To discern God's voice is to listen attentively and intimately

The habit of discernment is a quality of attentiveness to God that is so intimate that over time we develop an intuitive sense of God’s heart and purpose in any given moment. We become familiar with God’s voice.

~~Ruth Haley Barton

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

If you have been married or have been around a certain person for any length of time, you get to know that person well—what he or she is going to say; the response to any given situation, even if he or she has had a bad day. You know without hearing the words. You have developed an intuitive knowledge and understanding.

This is the intimate knowledge and relationship that our heavenly Father desires with us. He wants us to know his voice so closely that we will sense, as Ruth Barton says, his “heart and purpose in any given moment.” This is discernment—the ability to understand what God wants as singled out from all of the other voices clamoring for our attention.

To discern his voice is to listen attentively and intimately.

Shhh. Can you hear him?

Prayer for Meditation

Dear Father, help me to discern your voice so I will know your good and perfect will.

Scripture for Meditation

Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws. Psalm 119:125

Music for Meditation

Take Me Deeper 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

God never promised to make life easy

He said not “Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be diseased;” but he said, “Thou shalt not be overcome.”

~~Julian of Norwich

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

God never promised to make life easy.

Julian of Norwich understood that God never said that his followers would be excused from the storms of life, or the travail of difficulties, or the sorrows of disease and discomfort. But God did say that we would not be overcome.

Many people want it to be different. They don’t want to believe in a God who would allow storms and sorrows and suffering. Yet God is preparing a perfect place for his followers—it’s called heaven. For now, however, we are in the world—called to trust no matter what, called to stand strong. We have the word of the One who has overcome, the One who makes all things right, the One who has the power to bring good from evil.

Take your tempests and trials to the One who has overcome the world. He will take care of you.

Prayer for Meditation

Heavenly Father, when I’m overwhelmed, it’s a blessing to know that I’m not overcome.

Scripture for Meditation

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Music for Meditation

Take Me Deeper

 If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com.