When God speaks, he does not give new revelation about himself that contradicts what he has already revealed in Scripture. Rather, God speaks to give application of his Word to the specific circumstances in your life. When God speaks to you, he is not writing a new book of Scripture, rather, he is applying to your life what he has already said in his Word. Throughout the Bible, whenever God spoke to someone, that person’s life was never the same again. The same is true today. Our prayer is that as you listen to what God is saying to you, you will respond in love and obedience and your life will be transformed as well.

Hearing God- Henry and Richard Blackaby

“There is no better way you can be ready to follow God’s voice than to cultivate your heart.”   Henry Blackaby

 Each new day God is writing a story…your story! Each new day God is speaking to you. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Am I listening?” This small devotional, called “The 31-Day Adventure”, is designed to help you grow in your understanding of how God speaks. Four key words will help you build the foundation for discovering His voice:

• Soften
• Center
• Listen
• Respond
  

Today lets dive a little deeper into the word soften…

Soften…

The journey of hearing God speak begins with the heart. The Bible uses the word picture of two different kinds of hearts. The first one is a heart that is soft (like flesh); the second is a heart that is hard (like stone).

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…

Psalm 95:7b-8a (NIV)

 Jesus is the only One capable of changing our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, soft hearts. As we place our faith in Jesus Christ alone for the free gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12), we begin the journey of truly learning to live from the heart.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Living each day in this ever increasingly busy world can have a way of discouraging us, tiring us out; slowly, little by little, we can drift away from living the way Jesus intended us to live. This can have a hardening effect on our hearts. So we need to guard our hearts each and every day. But how?

What softens your heart? What hardens your heart? What if, for the next 31 days, you were intentional about pursuing a soft heart and avoided anything that would harden your heart?

Examples:

What could possibly soften a heart?

• A walk in the forest
• Unhurried time playing with your children
• Eating a special meal with close friends
• Taking time to rest and relax, with no agenda
• Taking time to read the Bible and pray

What could possibly harden a heart?

• Too much wasted time on the internet
• Debt
• Busy schedules, no free nights at home
• T.V. (channel surfing for hours)

What softens your heart?

What hardens your heart?

 "Soften my heart, center my thoughts, to hear your voice today..."

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 32: 8-11  (ESV)

A new day awaits you! Draw strength from the promise that God will

Instruct you…

Teach you…

Counsel you…

His eye is upon you, His steadfast love surrounds you. Remind yourself often of this reality throughout your day. He desires to use you! Continue to pursue a heart that is Soft, one that is open to His promptings and leadings. Center your thoughts on these amazing truths. Listen for the whisper of the One who surrounds you with His steadfast love. And Respond!

The journey continues…

“Soften my heart Lord…

Center my thoughts on You today…

May I Listen and Respond in love…”

Thanks for all of the friends that have started the “31-Day Adventure”!

I love to think of each new day as a gift…

A gift to slowly unwrap…

A new day to hear His voice…

A new day to simply follow…

Thanks again and please feel free to post a blog or drop me a note. I would love to hear about any fresh, new stories of God at work in your life!

Kirk

Soften… Center… Listen… Respond…

God Still Speaks…

Wow, where does one begin? The topic of God speaking to us is so vast and mysterious much like the universe… Lets begin there. Simply look up on a star filled night and allow your heart to be filled with awe and wonder.

“God, do you still speak? How? Show me…”

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where there voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)