Poppy Smith's Blog

Are you too scared to dream?

Do you have a dream?
“I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly,”
declared Jesus. (Jn. 10:10).
What do you think Jesus means when He says, “I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly”?
Enough money? No health issues? No rebellious kids?
No unfaithful or unkind spouse?  
Being human, of course we don’t want any pain, sorrow, hurt feelings, ruptured relationships, or stress of any kind. I get it! But that isn’t what He promises. 
 
Instead, the life Jesus speaks of is spiritual, eternal, and present: It’s a never-ending life that is yours because of faith in His death for you. Rom. 6:23 It’s also a quality of life that reflects God’s reality as you abide in Jesus, especially through life’s tough times.   John 15:5 It’s a life that has purpose and direction under the hand of God as you run the race set before you. Heb.12:1-2 It’s a life that matures by cultivating spiritual sensitivity, discernment, and a commitment to saying “Yes” to God because you recognize He is at work in you.   Phil. 2:13 It’s a conviction about who your life belongs to: “You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body” 1 Cor. 6:19-20 Think about these questions, and the following ones, then take some time to write out your responses. This will help you decide what steps God might be prompting you to take.
 
Here are some more helps to identifying what God has equipped you, called you, or is prompting you to do with your one life.  DARING TO DREAM REQUIRES ALLOWING GOD TO DIRECT YOU!
 
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THIS? Many of us want to honor Jesus by serving Him in some way but can we, if we’re naturally scared and timid?
 
Does God have something YOU can do for Him?
 
Something I can do for Him?
 
 He does!
 
I can’t think of anything I’ve done that didn’t begin with fear, knocking knees, dry mouth, pleas for His help and fervent prayers. And, an awareness that God only asks us to do our best with the “loaves and fishes” we have. He is the One who blesses and multiplies whatever we offer to Him.
 
Yes, God does use the naturally brave and bold, the firebrands and super-confident extroverts, but He also transformed many scaredy cats into brave, strong, courageous servants who do great things by relying on His strength and wisdom. 
  He told scared and resistant Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. He enabled scared and reluctant Esther to speak to the king He called scared and resistant Jeremiah to be His prophet He gave young, immature Joseph great dreams—and those dreams anchored his heart when life went in the opposite direction—until, in God’s timing, it all changed. 
DON’T SENSE A CALLNG OR DRAWING IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION YET? Don’t fret! When you’re ready and open to what God might have for you to do in 2026, He will direct your path. It might come through a desire, a thought, a concern, or a word from others. Be listening and watching for it!
 
If it involves a challenge or a new area that produces insecurity and fear, accept that as a normal reaction: PRAY ABOUT IT. SEEK GOD’S DIRECTION. CHOOSE TO TRUST HIM. REFUSE TO SAY “NO!”
 
You and I have the amazing privilege of living a God-directed, God-empowered, and God-fulfilled life—an abundant life that touches others.
 
LET’S NOT WASTE IT!
 
Blessings,
Poppy
 
As a Christian Life Coach and Spiritual Counselor, I frequently meet with women who yearn to make different choices, need courage to deal with difficult situations, or want guidance or help from someone they feel safe to share with Meeting via Zoom or phone every few weeks or monthly can make all the difference in how you go through the year ahead. If I can help, I’d love to have a relaxed, informal, get acquainted phone call with you. Of course, there is no obligation. Contact Me Learn more

 

‍ ‍This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

  “She brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”
Luke 2:7 Through the words of Luke, “there was no room for them in the inn” I’m sensing the Holy Spirit speaking to me:
“Poppy, Is there room in your life for Jesus?”
Do you ever ask yourself that?
 Last month I started praying and thinking about what God wanted me to teach the three women’s groups I lead at my church. What came to mind was developing a series on “Make Room for Jesus”. Some of the topics I’m developing are: Who Is Jesus? Why make room for Him in my life? What is my life about—in the end, what do I want to be remembered for?As you can see, this involves prayer for guidance, time for study, and a lot more work! But I’m excited to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading on this important topic. Why? Because our lives are so easily clogged with what doesn’t really matter in the end. At least, mine is all too often!

Here are the four main themes on my heart for this series (some of which I’ll share with you in the coming months):

The Purposeful Life – Why is it important?
The Packed Full Life – What Stress does this produce?
The Pared Down Life - How can I Declutter from the Inside Out?
The Pursuing Life – What Pathways lead to making room for Jesus?
 
Christmas is the time when we both give and (hopefully!) receive gifts. Some gifts are just fun, but some are precious and we take special care of them.
 In Jesus, God has given us the most precious gift of all.
 Speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus said: “If you knew the gift of God you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). 

