Are you waiting to hear from God? Our mentors are available to talk and pray with you. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJ)

A few weeks ago I traveled unfamiliar back roads to a workshop I was leading. I plugged my cell phone into the car jack and gave the GPS app the address of my destination.  The sweet, monotone, voice began to speak. Step by step, it told me when and where to turn. It even gave me a warning ahead of time. “In 1000 feet you will turn left onto Main Street.” When I approached, it repeated, “Turn left onto Main Street.” Then it would give me the next direction coming up.

I made it through town, and got to a state highway where farmlands stretched out ahead. The voice said, “In 28 miles turn left onto County Road 234.” Then silence. After almost fifteen minutes of listening to commands, the GPS voice became eerily quiet. It had said all it needed to for the next half hour. To ease the strange feeling of loss, I turned on the radio.

Then it hit me. How often in my life has God been silent?  I have experienced an uneasy feeling then as well. I ask myself, “Why is He no longer speaking to me? What have I done wrong? Is He mad at me? Have I sinned and not confessed it?”

During that period of silence I did the same thing as I did in my car.  I turned to Christian music, the Bible and prayer to keep me going. I needed assurance that my faith was still on track. For me, silence is not so golden.

God’s Word gives me directional guidance, as does the Holy Spirit. Perhaps in times of uncomfortable silence, God, like my little GPS on my phone, has simply said all He needs to say until it is once again time for me to change directions. The silence is a test of faith. Will I continue down the road He has led me, or get frustrated and veer off onto another path to try and find my own way?  Luckily, if I do, like my GPS provides new information to lead me back onto the right roads, God gives me new directions back to Him. I must choose whether to follow or not.

The verse from Proverbs reminds me that we are to trust God and lean not on our own understanding. I trusted that GPS app on my cell phone to keep me on the right roads to my destination. Should I not do the same with God’s Protective Spirit (my spiritual GPS) on this road called life?

Questions – Do you feel God is being silent right now? Do you recall His last directional command?

Related
Discover purpose in life

Related
Discover what your purpose in life is

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

“When I am afraid I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3).

Recently I learned a few things about myself and worry.

1. Worry can stem from childhood. When children experience parent/child reversal roles due to such things as illness, unemployment and addictions worry becomes an early life pattern.

2. People who worry often believe that their anxiety somehow helps them to avoid bad things. They believe it prevents problems, helps them prepare for the worst or gives them a way to control circumstances.

3. People who worry hate uncertainty but rather seek guaranteed outcomes.

Whoa! Guaranteed outcomes? That doesn’t leave room for trusting God does it? In fact worry sounds like the opposite to trust.   Lord, forgive me. Help me to see worry as sin in your eyes, and unbelief.

Jesus spoke at length about worry for He was aware that each day has no shortage of troubles. He reminded his listeners of Gods faithfulness to small things like the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field. Jesus encourages us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be given to us.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27)

If you, like me, are prone to worry, let it go, my friend. God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble. (Psalm 46) No matter why we worry, let us determine to trade our worries for trust and look to Him, knowing that He cares for us.

Dear God, I confess that often times my first response is to worry, then pray and then worry some more. I take off the cloak of worry today knowing that it has no value and replace it with a shining robe of trust. Even when life seems uncertain and scary I will look to you, Amen.

Question: Is worry something that you need to confess and relinquish?

About the author Beverley Rayner

Every week in the USA, nearly half a million people apply for unemployment benefits.

In fact, trying times like these (when none of those dozens of resumes sent out seem to generate the slightest interest) are often what cause us to reach out to God anew. C. S. Lewis once said “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Not that we should seek pain, but when we do encounter it, it is often intended as a refining process. If it’s your husband rather than yourself that has lost their job, you may want to try reading “Coping With Your Husband’s Job Loss”

That said, I think most churches do a pretty poor job of supporting their members who are unemployed. Here’s how the first century church worked:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Later in Acts, Luke further emphasizes the attitude of the early church:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:32-35)

Shouldn’t it be the church members’ privilege and responsibility to care for others in their congregation? But how often does that actually happen?

At my church we have a prayer meeting every Sunday to pray for the prayer requests of the church in general and individuals in particular. However we rarely hear that anyone is unemployed to be able to pray for them, even though we know many are currently struggling in this way. How have our churches become a place where we’re ashamed to admit our struggles? How can we pray for people if we don’t even know they need to be prayed for?

