Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday, a day for me to spend some time turning toward God. Please feel free to join me on this journey each Thursday with Holly Mueller and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is Listen, the one little word from Carol at Beyond Literacy.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
This is probably a familiar verse for many. It is certainly one of my favorites. As I continue to read Spirit Hunger by Gari Meacham, I am inspired once again. I wrote last week about God's timing and how hard it is to wait for an answer. It is during those long waiting times when many of us get discouraged or disheartened, and sometimes the spiritual journey takes a pause. We start doubting and thinking God doesn't hear us, and He doesn't listen.
I find comfort listening to this verse, to know that yes, God does have a plan for me. Even if that plan is not our plan. But Gari says the words that follow this verse are the ones that "hold the punch."
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
We need to remember that a future filled with hope doesn't just happen. We have to do our part in seeking God and praying for our future. The real comfort lies in that He is always listening to us, even when we think He isn't. In turn, we need to listen for God's voice to guide us along the way.
We seek.
We search.
We pray.
He listens.
Update - I just returned from our teacher devotional/Bible study this morning and the lesson was about listening to God's whisper. I love God moments.
What a connection, Leigh Anne, from writing a post to being part of a community devotional. you listened and God whispered. God moments is such a great term for our energized sharing moments with our Savior. Please continue to share more of Spirit Hunger because I do not have enough hours in my days to accomplish all I would like to do. Thank you for sharing your perspective on my OLW listen.
ReplyDeleteI love God moments, too! This is an important thought: "We need to remember that a future filled with hope doesn't just happen. We have to do our part in seeking God and praying for our future." That's so true! We can only recognize the God moments and answers to prayer when we are listening and living in God's Word. The Jeremiah scripture certainly is a favorite, but thank you for highlighting the follow up!
ReplyDelete"We seek. We search. We pray. He listens." SImple, true, focused.
ReplyDeleteThe term God moments is a new one for me, but it reminds me of a phrase I love to use for those moments that bless us - tender mercies. What a blessing to have listening to God's whisper be the topic for the Bible study today! And since it is a whisper, that's why we have to be still and listen (definitely not passive) in order to hear.
ReplyDeleteI love your concluding thoughts and how you managed to sneak in your OLW - turn.
". . . a future filled with hope doesn't just happen. We have to do our part in seeking God and praying for our future. The real comfort lies in that He is always listening to us, even when we think He isn't. In turn, we need to listen for God's voice to guide us along the way."
Isn't it amazing how often our OLWs pop up once we've chosen them or is it the other way around, (once they've chosen us)?
"We seek. We search. We pray. He listens." And then He proceeds to answer! Isn't that amazing!
ReplyDelete