Monthly Archives: March 2014
Change Your Thoughts Challenge
If you know me or have been following my blog for very long, you know that my journey and personal relationship with God has come as a result of some serious pain along the way. As I reflect on how I got to where I am today, I clearly remember one specific thing that changed my life forever.
Several years ago I came to a point in my life where what I was doing was no longer working. You know, those moments where you think you are doing everything right and God hits you upside the head and says, “Is what you are doing building our relationship or just making you look Godly to the world?” Through serious soul searching, I found that He was right. I didn’t feel I was doing stuff to appear Godly, I honestly was doing everything because I thought that was what He wanted of us as Christ followers. You know, attend church, get actively involved in a small group, attend bible study, volunteer somewhere, read His word daily, tithe, the list goes on and on.
It was then that I discovered Christian rock. I know that sounds way too simple to lead to a life change in regards to getting to know Christ personally, but that one small change completely altered life as I knew it. Listening to God on a daily basis is the key to significant growth and God used music to speak to me. As days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years, I noticed that my entire thought process had completely changed. I started seeing things through a new lens.
My challenge to you is that for one week you listen to only positive, uplifting music. There are several Christian radio stations in every city so find one that appeals to your style of music. If you listen to internet radio at work or at home, KLOVE is my favorite. I have a feeling that after one week, your choice in music will not only change your attitude, but it will change the way you see the world around you.
Whispers from Above
Why does life have to be so hard? We try to do what is right only for others to see it differently. Then in an attempt to explain our motives, the problem somehow gets even bigger.
For years I have been on a journey with Christ that is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. After trusting no one but myself, God stepped in and revealed His heart. Even to this day, His love and understanding shake me to the core.
After a series of events that took place about a month ago, God revealed that the time had come for some dramatic changes to take place. I trusted Him, setting some very clear boundaries. These boundaries weren’t to upset the other party, but to protect my heart from further damage.
As expected, those boundaries created quite an uproar. I then find myself wanting to revert to previous behaviors just to end the madness, but God said to stay, so I am listening. I am trusting Him and following His lead.
After an evening of second guessing myself, which ultimately is me questioning God, I woke up with a sense of peace that I have never felt. And as if that wasn’t enough, God shows up.
A little while ago, I put in the video for a new bible study that begins tomorrow. Instead of the DVD going to the menu for me to select Session 1, it started on its own. So I watched.
These were the words that God shared with me…When someone has ears to hear God’s voice and follow His guidance, He provides an unquenchable thirst for righteousness. He tends to tap that person for help in solving a societal ill. It is the eerie calm before the storm, where God places a quiet whisper of insight into us, then He sits back to watch as a storm of justice begins to build. Once that person follows that initial direction, all bets are off. Their world gets irreversibly rocked as their role in this world takes a radical, justice-focused shift.
It wasn’t until the session ended that I realized I had just watched the last session. I was overwhelmed with such a tremendous sense of love. Not only does He know, but He cares even more that we do and He has a plan.
I don’t know what your being led to do for Christ, but I do know this: He is speaking to each and every one of us in profound ways. He is calling us to step out of our comfort zones and to fight battles that seem impossible from where we are standing. But He is God and He can use anyone He wants to bring justice to the world. It is only our job to obey, no matter the cost!
The words God shared with me came from, “The Power of a Whisper” by Bill Hybels. If you want to hear from God but aren’t sure how, I highly suggest reading this book. The way you see and hear from Him will be forever changed
Replenish~Renew~Refresh
Shannon Vaut 