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experience, feeling, God, God's love, heart, inspiration, Martin Luther, peace, rest, Satan, thought life
Which Way?
(Photo credits http://mark-hartshorn.co.uk/spiritualguidance.html)
The Lord Will Be Gracious
18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Is 30:18-21 ESV)
[Emphasis mine]
Briefly speaking, when we really want to hear God’s voice in all adverse circumstances, we must wait for Him, even though He seems to be silent at times. Not easy, I know…
Yesterday in the late evening I felt nudged to write an article on discerning the spirits, an issue that has been on my mind since Thursday last week. However, the Lord gave me no guidance as to WHAT I could have written about it. So I had to wait, and wait, and wait. You can imagine that I was relieved on Sunday – though it was already past 11 pm – when I felt some spiritual flow inside me so that I could begin with writing that post.
Oh boy, I had really written a lot until I went to bed long after 1:00 am today! But the article was not complete and I felt rather uneasy about it all the time. Today in the morning our daughter raised me out of my sleep because she felt sick and could not go to school. Everything I felt at that very moment was God’s deep, enfolding peace although I was simultaneously rather tired, still.
Later, when I had time to pray, I was still wondering why God was so silent as to that blog post-to-be. The only thing I could sense when I looked at Him in my mind was His peaceful and comforting love that chased away all uncomfortable feelings about anything. Nonetheless, as I was sitting at the computer again after my prayer time, I did a strange thing. Completely unawares, actually! As silly as it may sound, when I was trying to go on with writing that article, I accidentally deleted the whole file in less than one second. Without me knowing what I did and without the possibility to restore the deleted file which had only been saved on my USB flash drive, but not yet on my computer. Checking the trash folder of my computer, I saw that the file was clearly not there. 😛
After a few minutes of searching here and there, trying this and trying that, I gave up on it, though with a feeling of uneasiness again. Asking the Lord about it – no answer, either.
Incidentally, I just found an interesting quote from Martin Luther which reads,
“But whatever he [i.e. God] does not want to tell you, you should not desire to know, and give him the honor to believe that he knows what is not necessary, profitable nor good for you to know. “
(Martin Luther’s Postil – Volume 1, p. 172)
In fact, now the whole thing begins to make sense to me. It appears to me that God wants to warn us about listening to any spirit that willingly answers our questions and offers much information about the topics we want to see explored. God’s guidance was and is always unpredictable and it takes a whole lot of surrendering of our own thoughts and plans over to Him, and loads of time to wait on Him until He eventually clearly says,
“This is the way, walk in it.”
Satan instead is the one who wants to keep our minds always occupied and busy. He loves to attack our God-given peace with urging us to listen to his permanent suggestions that feed our natural reason and understanding. The devil wants to see us restless, running around like a lunatic – even if, perhaps, only in our minds – and rambling on thoughts which are not suitable for building and edifying the hearer or reader (cf. Eph 4:29-32).
Indeed, God’s overwhelming peace makes all the difference. Hence, we ought to be careful as soon as we sense an increasing restlessness in our hearts and minds, the awareness of having lost clear direction, and an accumulation of confusing and unsettling thoughts. Satan is a clever guy, an expert regarding struggle and strife, and the pronounced opponent of all people in whom he perceives the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit, as it is described here,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23 ESV)
Even though is it not always that easy, let us try to keep waiting on Him, on these specific moments in His time when all things can happen naturally, peacefully, without rushing and compulsion. God never forces us to do anything, nor to do more than we are able to. He is a gentle giver, not a subtle seducer. And God, finally, makes us love all people. Satan instead wants to see no unity between human beings. Actually, all negativity and all those thoughts that make us feel bad or think bad about others indeed have their origin in Satan’s deceitful tricks he so often plays on us.
So, the lesson learned for me today is simply TRUST. Or in other words,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prv 3:5-6 ESV)
Encouragement Quote
(Quote taken from http://life-quotes.in/2014/01/encouragement-qoutes/
Susanne! This was excellent. You wrote, “Indeed, God’s overwhelming peace makes all the difference. Hence, we ought to be careful as soon as we sense an increasing restlessness in our hearts and minds, the awareness of having lost clear direction, and an accumulation of confusing and unsettling thoughts. Satan is a clever guy, an expert regarding struggle and strife, and the pronounced opponent of all people in whom he perceives the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit…”
What a great description of the difference between the Spirit of God and the spirit of the evil one.
Nevertheless when one shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJ2000)
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJ2000)
And what is that “sound mind”? Paul wrote, “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 KJ2000)
Thank you dear sister! It is soooo good to see you work through this and come out the victor IN Christ!
