Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God (p. 9). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) God can and does use different ways to speak to us and one of them is a whisper. Mark says, “My dictionary defines whisper as ‘speaking very softly using one’s breath without one’s vocal cords. The use of breath instead of vocal cords is significant. Isn’t that how God created Adam? He whispered into the dust and named it Adam. Adam was once a whisper. So were you. So was everything else.” He goes on, “Whispering is typically employed for the sake of secrecy. No form of communication is more intimate. And it seems to be God’s preferred method… When someone speaks in a whisper, you have to get very close to hear. In fact, you have to put your ear near the person’s mouth. We lean toward a whisper, and that’s what God wants. The goal of hearing the heavenly Father’s voice isn’t jus...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God (p. 2). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) So how are your problems going today?  Do you need some solutions?   Mark says, “It’s also the key to discovering our destiny and fulfilling our potential. His voice is love. His voice is power. His voice is healing. His voice is wisdom. His voice is joy.” Mark goes on, “If your life is off-key, maybe it’s because you’ve been deafened by the negative self-talk that doesn’t let God get a Word in edgewise! Maybe you’ve listened to the voice of criticism so long you can’t believe anything else about yourself. Or maybe it’s the Enemy’s voice of condemnation that speaks lies about who you really are. If you don’t silence those competing voices, they’ll eventually deafen you. You won’t be able to sing God’s song because you won’t be able to hear His voice. “Is God’s voice...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Divine Direction: 7 Decisions That Will Change Your Life (p. 66). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Do you feel you have stalled out in living the story of your life?   Is there something that you are doing that is holding you back, that is blocking your path? The writer to the Hebrews in 12:1-2 (NASB) says, “Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Craig says, “What is the one thing that’s restricting you, hindering the story you want to tell? Lay it aside. One translation says, ‘throw it off.’” He goes on, “This ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Divine Direction: 7 Decisions That Will Change Your Life (p. 55). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But that isn’t always the case, is it? Craig continues, “But there were plenty of times when I didn’t, when I spoke without thinking first or acted on impulse or reacted without weighing the consequences. I can’t tell you how many times I found myself reaping what I sowed, dealing with the consequences of yet another bad decision. ‘If only I could go back and do it over! I wish I hadn’t done that.’” He says, “One of the best decisions we can make when feeling an impulse or facing a high-stakes dilemma is simply to stop. Take a time-out. Hit pause. Sleep on it. Think it over. Get some godly wisdom from people you trust. “During this interval, visualize what’s likely to happen with each of your options.… I try to picture the likely consequences of my options. I take stock ...