Guidance (2)
Tuesday 4th December 2018
'Test everything; hold on to what is good.' 1 Thessalonians 5:21 GWT
God doesn't always speak to us in the ways we think he will. He can definitely guide us through the Bible, but he may guide us with an image that keeps reappearing or a picture that shows us what's ahead. He may speak to us in prophetic words, or guide our feelings. If we're not used to hearing God's voice in different ways, it can be challenging to work out whether it's him speaking or not.
The better we know someone, the easier it is to recognise and know their voice. We can get to know God through spending time with him and getting to know him intimately. And when his Spirit prompts us to do something, or shows us something, or someone gives us a prophetic word, we need to discern whether it's from God. The Bible says: 'Don't put out the Spirit's fire. Don't despise what God has revealed. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil' (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 GWT). And once we've tested it, we need to carry it out.
The apostle Jude said, 'I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith' (Jude v.3 NIV). Those words - 'I felt compelled to' - are the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. And Jude knew he had to write. So when we get that prompting, we need to listen and respond.
So what now? Spend time talking to God about any decisions you need to make. Write down anything you feel he's saying to you.
Tuesday 4th December 2018
'Test everything; hold on to what is good.' 1 Thessalonians 5:21 GWT
God doesn't always speak to us in the ways we think he will. He can definitely guide us through the Bible, but he may guide us with an image that keeps reappearing or a picture that shows us what's ahead. He may speak to us in prophetic words, or guide our feelings. If we're not used to hearing God's voice in different ways, it can be challenging to work out whether it's him speaking or not.
The better we know someone, the easier it is to recognise and know their voice. We can get to know God through spending time with him and getting to know him intimately. And when his Spirit prompts us to do something, or shows us something, or someone gives us a prophetic word, we need to discern whether it's from God. The Bible says: 'Don't put out the Spirit's fire. Don't despise what God has revealed. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil' (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 GWT). And once we've tested it, we need to carry it out.
The apostle Jude said, 'I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith' (Jude v.3 NIV). Those words - 'I felt compelled to' - are the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. And Jude knew he had to write. So when we get that prompting, we need to listen and respond.
So what now? Spend time talking to God about any decisions you need to make. Write down anything you feel he's saying to you.