Paul wrote: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8).

The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).     Unlike gifts that wear out, date out, or fizzle out, this gift grows more precious with time and never stops being a blessing. This amazing gift of God changes who you are forever! You are no longer who you used to be. You no longer need to live with shame, guilt, failure, and pain. It changes how you can live. You can have purpose, peace, joy and freedom to live fully. It changes your priorities. You can live for a greater goal than your own desires, pleasing the One who gave Himself for you. It changes your source of fulfillment and joy. You can know an inner well of delight, one that brings you to tears of praise as the amazing grace and love of God envelops your soul.Enjoy your Christmas gifts, my friends—but delight far more in the gift of God, Jesus, who transforms you at your core and who you will enjoy for eternity.

Merry Christmas!   
Poppy

   

“May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way”
2 Thessalonians 3:16

Has the pressure begun? You’ve already: Gone shopping. Been stuck in traffic. Driven around and around looking for a parking spot. Gotten a bit cranky.I don’t know about you, but when I’m under pressure, I do get a bit irritable. My words aren’t always sweet and kind. And, sometimes, all my beautiful prayers that I might be like Jesus (patient, loving, and self-sacrificing) seem to go out the window.  It’s little wonder I wrote a book called, “I’m Too Human to be Like Jesus—Spiritual Growth for the Not-so-perfect Woman.”  

Mix together the usual Christmas pressures: Find the perfect present for everyone, at a bargain price, Decorate a gorgeous tree, Bake enough cookies to feed the five thousand, Throw a fabulous party for everyone you know.If you then stir in tired, irritable kids and husbands groaning at the cost of it all—and the greatest season of the year can easily become one you’d rather forget as tempers flare, children bicker and you have an emotional melt down!

Anyone been there?

Want things to be different?  First: Take a few deep breaths! It calms your brain and body. Second: Smile—whether you feel like it or not. Studies show that a smile can lift your mood and it’s contagious! When you’re stressed, catch someone’s eye, or greet them, and SMILE! Third: Consciously choose to speak kindly and calmly to others, especially your kids, your spouse, and yourself.     Be Kind to Your Kids (Or Grandkids)

At Christmas, it’s easy to forget that little ones don’t have the energy to go to one more store! In your understandable drive to get as much done as possible, do you ignore their cries for attention—until they keep raising the decibel level – Mommy, Mommy, Mommy? Then find it’s easy to snap and say words that wound? Try this instead: Get on their eye level. Speak softly not roughly. Give them your full attention. Embrace them and respond lovingly to the situation. Proverbs 12:18 says: Reckless words pierce like a sword…” That’s true for kids of every age! Be the master of your day—think about your plans and your kids’ stamina. Be smart and anticipate problems. Make plans to handle them before your kids lose it.Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in addition to the games and toys you give your kids, you blessed them (and your older children) with loving words?

Be Kind to Your Husband

What about intentionally speaking positively to your husband? Here’s some ideas: Wouldn’t he love to receive WORDS of appreciation, or admiration, or acceptance—as well as that gizmo/sweater/underwear? How about words of support: What can I do today that would help you out? Or words of respect: What do you think about this? How do you feel about…? Tell me more.­­­­­­­­­­­­Be Kind to Yourself

Don’t neglect treating yourself with respect. Instead of criticizing and attacking yourself, nourish your heart by speaking words of kindness and truth to yourself. Refuse to say to yourself what you’d never dream of saying to anyone else! Rehearse your positive character traits developed by God, and not your weaknesses. Thank Him for what He has done in you. Reject comparison with others. You are a woman God loves and is working in. When you feel stressed and pressured, remember that your words are powerful. They are gifts that can bless, heal, and bring joy to others, and yourself. Use them—and Smile!   
 
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace,
Poppy

    I love this story of a woman who was asked by a coworker,“What is it like to be a Christian?”   
Her reply?
"It’s kind of like being a pumpkin.
“God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you.

Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, lies we tell ourselves, etc.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

HAS THIS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE? IS GOD RIGHT NOW REMOVING THE YUCKY STUFF, GIVING YOU A SMILEY FACE, AND FILLING YOU WITH GRATITUDE?

I HOPE SO!

Dr. Catherine Hart Weber, author of FLOURISH, DISCOVER VIBRANT LIVING writes, “The feeling and practice of gratitude is the single predictor of life satisfaction.”

Research shows that nurturing a grateful heart leads to a healthier body, a happier mind, and relationships that flourish.

Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving Day as an American or not, God encourages us to always be thankful:

“Give thanks to the Lord,” 1 Chron. 16:8

“Give thanks to Him and praise His name,” Psalm 100:4     Giving thanks to God for all His goodness not only honors Him, it also powerfully impacts our attitude to life. The Apostle Paul states this in positive terms: “Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful This is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 TLB)Thinking back over all I have to be thankful for, I was struck by so many things, but what about you?

What do you see God doing in your life?

How is He blessing, comforting, providing and caring for you?   

To help you notice, remember, and give thanks to God, here are a few areas to think about. I hope your mind is flooded with memories and your heart filled with joy and gratitude as you remember His goodness to you.

I thank you Lord because: You gave me hope when ……………. You gave me strength when ……….... You comforted me when ……………. You helped me when ………………. You understood me when …………. You loved me when ………………… Ask God to help you recognize His presence in your life even in the hard places that come to all of us. Knowing He is present, whether I understand what is happening or not, strengthens and fills me with joy and thanksgiving.  My prayer is that this is true for you, also.
 
Happy Thanksgiving my friends,
Poppy

    There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…
A time to weep and a time to laugh”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 The God who created us knows what we need. At times, our minds and bodies desperately need quiet: No noise. No demands. No activities. At other times, we need a release from the tension, sadness, and despair that can grip us. 

Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s sermons about life, describes our human experience—there are seasons of life where we do weep, perhaps due to our own suffering, or of those we love and care for. We can also be moved by the Holy Spirit to weep, pray, lament over those we don’t know personally as we hear of their suffering, fear, and trauma. 

How can we cope with these very real emotions? Here are a few ways I’ve learned from God’s Word:

1. When I allow myself to overly focus on the sorrow and pain in the world, I sink emotionally. I don’t have a magic wand to wave away what people are going through (and nor do you) so my despair isn’t helping anyone.  

What can we do? 

Practice Philippians 4:8: Think about what is true, noble, just, lovely, and good. In other words, get ahold of what you’re mentally feeding on and change your focus! Instead: Bring your thoughts and emotions into God’s presence, intercede, and take whatever action He brings to mind.         2. Recognize that joy and laughter are part of God’s plan for good mental health! It is emotionally healing. Scripture tells us that a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones (Proverbs 17:22) How true!  

If you’re struggling to find some joy in your life, begin a Gratitude journal. Get a notebook and every time you think of something you’re grateful for, write it down. See how much you can list each day, hold it before the Lord and say, “Thank You!”

Life might be hard, but think about all the good things in your life and you will find your mood lifting: Do you have a pet? Be grateful! Do you have a friend, or more than one?Thank God for them. Do you have a warm, comfortable home, bed, food, clothes? Be thankful!3. Intentionally look for what makes you laugh. It is good for you. Here are a few facts research has shown about the brain and laughter: Laughter relaxes the body It is a natural pain reducer It increases our ability to cope with life       
Check out YouTube videos, funny movies, search out good, clean jokes. To get you started, here are a few (and click the link for more):

WORDS YOU WON'T FIND IN THE DICTIONARY Arachnoleptic fit (n.) The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web. Beelzebug (n.) Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at 3 am in the morning and cannot be cast out. Bozone (n.) The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future. Caterpallor (n.) The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating. Decaflon (n.) The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you. Dopelar effect (n.) The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when you come at them rapidly.These are from: www.mikeysFunnies.com
 
God wants you to experience fullness of joy, my friends (Psalm 16:11) That’s found in your relationship with Him, but also in the simple joy of laughing at silly, funny, and crazy things that happen in life.

Wishing you God’s gift of laughter in these difficult days,
Poppy    

    “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14:1 HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE STRESSED? Is your heart pounding? Are you feeling a bit panicky? Does your body seem hot, your stomach a bit queasy?  

You’re having a stress reaction!
 
Being stressed is not sinful! It is normal. Stress happens for many reasons: when you have too much going on, something unexpected happens and derails your schedule, or you’re simply wired and tired after a mentally or physically demanding day or week.

There are many steps you and I can take to lessen the negative impact of stress. Here’s a brief recap of two from the previous blog:

Step 1 is learning to cry out, “Help, Lord! Show me what to do” and training ourselves to ask God: WHAT CAN I CONTROL IN THIS SITUATION? Simply asking this allows the Holy Spirit to remind us that we can’t control someone else’s attitudes, behaviors, or choices. What we can do is ask to be filled with the Spirit to handle the situation we’re in: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Step 2: Think about the situation and ask yourself some questions: Is this worth worrying about for hours or days as I try to fix the situation or persuade another person to do what I want?  Is the problem minor or major? Will it matter next week, month, or year?  If not, present your worries to God and let Him sort it out. (Philippians 4: 6-7) Here are more ways to handle stress:

Step 3: Identify what causes repeated stress. Does coming home from work or a busy day and not knowing what to fix for dinner stress you out? What’s the solution? Sit down and plan your meals for the week, make a shopping list, and stop the stress! 