❤ in the Son,
Michael
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Oh, thank you, dear Michael!! 🙂
Indeed, I have been working through this. Very well said (grin). To tell you a secret, one of the funny names God, our Daddy, once gave me was Victoria (from Latin, i.e., victory). Insofar I knew that He would have to help me turn into an overcomer since my weaknesses are still uncountable. 😉 However, I trust in the truth of Paul’s words here,
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor 12:9 ESV)
Love in Him ❤
Susanne
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Susanne, I was instructed and blessed by the post. Thank you for sharing your walk with the Lord.
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You are so welcome, dear Pat! 🙂
Actually, it is always a pleasure for me to share my experiences with the Lord and to see visible reactions (i.e., comments) to my posts.
Love in Him ❤
Susanne
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Suzanne. thank you for being a quiet island in the midst of a stormy sea today……Euroclydon like, in fact. lol!
I am moving into a new apt tomorrow, so as you can imagine, I’ve been busy the last few days, planning and packing. Then, of course, when it gets right down to the wire; the last day before the big move, my mind,(and body), has been pretty busy with all these “details” and work. Clean the oven, ugh! Defrost and clean the fridge, ugh! Etc. .
Right in the midst of this, today, I had a disturbing phone call from a rather obnoxious utility company worker, saying they did not get my payment. I explained I’d been in the hospital the first of the month but had my son send a money order, and had a receipt for the payment. But would check into it and take care of the utility. She kept saying I was in default, and was being rude. That bothered my already too busy mind for awhile, as yet another distraction I had to set aside until I could deal with it. Yes, it’s true, Satan does just take pleasure in setting up distractions and annoyances, trying to wear out the saints. Any old think he can come up with will do! .(I’m laughing about this now). 🙂
I remember one time the Lord spoke to me and told me to take authority over every hindering spirit that would come against me each day, and to do it in the morning, coupled with spending time with Him before I start my day. And THEN, if I did that, things would go much better and fall into place more easily, than if I didn’t. Well…
That was not possible today, or so I thought, as I was awakened early by my son arriving with more moving boxes, and discussion about this and that and the day began with an earthquake of sorts……..whew!
So….
I’d just decided before coming to your blog, to take a break and try to organize my thoughts and work in a more relaxed manner. I’m so glad the Holy Spirit has a certain way of speaking to us, sometimes without our even realizing it is Him that’s doing it. Even though our brethren!
Right now, it’s as if, “Daughter, all is well, and falling into place as planned” because I am going before you to prepare the way”.
I still have the whole rest of the day ahead to get needed things done, without having a meltdown.
Thanks Suzanne, I needed that word. 🙂
Jesus bless you sister,
Scarlett
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Oh, dear Scarlett, I have been blessed by your comment – soooo much! I am glad you found my article helpful. And thanks a lot for pouring your heart out on here, my sister! ❤
At first I really stopped breathing while reading your description of the day – boy, that is more than a woman can take!! But thank God, the Lord is clearly with you – today, and tomorrow, and ALWAYS! 🙂
May our Lord richly bless you ❤
Susanne
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yes I have had the very same experiences–when you put yourself under Gods control he seems to work in ways that don’t make any sense to you but you know his ways are for the good.
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Amen, my dear brother! Thank you for confirming the “message”. 😉
Love in Him ❤
Susanne
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I agree, Kenneth. It is waiting for and believing in the “afterward” and knowing it is in His hands that takes faith.
“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 KJ2000)
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“It is waiting for and believing in the “afterward” and knowing it is in His hands that takes faith.”
Very well said, Michael! 🙂
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I, too, wait on the Lord for my writing. As self-imposed deadlines approach, I begin to worry and fret. God, of course, has His own timing — perfectly suited to our deepest needs, and His intention for our lives. I’ve come, therefore, to think of His inspiration as manna. We cannot manufacture it, ourselves. We cannot store it up. But we can rely upon it to nourish us, when needed most. You’ve enriched my walk w/ Him, Susanne. Thank you! I pray that He may continue to use us both.
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Oh, what a wonderful comment to read in the morning, my dear Anna! 🙂
God knew that I have been feeling rather low at the moment (not only due to circumstances but because of Him chastening my soul incessantly which is very painful). Reading your encouraging and edifying words, I do feel much better than before. Indeed, God used you to build me up in His love today. Thanks so much for being obedient to His voice by writing what you did above. I have been blessed by you!!! ❤
What you wrote about self-imposed deadlines that approach, in fact, I also begin to worry and fret although I often blame myself for it because I think I should have learned by now that His timing is ALWAYS completely different from mine. There are so many things to be learned, still…
“Inspiration as manna”….. Wow!! That is a wonderful metaphor and I believe it is even biblical, for it is written,
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4 ESV)
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