I want to be a woman who says YES to God. I want to know what He is saying, to listen and obey. So, how do I know what God is saying to me? How do I recognize His voice in the midst of all the other noises that are going on around me?
One way I've learned to recognize God's voice is in the thought that won't go away. The nagging sense that this is something that I'm supposed to do.
Back in 2004 my older daughter was graduating from the 8th grade. I had worked at her school the previous year part time as a lunch monitor, but had prayed for a job at the elementary school for the next year. Thankfully, God answered YES to that prayer! Before I left to go to the elementary school, the middle school librarian had invited me to apply for a full time job there, but I had turned her down. Now, as we were leaving the 8th grade graduation she casually called out after me "Are you sure you don't want to work here?" I laughed and had no intention of doing anything about it, but throughout the summer I could not stop thinking about it. I came to the conclusion that God did, indeed, want me to pursue that position. So, I looked up the librarian's home number and that September I started an almost 10 year sojourn in the middle school library.
It was a similar experience as I recognized God's call to ministry. I couldn't get away from it. As I presented God with every reason why taking the classes and pursuing credentials didn't make sense, I couldn't get away from the inner push that this was something I was called to do and that if I didn't pursue this I would be disobeying Him. So I continued the process having no idea what God would do with my obedience.
I have been serving as a pastor now since 2013. I still don't know all that God has for my future, but I know that having ministry credentials is part of what will open up the path before me.
What about you? What is the thought that won't go away? The one that gives you an inner sense that you will be disobeying God if you don't at least try. I can't guarantee that all your questions will go away if you begin to act on that thought, but I can guarantee that not following the inner nudge will never resolve anything. You will be followed by one big question: WHAT IF? That is a question that can never be answered.
I've heard it said that sometimes we have to step over our questions in order to step out and obey God. There's only one thing I can say to that: DO IT!
Key Thought: Sometimes God speaks through a thought that won't go away.
A Scripture to consider:
"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" Psalm 139: 5-6 NLT
A YES challenge: What might God be speaking to you through a thought that won't go away?
Prayer:
Father, I really do think I am hearing You through that thought that won't go away, but I'm just not sure. I guess I will have to step out, step over my questions and start walking in that direction. You know that my desire is to obey You. As I begin to take those steps, please make Your will clear. I know that not all my questions will be answered, but I don't want the big WHAT IF? question to follow me for the rest of my life. I commit myself to You. My life is in Your hands and Your hands are big enough to take care of me. Amen.