Listen To Your Intuition

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

Years ago James Robison the Evangelist shared how we should not always ignore or push aside our desires or cravings. He was craving chocolate milk and decided to find a place that sold it and came across a convenience store. He stopped and as he got out of the car he noticed a group of tenagers crying and upset in the parking lot. He went over to them and asked what was wrong. One of their friends had just died and they were grieving. James was able to comfort them and witness to the teenagers about Jesus. All because of a desire for chocolate milk.

At times the Holy Spirit will try to get our attention. We may have a sudden desire or craving and though sometimes we should push it aside. At other times we should take a moment to examine and discern if the prompting is not from our flesh but something the Holy Spirit is trying to get our attention with. 

Then there are times the Holy Spirit will bring someone to mind that we should visit or pray for. Examine the promptings, desires, and ideas that come into your mind. While frequently we should rid our mind of them, we do not want to fail to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Occasionally the Holy Spirit just wants to bring a blessing your way. I’ve followed promptings that have brought me blessings I would not have otherwise received. Perhaps you can say the same thing. God might also be trying to keep you out of danger by directing you down a different path than the one you are traveling.

As we grow in faith and learn to listen to and recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit we will not only receive more blessings in our own life, but will be a greater blessing to others as well.

Too often in prayer we do all the talking and none of the listening. And yet, God is the One who has all the answers to our prayers. Usually at the end of my prayers I will ask the Lord if there is anything He wants me to know, and sometimes there is. If you are concerned that what you are hearing or sensing is not from God, be sure to measure everything you sense or every impression by the Bible. God would never guide you in a way that is outside of His revealed will as found in the Bible. And as you grow in your faith and walk with God you will better recognize His guidance and voice.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Pray and listen. And do not quickly set aside every impression or idea. God could be trying to guide or get your attention with it.

Dear Lord, help us to discern the things that come into our heart and mind and learn to recognize Your will and guidance. Amen.

Be Good To Your Soul

“My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” Psalm 6:3

    When you are at your worst physically or mentally, when your mood is dark, when illness is ravaging your body, these things take a toll on your soul.

    Constant wear and tear, ongoing stress on your body or mind can wear you down. Too often I find myself in the midst of such times. The Lord has cautioned me to take care of my soul and spirit. We need to feed good things into our life when everything else in our life is going wrong.

    Of course the most important positive item in restoring your soul is the word of God. Reading the Bible, and good preaching and teaching is essential. If you are too tired to read the Word, then lie down and listen to it being read on youtube, or a Bible app. There are many means to do so now.

    If you are too ill to attend church, there is good preaching and teaching on the internet, radio, and available to stream online. Start refreshing your soul with the Word of God.

    Beyond the Word there is good music. Music is a great tool to stir your soul and lift your spirit. Then there are good books about faith and religion, as well as uplifting novels. And if you are very selective, you can find good things on television that lifts your soul.

    What you can’t afford to do during times of great physical and mental stress is to feed depressing, negative, critical, unfruitful things into your soul.

    Be good to your soul! Bless your own soul, and you will be in better shape to bless others. You neglect your soul to your own peril. Recall the things that blessed you in the past and revisit them. Bless your soul!

    Prayer: Dear Lord, when we are at our lowest, we need You to lift us higher. And help us to bless our own soul. Amen.