Episode 165: How to Hear From God

[@poljke9110]

This is so good! Ive been praying through venmoing Nate my entire paycheck.

[@danielcasimir2018]

There’s some real spiritual warfare in that.

[@anal.mendoza]

Happy Monday and blessings to JP, Kathy and Nate! I hear from God when I read my Bible everyday!

[@abinater2702]

I am not sure where to post a question so I guess I will just post it here. I have been following Jesus closely for 10 years now. The last few years have been filled with disappointments and shattered dreams. I am where I am because I gave this life to Jesus and I thought this was where He was leading me but over the last 10 months I have watched as everything I thought He was leading me to just crumble into dust. I thought I heard Him so clearly and I continued to seek Him and ask Him to guide my every step and slam the door if it's not for me and so far all I have seen is doors slamming and I honestly feel at the end of myself. I gave Him all my dreams and I trust Him yet I feel lost. Everyday feels like a battle to trust and sometimes it feels like I am losing. I know that when I drift from His Word the lies get stronger...I know I need His Truth and I know where to get it but it's been so hard lately to even pick up His Word and it fills me with shame to say that out loud. I want Him more than anything in this life and I am ok letting my dreams fall away as long as I have Him and Him alone and I truly believe this yet walking this out and living this is so hard. I know where my strength comes from and I know how much I need to seek Him and seek His Word and yet it feels so hard to do and I know what I need and yet I am running from it. Why do I have so much anxiety when I pick up His word? Like I know that is everything my soul needs and longs for yet my heart starts to ache and I feel my anxiety start to get out of control when I try to do the very thing I know with all my heart I need. I know He is near but I feel like I have walked so far away from Him and I want to be near Him again but it's so painful. I am sorry for the drawn out message but I guess I am asking if you have ever experienced this and how to overcome this dread and anxiety when it comes to actually seeking Him again. I know I am running but I don't know why when deep inside I long for Him with every piece of me. I know I am not alone I know He is always with me but honestly at this moment I feel so alone and empty

[@jasminelindsey]

Hi Abinater, I know you asked this awhile ago and may have already gotten the answers you are seaking but I am also watching this video trying to discern God’s voice after straying from faith and I resonate with your words. I like you have struggled with trusting in God and have faced several disappointments in life, I used to cling to God to get me through but at one point it began to drive me away as I felt like I was following His will in my life and I wasn’t seeing what I thought I needed too. I even had a period of time when I strayed from faith truly for about six months and finally decided I need to try again to strengthen my faith in the new year. It was incredibly hard and still is to this day but I am thankful. What I have learned is that disappointment is a thing of life, even when you are a follower of God. He cannot keep us from experience sadness, disappointment or failure but he is there to pray to for reflection, guidance and discernment. I realized that just because I am trying to walk in the will I feel that God wants for doesn’t mean that it will be easy, in fact I think having a faith can make it even more difficult. I realized my expectations of God were not realistic. The career, home, relationship, etc that I “want” are not necessarily “mine” just because I have a faith. However, I can pray through these things good and maybe not so good just to keep the connection. Even when I was deeply involved in my faith I always struggled with discerning God and wondering what was from and not from Him and I do relate to your anxiety in regards to seeking His word again. I have felt the same way and for me it was due to hurt. I felt hurt because I thought I had worked hard in His will for my life and did not see what I thought I needed to see. Six months later I am in a completely new season and can finally see the beginning of what he ended for me in a years long season of hard work and determination. Now I grateful for the experience but during it was incredibly difficult and at many times I felt I could not see a way out. I try to receive the word in ways that feel comfortable. For me, I enjoy listening to podcasts like these, journaling and reflecting on scripture about once a week or whenever I feel it on my heart and reading faith based books from Time to time. I’m not sure if I answered your question but I hear you and you are seen.

[@ethansadventuresWI]

One thing that has helped me in my walk with Jesus has been finding good, positive, uplifting, Christ centered friendships. The majority of my friends are not believers, and while they are not bad people, they will not help me grow in my faith. Finding fellowship with other believers will help so much. If you don't already attend a Bible study that is a good place to start. You will meet new people that also like to get into God's word. I have been a Christian for many years. Until late last year I was dead, going nowhere in my walk with Christ. A series of events took place which really pushed me to seek God and pray for help. I reached out to the few Christian friends I had and they have been such a great influence. I myself still have a long journey ahead, but I wanted to share what has helped me so far. I pray you are able to enjoy your walk with Christ again!

[@karis7063]

i have a lot of family members that are very charismatic, and a lot of times it makes me pretty uncomfortable😬but now i realize that i just need to filter everything through what the Bible says, but should i confront them if what they say contradicts it? i’m only 17 and they are all adults, so i don’t know if that’s a situation where i should keep my mouth shut or not

[@jshvaron]

Ask them to read the word together. Lean on the word of God and pray that they approach it with an open heart.