Reading until God speaks continues...

I am going to spend the next few weeks reading until God speaks.  He has been speaking to my heart so clearly about several things and I feel I need to focus on listening. 

THE NEXT BLOG POST WILL BE FEBRUARY 11TH! 

Reading until God Speaks…

Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 32

My spiritual barometer for years has been 1 John 1:4

“These things [are written] that your joy may be full.” 
I can always measure the amount of time I’m spending in the Scriptures by how much joy (not superficial happiness, but deep down abiding joy) I have.  When I find a lack of joy in my life, the first thing I check is how much time I’m spending in God’s Word!

How’s my spiritual barometer?  I have been thinking about this all week and I must confess it has been pretty low.  Life is busy!  I have not been spending time with God like I have in the past and the joy has been missing. Thank you Evelyn for writing these wonderful words that have brought me back.  

What is ‘Reading until God speaks’?

Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 25

I set out in earnest using the process God had taught me, allowing Him to tell me how He wanted me to change.  Staying in the Scripture for instruction, I would read only until He spoke.  Then I would stop to pray about what He had said, analyze His reason for stopping me at that particular point, discover the need He knew I had, and then determine what I could do to change.

I remember the second time I tried ‘reading until God speaks’ on a daily basis. 

I was living in Manila, Philippines as a missionary.  I had been struggling with the challenges of spending time with God and working for him.  There were never enough hours in the day to do everything. 

Then I picked up the book, Lord Change Me and began to read it.  I was reminded of the ‘reading until God speaks’ idea and made it a daily practice.  I would read in Galatians and Ephesians about something God wanted me to change in my life and then as I would read Philippians and Colossians he would show me how to do it.

I would write in journal daily.  It was an incredible journey of learning.  This past week I happened to find that Journal.  I was amazed as I re-read it again.

Now many years later, God is still speaking. 

Now back to today. The question in my heart last week was, “How could I possibly change?”  As I began ‘reading until God speaks’ I found the answer to my question.

New Living Translation Bible

Proverbs 1:23

Come and listen to my counsel.  I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.
My reply to God:  If I come to you, you will give me wisdom.

Proverbs 3:6

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
My reply to God:  If I am seeking you, you will direct me.

Proverbs 4:11

I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
My reply to God:  You will give me wisdom and lead me. 

Dear God,

Thank you for speaking to me today.  Please help me to find the time to listen to you and then obey.  Mold me into the person you want me to be.
In Jesus name, Amen.

 

CHANGED

It is 4:28 am.  I love the early morning hours of the day.  It's quiet and still.  The sound of the furnace running reminds me that it is the coldest day we have had this winter. I am thankful for my cozy warm house.  I'm looking out the window at the majesty of God's creation.  Stars are everywhere!  The peacefulness of the morning is all around me as I sip my favorite tea.  I have a busy day ahead of me, but I am thankful for these quiet morning moments with God. 

 

Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 25

This time I was to let God change me through His Word while I kept my philosophy to myself.   

God has been speaking to me about the very same thing.  Did I share my philosophy way too much?  The reality that I could be turning my family away from God instead of towards him jolted me to action.  Questions filled my mind.  Could I really be still and not share my philosophy?  How could I ever change?  Would they ever see the changes in me? 

I must admit when I left my home yesterday, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  I kept thinking, “Why am I the one who always has to change?”  As the day went on, God answered my question.

While sitting in the beauty salon getting my hair cut, Terri, my beautician and I began sharing what was happening in our lives.  She told me about some changes she wanted to make in her life.  Then she said, “I heard the greatest song called, ‘Changes’.”  She immediately picked up her cell phone and began looking for it.  Within minutes the song ‘Changes’ was being sung throughout the salon.  The words touched my heart.   After the song had ended, the question in my heart disappeared.  I am not the only one who needs to change.  We all do.  The singer of this song must have gone through many challenging changes in his life and was singing about them. 

Where will I possibly begin to make any changes in my life?  As I began reading the second chapter of Lord Change Me, Evelyn words answered my questions.

Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 22

Lord, I want to change.  But how do I discover Your ‘chaste and reverent’ behavior in 1 Peter 3:1-2? Especially since I’ve been trying so hard for so long?  Is there more, Lord?  How should I go about becoming what You want me to be now?”

This is exactly what I was thinking.  I had spent so many years of my life learning about changes and I wondered where I would begin again.

Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 22

When I asked God these questions, He showed me that He gives answers.  All I need to do was ask.  He has promised “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  James 1:5

God will give me wisdom to know and understand how he wants me to change and how to begin doing it, but I need to ask him.

I remember especially the second time I read this book and began “reading until God speaks”.  I was amazed at how specifically God would direct me. 

Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 25

I set out in earnest using the process God had taught me, allowing Him to tell me how He wanted me to change.  Staying in the Scripture for instruction, I would read only until He spoke.  Then I would stop to pray about what He had said, analyze His reason for stopping me at that particular point, discover the need He knew I had, and then determine what I could do to change.

I am going to stop right here in the middle of Chapter two and spend this week, in the book of Psalms, reading the Bible until God speaks to me.  Next Tuesday I will share with you the details of my week.

Dear God,

Please go before me this week.  As I open my Bible and begin reading until you speak to me, please give me wisdom to hear and understand your voice. 

