ARE YOU LEARNING GOD’S VOICE?
In my appointment with Him this morning, there was an old picture of me with the caption, “COME CLOSER TO GOD.” I got a nudge from God to save it. I started asking Him why and questioning whether it was really Him asking me to do that. The feeling again was, ‘Nik, save the picture!’ I immediately obeyed and added the picture to my camera roll. Fast forward about an hour later, I’m doing my morning run with God, where I allow Him to be my DJ. In my little time today, William Singe’s version of Closer played with the lyrics saying, “COME CLOSER!” Believe it or not, this is God asking us all of us to come closer to Him. He even confirmed it!
Fast forward another hour or so, I’m reading my book with a staff in my attempt to teach her to have appointments with God, and look what showed up:
“ARISE, MY DARLING, MY BEAUTIFUL ONE, COME WITH ME” (Song of Songs 2:10, NIV)
That’s our great invitation from God to live these extraordinary lives with Him as our Guide, Partner, Helper, Counselor, Friend, Teacher, Provider, and Father. And absolutely everyone is invited to the party! No matter how badly you think you’ve made a mess of things, GOD WANTS YOU CLOSE TO HIM (WINK! WINK!). In fact, He has used all my weaknesses and wounds to show all of us a better way of living and thinking.”
In another one of my sacred conversations with my brother, Kevin, He says to me (I paraphrase here!):
“You would be a fool not to have God in your life! He knows everything. He owns everything. You’ll miss out on His favor, strength, approval, love, wisdom, help, strategies, and guidance!”
It’s a no-brainer, dude! WE NEED GOD! Here’s the rest of that post:
I love how He doesn’t force us to come; it’s like He patiently waits in the background for us to remember Him. And unfortunately, that seems to be mostly when we get ourselves in trouble and ask Him to help us get out. Then once we’re out, we place Him in the background again until the next big problem comes up.
This year, I want you to accept His invitation to follow Him in every aspect of your life, with Him taking the lead and not the background role. Like a great friend said to me, “I want to remember God every moment.” This is where I want us, remembering God every second and collaborating with Him as to what He would have us to do, where He would have us to go, and even what to say.
We’re not going by the ordinary rules of man, and some things He asks will take supernatural strength—like being mentally tough (fearless, focused, determined, and refusing to worry) while also being loving and forgiving towards someone you want to choke.
But trust me, when you’re able to let go and surrender everything to God, handing over all disappointments and outcomes to Him, you begin to experience this miraculous life where He not only repays you for any wrongs, He helps you with any problem or challenge you may have and even comforts you when you’re hurt.
Quiet confidence will be your strength when you leave
situations and circumstances in His hands. I’m talking about unthinkable lives already planned for us, which include fabulous adventures, the best people, and off-the-chart levels of wisdom, peace, happiness, and joy.
Start asking, God, what would You have me do here? This takes calming down, slowing down, and listening to His quiet whispers in your spirit. When you do, a whole new world awaits you.
Dear God, thank You for Your love and constant guidance. Pardon our sins and give us the courage to live the lives You have planned for us. Amen.
WE ROLL WITH GOD