How to Hear from God

Lovely friends Jean Wise, James Watkins, and Dee Stark
at the Taylor University Professional Writers Conference August 2016

When I returned from a writers conference, I bubbled with excitement as I told my friend, Loretta about my experience there. My words splashed out, filling the front seat of her car as we travelled to lunch and I shared with her my commitment to write for an hour a day. 

           
“I am thrilled for you,” Loretta said, “But I feel strongly that you’re to do something more than writing each day.”  A holy quiet embraced me. My heart picked up its beat. Because she chose each word carefully, I sensed the Holy Spirit was about to speak through Loretta. God usually tiptoes in when He has something significant to say. He rarely hollers and waves His arms. I shut up and listened.

“In order to write well, Jeanette, you need to spend time simply sitting still. Part of your ministry of communicating God’s love to people will be in those moments you are listening. You can’t hear from God unless you are quiet.”

Wow.

I knew the Lord was not chiding me for talking too much. He was simply telling me to listen more. I already know everything I know. If I want to take His message of hope to sagging hearts, I must be still with Him long enough to fill my own sagging heart.

I know it was God who spoke through Loretta. Yet, practicing what He preached has not been easy. I was born talking, working, and trying to motivate others. How can I change from a ‘human doing’ to a ‘human being’?

The same way I was born again. By His potent, loving grace.

Do you have a Loretta in your life, someone who speaks the wisdom of God into your thirsty soul? If so, give him or her a hug or a chocolate bar.      

A Hypocrite's Prayer

I am a Hypocrite

Lord, I write about grace, preach to others on grace, yet struggle with waves of doubt, and wonder if I am good enough to receive your favor.

I write about laughter, fill my stories with chuckles to bring others to places of joy, yet sink in despair. I cover my face in my hands and weep for grief that I’ve disappointed You, worry that my babies are hurting, or rail over the state of our nation.

I am a hypocrite, Lord. Rescue me from my untruthful self. Am I full of grace, sharing with others, or trying to convince myself? Am I brimming with joy and want others to join me in the dance, or trying to help myself up from my own pit?



Fix Me, Please

You know me, and what how best to fix me and make me true. Will you fix me, please? I can't fix myself.

When I measure me by the standard I’ve set for me, I am crooked, broken, a mess. So I need You to measure me by the standard You have set for me, and show me how You see me.

Only then can I be whole and free to share with others the real me—the me I am becoming through Your love.



 

Dancing with Abandon

Only then will I write words that speak of grace from a full heart, laughter from a full soul. I will dance with abandon and others will join me.

Amen.

This is a prayer I wrote during a class at the Indianapolis Writers Conference last weekend. I love the concept of written prayers. They not only reveal our heart to ourselves and lift our thoughts to God, but help others grow.

Do you write your prayers? How does it help you in your walk with God?