 

 

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First Book: Lord Change Me

I must admit when I picked up this book to read it for the third time in my life, I was a little apprehensive.  God had transformed my life both times I read it.  The process of change was not easy, but the end result was a changed woman. 

The second time I read this book I was living in the Philippines as a missionary.  I had been praying that if God wanted to change me, he would give me the desire to be willing to work at change in my life again.  He answered that prayer, and once again, the Lord Changed me.

Yes, the two times I have read this book, God changed me.  I am so thankful for the changes he has made in my life.  I will trust him as I read this book once more in remembrance of Evelyn Christenson, the author, who is in heaven with Jesus today.

LORD CHANGE ME by Evelyn Christenson

It was a cozy winter day in the small town of Stoughton, WI.  The snow was falling gently to the ground as I gazed out my living room window.  The white snow looked sparkly and soft.   Snuggled up in a warm blanket I began to pray.

Dear God,

How will you speak to me as I begin reading this book?   I want to be listening, so please open my heart to hear your voice and obey.   If there are changes that I need to make in my life, please come quickly and show me. Thank you for what you are going to do.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

As I sat there in the quietness of the morning, I opened the pages of this book and began, yet another, Journey of change.

It warmed my heart to read the words that were familiar to me.  Within an hour, I closed the book after the very first chapter because God has spoken to my heart very clearly.  In fact, he had been preparing me for the changes that he wanted me to make in my life.

 Quote from the book Lord Change me. Evelyn:  page 17

“That same June, I had more changes to make.  (What a horrible month that was!”)   
      I discovered something new about myself—because my daughter told me.

 At the dinner table one evening Jan, our just turned –eighteen eldest, abruptly announced, “Mother, I don’t ever want to hear your philosophy again.  Do you know that the tone of your voice actually changes when you are giving your philosophy?  I know what’s coming every single time.”

 

My heart ached as I read this because in last six months or so I had been thinking the same thing about my husband and children.  Did they get tired of me talking about my philosophy on serving God?  If they did not feel the same way as I did, I was sure it must have been annoying.  My heart attitude was not wrong for wanting them to love God with all of their heart and to take time for him, but this is their choice.

God has even confirmed this to me last night.  My oldest son had come to visit for my birthday.  We enjoyed some wonderful talk time as we often do.  I wanted to ask my son a very important question, it was, “When you were young did I talk about God to much, and he replied, “Not when we were young, but as we got older, maybe.”  Ouch!  God had confirmed that my children probably felt the same way as Evelyn’s daughter had.   

You know as a parent we always want to save our children from going through the tough lessons of life.  If we can share from our experiences and help them to skip a step in learning, we want to do this, but is it what they really want?  I guess not.

Well, I have my work cut out for me this year.  I need to “Be still … wait patiently for God to work.”  It was not my job to change anybody, but God is the one to make the changes. 

It is incredible that the very first chapter in this book is going to be one area where I need to change.  It will be so hard to be still and quiet and not share anything about the deepest passion in my heart, God, and our relationship with him.  If they ask my opinion, it is ok to share it, but SILENCE must be my only word and prayer is my only recourse.  

Dear God,

Thank you for what you have already shown me today.  I am sorry if I have been sharing my opinions too much.  Please silence my heart.  This is going to be real hard for me, but I will trust you to help me.  Thank you for what you will teach me.

 

 

 

 

Today I opened my Prayers & Answers book for the third day.  I looked at the prayers I had written up to this point.  One of them was for God to show me what he wanted me to do with my life.  I asked that he confirm the call in my life through Scripture. Then I prayed.  I felt led to go to a certain passage in Jeremiah, and as I turned the pages to find it, I was totally amazed.  God led me to a passage that told me exactly what he wanted me to do.  He wants me to just write.  Now it will take alot of courage to move my life in that direction.  Please pray with me, that God will give me the courage to make the necessary changes in my life to follow him.

Prayer & Answers written by Evelyn Christenson, blogged by Robin Gove

Begin January 2, 2013

Prayers & Answers A Keepsake of God’s Handiwork

This book is a wonderful beginning to a new year. It is forty days of prayer. I would like to start fresh and begin writing my prayer requests to God again. I used to do this all the time, but it seems the older I get the busier life becomes and I have let this go. I used to love doing this. I am excited about doing it again. Evelyn suggests three categories of writing my prayers to God.

First, My Prayer; Second, God’s Answer; Third, My response to God.

I have written out my prayer for the first day. Now I will be praying for God’s answer. I will not post everyday, but I will post every Tuesday. Then starting January 15th, I will begin my life changing blog from the book, Lord Change Me.

If you choose to join me in this Journey you may purchase any of the books through Evelyn's website. http://www.evelynchristensonministries.org Please pray for me as I go on this Incredible Journey with Evelyn. I know it will be a life changing year.

Here is the list of books by Evelyn Christenson that will take us through the year.

Prayers & Answers A Keepsake of God’s Handiwork (40 days)

Lord Change Me:  Begins January 15th
What Happens When Women Pray (Study Guide Available)
What Happens when we pray for our Families
Praying God's Way (Study Guide Available)
What Happens with God Answers

Battling the Prince of Darkness, Rescuing Captives from Satan's Kingdom
Gaining Through Losing

Children's Books

What Happens When Children Pray
My First Journal of Prayer