meditating it, so that our minds are focused on God and at peace. This takes time and effort and it is an ongoing process. We can hear from God.

Jean and I had a very major decision to make some time ago and we set ourselves to hear from God. We spent several months praying, each on our own, then we compared what God had given each of us and we had heard the same in every detail; praise God. God also speaks to us in other ways but the approaches we have discussed today are the most important ones.  Sit and rest with God today and let him talk to you. It’s wonderful.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). God set laws in place that govern our lives and cannot be changed. Without Christ we live under the curse of the fall of man. Adam sinned and this brought spiritual death to us all (1 Cor 15:22). We are spirit beings and we live in bodies and have souls, our minds, wills and emotions (1 Thess 5:23). When we accept Christ as our savior the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us to bring new life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:11) and our spirits are made new, are born again (John 3:1-7). Our bodies and souls are not born again but have to be renewed and disciplined (1 Cor 9:27; Rom 12:2).

But the kicker hear is that we have to make the decision to walk in the Spirit, be led by the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to change us (Rom 8:14). Paul describes the battle between his flesh (body and soul) and his spirit in the 7th chapter of Romans; his spirit wanting to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and his flesh rebelling. However, he goes on to say that in Christ we have the victory (Rom 8:1-2). It’s a decision, we can choose to be carnally minded and operate in the soulish realm or we can choose to be spiritually minded, to allow our spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, to govern our lives and decisions (Rom 8:6).

Often our first reaction to a situation is to wrestle in our minds and react, bringing turmoil. But look at verse 6 of Romans Chapter 8: “To be spiritually minded is life and peace”. O Lord, help us to learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit speaks to our spirits. How do we know it is the Holy Spirit speaking? Well that guidance, that inner voice (1 kings 19:12) or sense of conviction (Rom 9:1), will be full of peace (James 3:17). We need to read our bibles, pray and let the Holy Spirit rule our spirits and lives, the results are awesome.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:6-8; KJV).

The Lord showed me in a very vivid dream that most Christians struggle with operating in the spirit realm or in God’s ways and under his direction. We lapse far too much into operating in the flesh or under the dictates of our own minds without checking in with God, or we just plain do things our way. Life is hard and fraught with struggle and failures when we do it our way.

When we were born again it is was spirits that were made new (John 3:4-5) not our souls or bodies. The word says we have to bring our bodies under (1 Cor 9:27) and renew our minds with God’s word so they can be directed by God through our spirit (Rom 12:2; Prov 20:27). God wants to direct us into the path he has for us (Prov 3:5-6), he desires ongoing communion with us so we can walk in the life he enjoys and, in his peace, (Rom 8:14; John 10:10).

We need to try it God’s way today, check in with him, get his direction for our days; it will be good and o my, his peace is beyond all understanding and guards our minds and our hearts (Phil 4:7).

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

Sometimes when I listen to amazing music I am moved, I imagine that the composer must have been inspired by God. I realize that I am not merely listening with my physical ears but with my heart, my spirit. So often we listen but we do not hear; we look but we do not see. Why is this? It’s because we only hear with our physical ears and see with our physical eyes (Isa 6:9-10).

We need to see and hear as God himself does, with our spirit, our heart (1 Sam 16:7; Luke 24:32). This is when God can speak to us Spirit to spirit (Prov 20:27; Rom 8:16), through his word (John 14:26; Rom 2:15), through people (Prov 11:14), his creation (Rom 1:20) and music he inspires; this is when we can be truly changed. How often we do not change when we hear so much of God’s word and see and hear so much of him but only with our physical ears and eyes.

For a few moments in our busyness we need to try to focus on God, on heaven, and leave our soul to rest. Allow God to arrest you, envelope you in his peace and love you, speak to your heart and change you from glory to glory, holiness to holiness. I encourage you to close your eyes, listen to some of your favorite music, gaze at a beautiful picture or simply enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and meditate on the goodness of God. Allow him to speak to you and truly impact and change you. My, how the church needs truly changed Christians, people sold out for him. 

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Ps 119:130; KJV). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps 119:105) We all need specific direction and guidance in our lives and according to these verses one of the ways in which God can lead and direct us is through his word. As Christians, prayerfully reading and studying the word will allow the Holy Spirit to bring illumination and reveal things to our spirits that would not be possible to the natural mind (John 14:26).

Keep reading the word, even in the dry times. God promised that: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa 55:11).

In addition to studying the word we can pray for guidance. God can speak directly to our spirits in a: “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11); an idea, a scripture or words that well up silently in our spirits with a sense of peace and assurance (James 3:17). If we are unsure as to what God is saying we need to seek counsel from our Pastor or someone who is a mature and seasoned Christian (Pr 24:6).  

If we are praying for guidance and are still unsure which path to take, then we need to keep doing what God told us last until we have an assurance that it's time to change direction.

Always remember that God does have a plan for our lives and it's a good one; we just need to discover it (Ps 139:16).

I think God is guiding you to pass this on to someone. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.