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I'm Listening

1/25/2023

2 Comments

 
Speak Lord, your servant is listening.  Samuel 3:9

I am 20 days into my 30 minutes for 30 days challenge and every day there is a little something that settles into my mind or heart.  Along with those four lines; wreck me, break me, change me, draw me tight I often find myself asking, “Lord, what was I born to do?”  That seems like a strange question for someone my age but it’s been a good one to ponder. I haven’t had that experience of hearing the voice of God speak like James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman but he’s sent me some thoughts through the most random places.  I thought I’d share three of my favorites.

One day I was thinking about heaven and what was truly required to get there.  I realized that sometimes I have a “minimum requirement” way of thinking.  I know we’re all busy and we’re encouraged to live our best life but I spent some time asking the questions in my mind and heart.  Less than an hour after leaving church I came across this quote that seemed pretty direct. “ We often hear life is short better enjoy it. But how about eternity is long better prepare for it.” That advanced my thoughts beyond minimum requirements.

A couple of days later I was feeling like I should be “doing” something during these 30 minutes.  I should be reading Scripture or praying or studying or pouring out my heart to the Lord.  I was having a hard time just being still and listening.  I actually left the church that day saying, “Lord if this is really what I’m supposed to be doing I need you to let me know that you want me to keep it up.”  I came home, opened up my computer and came across this quote from Fulton Sheen. “Most commit the same mistake with God they commit with their friends; they do all the talking.”  That was pretty clear so I absolutely went back the next day!

The third very vivid way He made his point came after three days of wrestling with the “break me” part of my prayer.  I asked Him to show me all the things that I needed Him to break away from my heart and my habits. He showed me a whole list of things and I began to justify and realized this was going to take a lot of work, prayer and discipline on my part.  I thought about changes but they were small because I didn’t want to get too uncomfortable.  I didn’t want to make things too hard and I was all about the small steps approach.  I knew this part of the prayer would take a whole lot of work and again I began to justify and ask the question, “Ok God, seriously, that isn’t that bad right?”  The very next day this is what I came across while working on a retreat I will be giving in a couple of weeks.  “Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sins, they just want to be saved from the penalty of their sins.”  I think I’m going to have to turn up the heat!

He's making it pretty clear that He’s listening…now to get down to the business of putting his direction into action.

A Seed To Plant:  Be intentional in your prayer this week and spend more time asking God a question and then really being quiet to hear the answer.
​
 Blessings on your day!
 
 
2 Comments
Patty
1/25/2023 03:26:50 pm

Sheri, your starting out the year with some tough stuff. Sometimes I don't want to ask the questions because I'm not sure I'll like the answer. It usually involves making some changes which is hard and I'm sure very much needed. Love your blog, keep pushing us up the steps to heaven.

Reply
Michele
1/26/2023 08:49:42 am

Hello Sheri! Will you be sharing the complete meaning for your prayer: “Wreck me. Break me. Change me. Draw me tight.”? You touched on break me in this post but I really would like to know about the rest. I'm so grateful for your posts. Thank you!

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