Is repeated stress due to constantly running late because you assume you have time to add something at the last minute?  Only you know why you’ve developed the habit of running late. What’s the solution? Pray for insight into what causes the problem and what steps YOU can take to solve the problem.  James 1:4-5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God who gives it generously!”

Step 4: If you’re discouraged and struggling with stress, ask for help. Sometimes being willing to share a struggle with a safe and supportive Christian is exactly how we get insight and help. I’m thankful to the women God has brought into my life at different seasons—I needed their insight and wisdom, their prayers and caring.  Maybe that is how God will help you.  We’re told to bear one another’s burdens, so pray for God to lead you to the right person. (Galatians 6:2)

Step 5: Destress by getting what’s inside you out on paper. The Psalms are David’s journals. He wrote out his struggles, his hopes, his fears and his trust that God would rescue him. 

Whether you call it journaling, free writing, or expressing your thoughts by writing prayers to God, getting on paper what is eating you up or dragging you down is a proven way to destress.

Think of writing what’s on your heart as a sacred time with God. Invite Him to speak to you. Pause and listen. He wants to help you grow closer to Him and to bring you wisdom and inner peace. Embrace David’s words and experience His presence. “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Ps. 62:8.

I hope these five ways to tackle stress are simple and practical enough for you to absorb and practice. They certainly help me. If I can be of help to you, contact me at poppy@poppysmith.com  

If you haven’t already, let me encourage you to download a copy of my free Ebook: Overcoming Worry and Fear. I’m praying it will be of help in your journey with Him.

Love in Christ,
Poppy  

Download How to Overcome Your Worry and Fear!

 

   “Come to Me and I will give you rest” Jesus: Matthew 11:28-30Has anyone ever lived without STRESS? I doubt it! I’ve been reminded of this as I began a ten-week series teaching the book of ESTHER this past week. Every character experienced stress for one reason or another—just as you and I do!

The Bible, God’s Word to us, is full of the stories of people. One researcher claims there are over 2,500 names of people in Scripture. Ever wonder why? Because we learn from how they handled the stressors, challenges, and blessings they encountered in life.
 STRESS IS NOT UNIQUE TO OUR TIME IN HISTORY
—NOR ARE GOD’S SOLUTIONS We don’t have to be victims of ongoing stress.  We don’t have to stay anxious, wondering what to do or being too fearful to act. Jesus said He came to give us rest and abundant life (John 10:10). That’s not a life without painful experiences or of financial luxury. We live in a world where hurt and pain happen, but we can know God’s rest, peace, strength, comfort and courage no matter what we go through. He is the source of our ability to be calm under stress.PRAYER, SCRIPTURE, AND A CONSTANT AWARENESS THAT GOD IS WITH YOU ARE ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR CALMING YOUSELF.  IN ADDITION, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF OVERCOME THE STRESSORS THAT COME IN LIFE. 

HERE ARE 2 – WATCH FOR 3 MORE IN THE NEXT BLOG. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL Is your stress coming from not being able to control someone else? A spouse, a child, a parent or ???? You can pray, you can influence, but you cannot control what people think, say, believe, or their reaction to you.

WH0 CAN YOU CONTROL? Yourself: what you say, your thoughts, values, beliefs, boundaries, actions, and time.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Release that person or situation to God and let go of your need to control the situation and outcome. Respect their right to autonomy, hard as that is.
 
Jesus let the rich, young, ruler walk away. Even though He loved him, He didn’t try to control his decision. (Mark 10: 17-22) DON’T INVEST MAJOR ENERGY IN MINOR PROBLEMSSome stress comes from making a mountain out of every molehill! Not every problem is major or life-changing, yet we can waste a lot of mental energy on them.
 
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Relax. Calm down. Take several deep breaths. Ask yourself what difference will this make a week, a month, or a year from now? If it doesn’t, go ahead and decide, reminding yourself that it is not going to determine the rest of your life! Pray for wisdom and make a choice. Stewing about what to do and going back and forth only increases your stress.  Refuse to be a “worry wart”. Jesus said “Do Not Worry” because He knows what you need and worry doesn’t change a situation, it only make you feel worse!

WANT SOME HELP ON OVERCOMING WORRY AND FEAR—WHICH ARE MAJOR SOURCES OF STRESS? FIND SCRIPTURES AND HELPFUL PRACTICES IN MY FREE EBOOK. DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

Blessings,
Poppy   

   Want To Hear God Speak?
Ask These Questions!

