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In the academic world, including science and law, claims are validated by evidence, so books written from this perspective are full of footnotes and references. My audiences marveled at my teachings, as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Yet when I was asked by whose authority I did my works, I declined to give an answer. Have you read a book that made strong claims with no references, yet it spoke to you and was validated by your life experiences? Revelation is a source of truth that does not conform to academic principles. When you encounter it do not reject it for a lack of footnotes and references. 

What word do you normally associate with midlife? Isn’t ‘crisis’ the term that usually follows, and this is the only thing commonly associated with this stage of life? This is a negative view of a growth opportunity. Most of the parameters and conditions of your life were given to you up to this point, and early stage life is characterized by conformity to expectations. If these are not expressions of your own unique identity they will fail. You can view this as a crisis, or you can see it as an opportunity to become who you really are, and live a life consistent with your own true destiny. Walk through this with me and it will be a life-giving transition. 

The easiest way to get a messed up journal entry, and an improper answer back from the Lord in your journaling, is to pray with an idol in your heart (Ezek. 14:4). 

Praying with an idol in your heart is defined as having my eyes fixed on something other than the Lord as I pray. The Bible tells me to fix my eyes on Jesus, which allows me to do what I see Him doing (Heb. 12:1-2). King David did this (Acts 2:25). David said, "I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand" (Ps. 16:8). 

Do you like to have fun all the time? Do you feel guilt, shame, and regret for your sins? These responses are typical of new believers. Mature believers move on to experience godly sorrow. Guilt, shame, and regret are static and unhelpful. They look to the past with condemnation and paralysis. Godly sorrow is a way to view things in your past that were hindrances. You can’t change events that have taken place, but they don’t have to give you a burden of condemnation. Godly sorrow allows you to acknowledge your past from a perspective of redemption and look to the future with hope. Not everything is fun, but even things that are not fun can be useful. 

My journey in learning to hear God’s voice has been very similar to Mark Virkler’s journey. Like him, I was taught that hearing God’s voice myself did not exist or was bad and wrong. Like him, I set aside a season of life to seek God about this, and like him, I learned from God to hear God. I was very encouraged when, years later, I read his book 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice to see that what God had taught me and what God had taught Mark Virkler was the same. However, I was very grateful for the book, for unlike me, he was able to put what I was doing into words!

When you make a phone call, would you rather talk to a real person or listen to a recorded message? Yet have you ever talked to a real person, even face to face, and felt as if you were listening to a recorded message? Has anyone ever had the same experience with you? It is easy and intellectually lazy to revert back to previous thoughts for familiar questions, and replay them. And so you can in effect have two recorded message machines talking to each other. It is more demanding but also more satisfying to be present in the moment, really listen before you speak, look at things anew, and be willing to go on a path you have not walked before. 

We are always excited to hear how God meets people in their dreams and I want to encourage you with this testimony we just received from a dear pastor in Hastings, New Zealand where I taught earlier this year...

Do you seek out conditions favorable for your spiritual life? Blessed are those who can find the free time, fellowship and solitude to pursue their spiritual development. Yet have you ever found yourself in a hostile environment that disrupted your peace and made it difficult to maintain your awareness of me? You may prefer the former and flee from the latter, but this too is a part of your spiritual growth. For I promised to be with you always, not only when it is easy and you are aware of me, but even when conditions make it difficult to maintain your awareness of me. Blessed are those who know that I am with them even in the valley of the shadow of death. 

Are you familiar with the idea of small talk? Conversation can be held at a very superficial level and this is typical and considered polite when meeting strangers or casual contacts with people met in passing. Yet your heart hungers for something deeper than this and you find it unsatisfying to engage in for long periods of time. Your words reflect the substance of your life. It is no more difficult to speak words of eternal truth than idle chatter. It does require a deeper level of involvement but it also gives greater satisfaction. They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and wrote a book of remembrance for those who feared him and thought upon his name. You can speak words worthy to be recorded in this book. 

As parents we want to hear God’s voice but most of all we want to be able to teach our children to hear the voice of God.  We can “train them up in the way they should go”. But we want their hearts to burn brightly for Jesus when they are teens and into their adult years.  We want our children to be fervent lovers of God throughout their lives.