Do you agonize over decisions and wish you could see God’s direction clearly? Jesus called us his sheep and said we would hear his voice (John 10:27). So how do we hear from God? Well you need to remember that we are made in God’s image, we are Spirit beings (1 Thess 5:23). Our spirit is our spiritual heart or conscience. God contacts us largely (Holy) Spirit to (our) spirit. God can communicate in other ways but by way of his Holy Spirit is the most important.

How does the Holy Spirit guide us? He reveals God’s word to us (John 16:13-14), brings us understanding (revelation) and if we read the word prayerfully, he will bring guidance through the verses we read. How often we read and reread a section of the Bible and suddenly a verse jumps out at us, that’s the Holy Spirit.

The other main way that the Spirit speaks to us is by the still small voice that Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:11-12). How do we know this is God? Well, that still small voice comes with a sense of peace and assurance that it is God. God’s wisdom is peaceable and lines up with his word (James 3:17).

To hear from God, we need to still our minds and learn to recognize the voice of his Spirit (Rom 12:2). It’s a bit like the offence in a football team trying to get directions from the quarter back in the face of a noisy opposing crowd of supporters. Talk to God and spend time in his word; allow the word and time with him to quiet you (Isa 26:3). He doesn’t always answer right away but often when we least expect it.

My wife and I had a major decision to make and we agreed to both pray independently and seek God for several months. When we compared notes, we had heard almost identically from God. God is good and he wants you to walk in peace and assurance knowing you are in his will (Prov 3:5-6).

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“Have faith in God.” This short simple sentence is what the whole of Christianity is based on. What do we know about faith? Let’s look at a few scriptures. "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb 11:6; KJV). "The just shall LIVE by his faith" (Hab 2:4). So then, faith in God must be important, in fact, a whole chapter in the book of Hebrews (chapter 11) is devoted to people who were noted for their faith. We know that our faith is powerful and can move mountains or the challenges in our lives (Mark 11:23).

We know that we have all been given: "a measure of faith" (Rom 12:3). But we also know that we need to grow our faith. Well, how do we do that? In the Bible we read that: "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). As we spend time in our bibles our faith will grow. As we pray in the Spirit, we also build up our faith: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). Praying in the Spirit is Spirit led prayer, including praying in tongues.

As you go through your day think about having faith in God and use your God given authority to speak to the mountains in your life and remember that you must believe before you can receive from God (Mark 11:23).

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Sometimes we need to stop and marvel at what happened to us when we gave our lives to the Lord and asked Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior. Our inner man (our spirit, conscience or spiritual heart) was recreated or born again (2 Cor 5:17; John 3:3-8; Ezek 11:19).

Our sins were forgiven: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph 1:7; KJV). We were redeemed from the curse of the law, (poverty, sickness and death; Gal 3:13-14). We were sanctified (1 Cor 1:30) or set apart for God, justified or made as if we had never sinned (Rom 3:23-24) and made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). Righteousness means to be made in right standing with God.

Christ came to live in us as the Holy Spirit (Gal 2:20; 1 Cor 6:19). We became God’s children (Rom 8:15), joint heirs with Jesus (Rom 8:17), and were taken out of satan’s control and placed in God’s kingdom of light (Col 1:13-14).

The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit in us is greater than any satanic force in the world (1 John 4:4). “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13; KJV). In fact, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37). Are you getting the picture? We are family, Jesus our brother (Rom 8:29); we have the same Father as Jesus. The same power (the Holy Spirit) that anointed Jesus for ministry on this earth lives in us.

We can do anything with Jesus. Let’s do it, let’s be salt and light, let’s turn our world right side up.

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How often do we consider the impact of our words? In the book of Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 21 we read: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (KJV). Wow, that’s powerful. Our words can bring life or death to the hearer. Not only that but in this this verse we also see that we shall reap a harvest from what we say to others.

Words are packages that leave our lips and float through the air exploding on the ears of people. However, much we may try to argue our way out of what we said we can never negate the impact of our words. In the bible we also read that our words show what is in our hearts. (Matt 12:34). The apostle James in his epistle, wrote much about the potential evils of our tongues (James 3:1-12), those verses are worth reading. There are many other scriptures about our words; here are a couple: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Prov 25:11), now that speaks volumes. “A soft answer turneth away wrath” (Prov 15:1).

God wants our words to be pleasing to him (Ps 19:14), they should be full of grace and seasoned with salt (Col 4:6), words that build up and not tear down (Eph 4:29). In fact, Paul admonishes us to speak to each other in spiritual songs, hymns and psalms songs (Eph 5:19). The Psalmist asked God to put a guard over his mouth (Ps 141:3); we would be wise to do the same. Let’s watch our words, seek to edify people and allow the Spirit to guide our conversations. God always tells me that he is not interested in my opinions but my obedience. I don’t know about you but I said a few “ouches” today over these scriptures above but “ouches” are good if they change us for the better. Yes? or was that just an ouch!

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The word joy is found throughout the Old Testament. There are several Hebrew words for joy. Meanings range from gladness, happiness and joy to mirth, rejoicing, singing, shouting and dancing. In the Greek of the New Testament the words for joy encompass the sense of cheerfulness, gladness and of having greet joyfulness.

God wants our joy to be full: “Hitherto have ye asked me nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24; KJV). Nehemiah tells us that: “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10).

Things in our daily life may cause us joy but our true joy comes from God (Ps 16:11); in fact, as Christians, we can enter into God’s joy (Ps 51:12; 1 Peter 1:8; Matt 25:21).

This joy is founded in knowing who we are in Christ (2 Cor 5:21), our security in him (Heb 13:5), what we have in him (2 Cor 5:17), his love (Eph 3:19). “In thy presence is fullness of joy” (Ps 16:11).

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). As we spend time with God, in his word and in prayer, drawing close to him and surrendering to him, the Holy Spirit works in us to bring this joy. No one can take our joy from us (John 16:22), unless we allow them to. This joy will under gird us in trials (James 1:2). Jesus went to the cross for the joy of knowing what his sacrifice would achieve (Heb  12:2).

Spend time with God today and let his joy rise up and overwhelm you.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.