Tag: voice

Raised Hands

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But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

When worshiping the Lord, we often raise our hands.

Why? Absolute surrender. Acknowledging God is God and we are not.

Proclaiming His holiness. Bringing ourselves to Him as an offering.

As we lift our hands to heaven in worship, God comes down.

Psalm 22:3 reminds us God inhabits our praise. Chooses to manifest His glory and power amid our worship.

Picture your hands raised to heaven.

As your voice lifts your song in worship, God reaches down to you.

His hands clasp yours, filling you with Himself.

He receives your worship as His glory comes down to you.

A holy exchange.

That picture jumped into my head today as we worshipped at church.

If I could bring you into my head, you’d get the full picture I wish I could correctly share.

It was beautiful. Comforting. Full of strength.

God longs to fill us with more of Him.

He is so worthy to be praised.

The next time you sing in worship to Him, raise those hands.

Give Him all of you as He reaches down to give you more of Him.

Photos by Jake Hill, Steve Adams, Jametlene Reskp, & Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash

Assignment

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And God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us. 1 John 4:13

God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, the Helper Jesus mentioned.

What is God asking you to do today?

What is God asking you to say today?

Who is God asking you to trust today?

When God nudges you, listen.

When God asks you to do something for Him, obey.

That still, small voice deep inside your head is God.

That decision you know you need to make.

That phone call you should dial.

That friendly hug you should share.

What is your assignment today from God?

If you pause, you just might miss it.

You might miss that blessing God has for you and the other person.

That surprise behind the door of obedience.

Don’t hesitate to obey the whispers of God.

He’s asking you today if you will.

Photos by Skyler Ewing on Unspla

That Sneaking Feeling

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But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

You know that feeling?

The one that says you should do something?

That nagging suspicion you should comply with?

If it’s for any sort of reconciliation or compliance with God’s way for you, that’s the Holy Spirit.

He’s whispering to you what you know you should do.

So do you do it?

Why not?

Pride.

Wanting to satisfy your pitiful flesh instead of humbling yourself.

Very tempting, I know.

It’s our natural tendency to feed our flesh instead of what God wants us to do.

Conflict within ourselves is when there’s a choice: our flesh or God.

Helps to remember a couple things.

First, life is so temporary.

The moments we have are fleeting and will never return.

Should we make those moments count, bettering our future?

Or fill the moments with ourself on the throne, never getting those wasted moments back?

And second, as God sees us behaving, what do you want to show Him?

An ungrateful attitude or someone who is learning to put others first?

Do you want to grieve the heart of God or help Him smile?

You could also flip that.

Do you want your actions to cause a win for the Enemy or make it even harder for him to have you?

That little small voice deep inside our head is the Holy Spirit.

He’s there, helping you know exactly what next to do.

The questions is, will you?

Will you listen or keep ignoring Him?

Photos by Luca Zanon, 青 晨, Robert V. Ruggiero, & Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Walking From Above

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But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Do you know how God sees you?

Do you know about your assured value?

Daughter of the King. Son of the Most High.

Chosen. Valued. Loved.

Do you live like that matters?

It’s hard on earth, yes?

It’s hard when life is cluttered with noise.

Noise from frustrating situations.

That noise can become louder than the voice of God.

It regularly reduces us to our emotional state of mind instead of relying on our sound mind from God.

Are you shrinking down, low enough to be surrounded by the noise of this earth?

Or are you rising tall, listening instead to the voice of God?

When you look up and remember, the noise of the world fades away as you listen to who God says you are.

Not in an arrogant ignoring your duties kind of way.

But living with renewed purpose.

With a smile on your face.

Because He knows.

He cares, and He is never leaving your side.

Picture yourself in a beautiful gown.

Or if you’re a guy, fitted in a brand new suit.

You are clean and fresh, standing tall in your new clothing.

You stand up. And as you keep your face towards Gods, you grow taller and taller.

Suddenly, the things of this world are tiny as you rise above.

The noise fades and all you hear is God’s whispered words of love over you.

You walk around, barely noticing the cares of this world, as you walk while under His provision.

You are more than the longings of this world.

You are more than the problems of this world.

You are more than the issues you will always need to face.

You are more because you are His.

Stand tall. Rise above.

