Part 2 (2/2)
One day, as usual, I was praying for my husband to change in some area, when the Holy Spirit began revealing a truth to me He knew I was ready to face. As He began speaking to my heart-impressing on me the truth I needed to see-I saw the source of the problems I had been blaming on everyone and everything else. As I was praying, the Holy Spirit caused me to realize the source of the problem was not my husband. The source of the problem was me! I was devastated emotionally for three days as I looked in shock at the extent of the deception into which I had led myself by believing everyone except me was the problem. The Holy Spirit gently unveiled the truth to me of what life was like for the members of my family who had to live in the same house with me. I saw I was hard to get along with, impossible to keep happy, critical, selfish, dominating, controlling, manipulative, negative, nagging-and this was just the beginning of the list.
It was extremely difficult for me to face this truth, but as the Holy Spirit gave me the grace to do it, in that year I began a life of learning how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit working inside me to transform the ashes in my life into beauty. My life became a series of new freedoms, each preceded by a new truth the Holy Spirit revealed to me. Many of the truths I teach people today came out of that initial truth the Spirit of Truth led me to in 1976.
Truth is wonderful. Jesus said it will make us free. But as wonderful as truth is, we must be ready to face it. Truth is often harsh; it shocks us into a reality we may feel unprepared to see, but if G.o.d is revealing it He knows the time is right. As tough as it might be at the time to press through the pain rather than avoiding it, we will be so glad to live in the freedom and rewards it brings.
Truth is often harsh; it shocks us into a reality we may feel unprepared to see, but if G.o.d is revealing it He knows the time is right.
I strongly urge you to be willing to face truth because there is no freedom without it. The world is filled with deception and the Bible actually teaches us that it will get worse as time goes by. G.o.d said that if He did not shorten the days for the sake of the very elect, no man could stand the deception coming to the earth. It is very common today for someone to call evil good and good evil. We must not look to the world to teach us how to live sincere, truthful lives, but rather to the Word of G.o.d and the Holy Spirit.
Let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) (Ephesians 4:15).
CHAPTER 10.
Learn to Hear from G.o.d Learning to hear from G.o.d and being led by the Holy Spirit is very exciting. G.o.d wants to speak to us about the plan He has for our lives. His plan is a good plan, but we are in danger of missing it if we don't learn how to listen to and obey G.o.d's voice.
We talk to our children all the time-why wouldn't our heavenly Father talk to His children? We would not expect our children to know what we wanted them to do if we did not talk to them, so why would G.o.d feel any different?
We would not expect our children to know what we wanted them to do if we did not talk to them, so why would G.o.d feel any different?
G.o.d speaks to us in many ways. He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, through that ”knowing” deep inside us, and through peace. He may also speak through nature, other people, circ.u.mstances, wisdom, supernatural intervention, dreams, and visions.
G.o.d also speaks through our conscience, our desires, and an audible voice. However, the two most prevalent ways G.o.d speaks to us are through His Word and the inward witness in our hearts. Hearing the audible voice of G.o.d is rare for most people and nonexistent for many. I have heard the audible voice of G.o.d three or four times in my life. Two of those times were at night when I was awakened by His voice simply calling my name. All I heard was, ”Joyce,” but I knew it was G.o.d calling me. He did not say what He wanted, but I knew instinctively it had something to do with a ministry call on my life, although clarity did not come in that area for several more years.
I heard the audible voice of G.o.d in February 1976, a very significant year for me, the day I was filled with the Holy Spirit. That morning, I cried out to G.o.d about how awful life was, and I told Him something was missing in my relations.h.i.+p with Him. I felt I was at the end of my rope.
His voice seemed to fill my entire car, and He simply said, ”Joyce, I have been teaching you patience.” Since that was my first time to hear anything of that magnitude, it both thrilled and shocked me. I instinctively knew what He meant. I had asked G.o.d several months prior to that time to teach me patience, not realizing the lesson would include a lengthy period of feeling my life was on hold. The frustration of that feeling peaked that morning in February when I cried out to G.o.d in desperation asking Him to do something and give me whatever it was I was missing.
When I heard G.o.d's voice, I was suddenly filled with faith that He was going to do something wonderful in my life, although I did not know what it would be; I spent the day in expectation and thanksgiving. That evening in my car, while returning home from my job, G.o.d's Spirit touched me in a special way and filled me with His Presence. This event was the beginning of a new level in my relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d.
Ask G.o.d to help you learn how to listen to Him, to be sensitive to His voice. He wants to talk to you, to develop a closer relations.h.i.+p with you. It is your privilege and right as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ to fellows.h.i.+p daily with G.o.d the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Learn to talk to G.o.d about absolutely everything. G.o.d is interested in everything that concerns you.
CHAPTER 11.
The Life of G.o.d Is Inside Us The Holy Spirit acts somewhat like a traffic policeman inside me. When I do the right things, I get a ”green light” from Him, and when I do wrong things, I get a ”red light.” If I am about to get myself in trouble, but I have not fully made a decision to proceed, I get a ”caution signal.”
The more we stop and ask G.o.d for directions, the more sensitive we become to the signals within from the Holy Spirit. He doesn't scream and yell at us; He simply whispers in the still, small voice and lets us know we are about to make a mistake. Each time we listen and obey, it becomes easier to hear Him the next time. He will always lead us to newness of life and inner peace, if we yield to Him.
As believers, we have the life of G.o.d inside us. We are the dwelling place or home of G.o.d. I believe this truth is necessary for each of us to understand in order to enjoy close fellows.h.i.+p and intimacy with G.o.d.
Why would G.o.d want to live in us? And how can He? After all, He is holy, and we are weak humans with frailties, faults, and failures. We are to simply believe that Jesus' sacrifice for our sins was enough to allow us into the presence of G.o.d. G.o.d takes up residence within us when we give our lives to Jesus by believing in Him as the only Savior and Lord. From that position He, by the power of the Holy Spirit, begins a wonderful work in us. This truth is so awesome that it is difficult for our finite minds to grasp and believe.
The answer is this: He loves us and chooses to make His home in us. He does that because He is G.o.d-He has the ability to do what He wants, and He chooses to make His home in our hearts. This choice is based not on any good deeds we have done or ever could do, but solely on the grace (or power), mercy, and love of G.o.d. As believers in Christ, we become G.o.d's dwelling place (see Ephesians 3:17; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 John 4:15).
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