Even after introducing this idea to a church, it may take awhile before people are willing to buy into the vision. If you would like someone who will pray with you, confidentially via email, please contact us for prayer, and we will pray with you. Or you can leave a public comment below.

Is there life after divorce, abortion, sexual, physical or emotional abuse? Talk to us.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”  (Proverbs 4:23).

Your heart is the well-spring of all of your life. It is the place from which you’re reactions, your attitudes, your actions all bubble up from.  All that you are as you walk through this day, with whatever it holds, will spring from your heart. That’s why God tells us specifically to guard that well-spring.

We are wise to check what is residing in that well-spring. Among the many things we find in our hearts there will always be one of two very specific things in the lead.

Faith or Fear. One will always be on the top of the heap. They cannot both occupy the same place. If faith resides there your well-spring will pour out peace and confidence in God’s care for you, even in the midst of uncertain times.

If fear resides there anxiety and depression will be the natural outward flow.

Faith or Fear.  Every day we choose. Many times a day we choose.

When the evening news brings signs of foreboding unemployment, financial crisis and uncertainty tomorrow, fear is the natural response. That well-spring will pour forth worry and stress.  When relationships are on edge and illness or hardship looms, anxiety churns within us creating its own downward cycle.

Faith over-rides Fear.  Fear over-rides Faith.

God tells us exactly what to do when fear grips our hearts and takes over our minds. Left unchecked it will scatter our faith like confetti in the wind and leave us anchorless in the storms of life.

Listen to God’s very specific instruction from Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What a simple formula! Not easy – but simple. Worry is a call to prayer. The moment you become aware of that churning anxiety over ANYTHING, go immediately to your Heavenly Father.  Present your requests to Him. Then turn your thoughts and prayers to thanksgiving.

Thank Him for His promise to never forsake you. Thank Him for the power of His name and for His intimate knowledge of every detail. Thank Him for His track record in your life when He has been there for you in the past. Thank Him that He works all things together for your good as you trust Him. Thank Him that He is at work establishing His kingdom in your life.

Your faith and trust in God will over-ride your fear and His peace will actually put a guard around your heart and mind so fear cannot over run you. It’s supernatural and it’s real.

Father God,
I confess that fear is often my first response to challenges that come my way. May I be conscious today of choosing to trust You with every detail of my life. Help me to have faith to leave the question marks in Your control and to trust You to carry me and sustain me with your peace that is beyond understanding. Today I choose to put my trust in You. Fill my heart with child like faith today I ask in the strong name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: Describe the difference in ones life when either faith or fear is in control. What is the formula for keeping our minds free from worry and anxiety?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Take action: The holidays are coming. Prepare in advance by thinking about your time management skills. Try our interactive online study Managing Time Wisely.

You said it: This week Lillian shared on the Fight with Prayer to Save Your Faith women’s devotional, saying “It is good for us to ask ourselves occasionally “Do I really believe God is who He says He is?” It is sometimes easier to say that really believe.” Read the rest of the comments on Fight with Prayer to Save Your Faith, and join the conversation on Devotional for Men and Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Blog: Loud and Clear
What do you do when you can’t seem to be heard? When kids see their friends’ parents getting divorced, it’s natural they would be worried about their own parents’ relationships. How can you reassure them? Read more

Devotional: Whatever I Do
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Whether the big picture ahead brings you excitement or anxiousness, God gives a formula to live by daily. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Empowering Relationships” Join us in the chat room November 22nd 2009 @ 9:00pm EST for this chat, and check our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

• Investigate how other companies are faring in your industry. Are there lay-offs at similar companies?
• Look for warning signs like not being invited to meetings that your peers are, not getting copied on e-mails, or getting passed up for good assignments.
• Pay special attention to the relationship you have with your boss; if they don’t like you, your job may be in trouble.

They also give some advice for keeping your job safe. With the recent economic downturn, how do you feel about the security of your job? Or if you’re not currently employed, how do you feel about your chances of finding a new, fulfilling job in the future? Talk back in the comments.

If you are feeling depressed about your job (or lack of a job) feel free to contact us. Our volunteers are always ready to listen with a kind ear!