Photos by Chelsea Bock, Dave Hoefler, Jack Sloop, & Ion Fet on Unsplash

Voice

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And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. Ruth 3:11

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How loud is your voice?

Have you forgotten how it sounds?

When you are faced with disappointment, does your voice disappear completely as you become invisible?

Find it.

It’s there.

Somewhere deep inside.

Don’t think you can?

Why?

Are you feeling defeated?

Like you don’t count or can’t be loved?

Those are lies and you know what to do with those:  throw them out!

When those thoughts enter your precious brain, refuse them.

You are worth it.

Say that out loud.

I am worth it.

There.

I knew your voice was in there somewhere.

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Your voice becomes rusty when you haven’t used it for awhile.

When letting people run all over you has become a daily habit.

Sometimes, when life has beaten you down, your voice becomes hidden.

Like a precious jewel.

Uncover it.

God made your voice.

And it’s beautiful.

Do you believe me?

You should.

Your voice is a melody unique to you.

Your thoughts and opinions are from your precious self.

God created you to be a strong, loving, kind person.

You must use your voice to become the person God intended.

When something is troubling you, say something.

When you have an opinion, voice it.

You are worth it.

I know -I’m naturally a people-pleaser, and I literally hate it when others are mad at me.

Well, that’s fine, but I cannot let that desire to please others squelch my voice.

Squelch who I am.

God gave me my voice for a reason, and I must stand up for myself.

So should you.

Be nice about it of course.

Using your voice is not meant to be in anger or an irritation to yourself and others.

It’s merely speaking up for yourself.

Making your thoughts known to your loved ones.

Did someone upset you?

Speak up.

Nicely.

Use that voice.

Your relationships will become rich with meaning and your emotions will be at peace.

Ask God to continue changing you into the precious child He created you to be.

Ask Him to full His purpose in you, and that includes not being a wall flower, I promise you!

Practice in the mirror.

Then flash that pretty smile and speak.

Photos by Madison Bersuch, wenkui xiao, Alex Lopez, & Ben White on Unsplash

Fear

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For I am the Lord your god who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

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That one.

I’ll take her.

She looks like an easy target.

I’ll whisper a lie into her head and wait for her response.

Should I tell her no one really likes her and she’ll never measure up

or

should I remind her of all her recent sins, convincing her she’s trash?

Eh, doesn’t matter.

Either lie is believable.

Oh good.

She took it.

Believed it, too!

You can tell by her mood, which has plummeted downward.

Oh, and the tears.

I’ll come back again tomorrow, whispering another lie.

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Wow, it worked!

This is seriously almost too easy.

Destroying people with lies is amazingly simple.

You say this girl is a Christian?

Well, glad she’s not walking in God’s truth.

If she was, she would declare my words a lie.

Does she even know Whose power is hers?

Thankfully, she seems to have forgotten.

My job is done.

She looks defeated, no longer able to fulfill God’s plan for her.

Score, I win again!!!!

Time to find another victim.

I’ll return now and then, making sure she’s still under my thumb.

Who knew my job as Fear would be so dang easy?

Photos by Michael Mouritz ,Soragrit Wongsa , Jeremy Perkins , & Eric Ward on Unsplash

 

Voice of God

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. Psalm 25:12

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How do you listen to God?

Are your hands open, always ready to receive?

You can listen to Him during prayer, not merely filling every moment with your voice, but also sitting still in His presence.

He can also speak to you during sermons or while reading something that strikes you as profound, resonating with your spirit, which is God’s.

As I was listening to my eldest daughter yesterday, I heard Him speak through her.

It was advice I knew myself to be true, but this time I knew He was speaking to me.

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Are you listening?

He can whisper words of life through your spouse.

He can remind you of His peace when life looks bleak.

He can direct your path through confirmation of circumstances.

He can convict you through any means necessary.

God wants to share His thoughts and plans with you.

He wants to be your Shepherd.

But you must seek Him.

Seek Him through devotions and prayer.

Declare yourself His.

And then listen.

Listen for His voice.

Feel His peace through your obedience to Him.

And smile when He confirms the plans He has for you.

I’ve never heard God’s audible voice.

However, I have known beyond a shadow of a doubt that He has spoken to me countless times.

And yesterday was one.

Listen always for the voice of God.

He will not disappoint.

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Photos by Luis Poletti ,Casey Horner , & Annie Spratt on Unsplash