Answers, Dialogue, and Faith (Thirty Days To Greater Fruitfulness, Day 5)
This blog has been temporarily overtaken by my Thirty Days To Greater Fruitfulness Challenge. You can find out more by checking out the Introduction.
Today has been a day of gaining more clarity. It seems like if I hear from the Lord about something and it doesn’t make sense with what I see around me, if I wait, I will gain some clarity. Today it became abundantly clear why I couldn’t meet for lunch with the couple I was talking about yesterday. The simple answer? God knew that our house church meeting would go a lot longer than it normally does and that getting together would be next to impossible.
In other news, I’m finding that my ability to pray more specifically and less in cliches is increasing. I’m really excited about this because it seems like I’m beginning to have a relationship with God again just because I’m focusing on that part of the relationship I’ve neglected for so long: listening. I’m beginning to learn how to dialogue with God and I am enjoying it.
Finally, I want to write to everyone who is participating with me in this challenge and encourage them to combine faith with the prayers you are praying in this season. Any fruit we see will be from us stepping out in faith on the things we hear from Jesus. If this exercise will be meaningful at all it will be because we have combined faith with the words we hear from God. The result will be powerful.
So, how has your day been? What have you been learning?
Join us on the “Thirty Days to Greater Fruitfulness” experiment. For the rest of September we are spending 30 minutes in silent prayer listening to Jesus and then acting on what He asks us to do. Then we blog about the changes that are occurring in our lives through the marriage of listening and obedience. It’s not too late. If you’re just checking out that experiment feel free to jump in. And if you want more information, you can check it out here.
Photo Credit: Calendar by Adreanna Moyer Photography
Strengthened To Obey (Thirty Days to Greater Fruitfulness, Day 3)
This blog has been temporarily overtaken by my Thirty Days To Greater Fruitfulness Challenge. You can find out more by checking out the Introduction.
Nothing profound or fancy about today either. But, hey, this is a journey right?
The most significant thing about today was that I felt like I got some direction from the Lord yesterday about what to do with my night. However, yesterday, I was sick as a dog and this morning I woke up the same way. Working all day and then being obedient after work did not look fun, let alone possible.
The good news is that part way through the morning, I started feeling better. It seems like the Lord was strengthening me to do what He called me to. My contention is that this is a better way to live- dependent on Jesus and only able to do the things He gives us strength for. I think He actually calls that abiding.
Anyways, that’s how my day went. How was yours?
Join us on the “Thirty Days to Greater Fruitfulness” experiment. For the rest of September we are spending 30 minutes in silent prayer listening to Jesus and then acting on what He asks us to do. Then we blog about the changes that are occurring in our lives through the marriage of listening and obedience. It’s not too late. If you’re just checking out that experiment feel free to jump in. And if you want more information, you can check it out here.
Photo Credit: Calendar by Adreanna Moyer Photography
The Cost of Disobedience (Thirty Days to Greater Fruitfulness, Day 2)
This blog has been temporarily overtaken by my Thirty Days To Greater Fruitfulness Challenge. You can find out more by checking out the Introduction.
Today was a day not unlike yesterday. It was filled with a lot of distracted silence and little changes. I want to highlight one quick event that I think is relevant to this “Thirty Days” experiment.
Today when I was driving home from work, it was pouring down rain. My thoughts as I made my way home were on the relative lack of difference I had noticed between today and any of the days before this challenge began. So, I did what humans do and began to complain to the Lord about the situation.
It was at this point that I noticed a guy walking in the rain with nothing to shield himself. As I drove past him I felt my heart go out to this guy who had to walk in the rain. In a way I haven’t felt in a little while, I began to think maybe I should slow down and offer the guy a ride. I quickly wrote off the idea as something not from the Lord and went back to my complaining, but as I did I realized that quite possibly the sense of compassion I felt in my heart might just be the Lord speaking to me. So I turned around.
I would like to end this story by saying that I picked up the guy and he came to know Jesus. I would even enjoy saying I picked up this guy and feel like I really did what the Lord said. In reality, by the time I turned around and went back to where he was, I couldn’t find him.
So here’s the lesson from today: I could have obeyed quicker and at least seen if there might have been fruit. But because I didn’t I have no way of knowing whether the Lord was the One pulling the strings of my heart or not. I suspect He was. But the only way I will ever know is if I trust those tiny, faint, gut level leadings that I’ve not always been convinced are the Lord. Should I feel bad about today? Probably not. Jesus still loves me and He will speak to me again. But should I learn from today and trust Him while He’s leading me tomorrow? Absolutely.
So, if you heard His voice but weren’t sure today, there’s grace for you. But as we walk this road, let’s see if we can respond faster and respond rightly and see what the results actually are.
What are you learning?
Join us on the “Thirty Days to Greater Fruitfulness” experiment. For the rest of September we are spending 30 minutes in silent prayer listening to Jesus and then acting on what He asks us to do. Then we blog about the changes that are occurring in our lives through the marriage of listening and obedience. It’s not too late. If you’re just checking out that experiment feel free to jump in. And if you want more information, you can check it out here.
Photo Credit: Calendar by Adreanna Moyer Photography
Cluster Map
Pursuing Glory 