Who Are You Listening To?

(Proverbs 1:32-33) “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to Me will live in safety

and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Who has first place in your heart? Do you listen to and obey the still small voice of the Lord within your heart? Does fear take over when trials overwhelm you? Do you give into the voice of your flesh and act in what the fear of the moment dictates or do you dare to trust and obey? God will never fail you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) “He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When God whispers into your heart, you must listen and obey. (James 4:8) “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” God gave us free will and He is polite and very gentle. He won’t make you read His Word or trust Him. But if you will listen and obey and trust the sweet whispers from God and submit to His will, He will encourage you and lift you up. He will help you go through your trials.

Our Heavenly Father is more compassionate than anyone realizes. He knows what it feels like to experience weakness. The night Jesus was betrayed, in the garden of Gethsemane, He went to pray. He told the disciples that He took with Him, (Matthew 26:38-39) “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me. Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

After checking on the disciples twice, He prayed the same thing two more times. In fact He was so overwhelmed with despair, when He went back to pray the second time, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood. (Luke 22:44) “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

Jesus was tempted; He shared in our humanity. He understands our emotions. (Hebrews 2:14) “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil.” His humanity helps Him to understand our weakness and temptations. (Hebrews 2:17-18) “For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

The trials you go through can be very heart wrenching at times but if you will dare to trust and obey and listen to God's voice, He will bring you safely through every storm. Victory is promised!

(Joshua 21:43-45) “So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The

Lord gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.”