Jeremiah 6:16

Whether you’re facing a big or minor decision, you don’t have to sit on a mountain top in a yoga pose and wait for enlightenment!  

As followers of Christ, we have a God who promises to guide us, lead us, and show us the way. But there are two requirements: We are to trust Him totally (that He is good and wise and knows what lies ahead). We don’t rush ahead acting on our own impulses and limited understanding.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)In addition to the 7 ways we can hear God speak that I covered in the previous two articles, here are 12 key questions to ask yourself when making decisions.
 
When using these questions to discern God’s leading, find a quiet space and ask the Holy Spirit to help you be honest with yourself and with God. Writing out your thoughts also helps.

1. Will this path lead me closer to the Lord?
 
2.  Will this path increase my faith, undermine it, or draw me away from God?
 
3.  Is seeking God at the core of what I want for my life?
 
4.  Is this choice consistent with my claim to be a follower of Christ?
 
Begin your choice by keeping the end in view. Ask:
 
5.   What kind of person do I want to be?
 
6. What do I want my legacy to be?
 
7. How do I want my life to turn out?
 
8.  Ask a friend: Do you see this decision fitting with who I am and what God is doing in my life?
 
9.  Is this choice consistent with what I know of the character and heart of God?

10.  Will this choice continue what God is doing in my life?
 
11.  As you visualize offering your decision to God or giving it as advice to someone else, do you feel peace, or do you feel unrest?
 
12. Do you have joy or uneasiness as you make this decision? 
 
Let me encourage you to reflect on Jeremiah 6:16: This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Stand: In other words: Stop! Don’t race through decisions.
 
Look: At both the short term and long-term ramifications.  Don’t make a choice just to get relief from it weighing you down.  Wisdom requires looking at the short- and long-term consequences, not just for you but for others as well and for your witness.  Think carefully, be quiet and listen to God.
 
Crossroads: Are places where your decision could change the direction of your life and affect who you become.  There are always consequences, or outcomes, positive or negative from our choices.  Ask yourself: Will my choices cause me to dry up spiritually because I’ve drifted along or will I keep growing and becoming more like Christ and serving Him?
 
If you discover you’re going the wrong way, you can always turn around and go back.  You can also reach out to others who are drifting the wrong way to support and invite them back with the grace of God. 
 
Ask: Ask these 12 questions of yourself and ask God. Use prayer and discernment as you consider these questions. Don’t be foolish and charge ahead, ignoring flashing red lights at the crossroads.  Emotions are not indicators of God’s will.  They make wonderful servants but terrible masters. God has given you a mind to think, weigh, and make decisions that will bless your life and others.
 
So, stand, look, and ask God.  Then walk in obedience to His leading. 

Blessings,
Poppy

 

If you missed part one of this series, click here!

 Sitting on the balcony of a condo in Hawaii many years ago, I wondered what lay ahead. I knew God had led me to step down after seven years from a spiritually rich and fulfilling ministry as the Teaching Leader of a Bible Study Fellowship class. But now what? 

Was that the end of teaching His Word, talking about His reality, His love, His mercy and goodness? I didn’t know.

Turning to my Bible, I read a verse I hadn’t noticed before:

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

As I look back over the path my life took, I am so grateful for God’s promise to lead, guide, and make the rough places smooth. He did!

DOES GOD SPEAK? YES!

1. Through His Word, which is applied by His Spirit, speaking to our hearts and minds with words of assurance, guidance, comfort and courage.

2. Through Prayer and time lingering in His Presence.

3. Through other Believers

In addition, here are four more ways to listen for God’s voice.    4. Through “Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19)
We might not go around serenading one another but singing or listening to words about the glory, mercy, and grace of God are powerful ways we hear Him speak.  We are created in such a way that music impacts our brains, our thoughts, our feelings and our decisions. When you listen to older hymns or more modern praise songs, notice not just the tune but the words.  What is God saying to you through them?

5. Through the Spoken Word
With sermons available in church, on the internet, via podcasts, blogs and articles we don’t lack input. Listen a few times to a particular speaker and ask God to give you discernment.  Is the teaching consistent with what Scripture says.  Are you hearing His voice? Is it deepening your love for Christ, is it motivating you to live out His calling on your life?

6. Through the Writings of Mature Believers
I owe a great debt to many men and women who have written about the Christian journey. In my early days as a follower of Jesus, people gave me missionary biographies to read. The true stories I read amazed me. This God I was learning about didn’t just exist thousands of years ago—He was alive! He moved in amazing ways today!  He was knowable!

Years later, God used a magazine article to convict me that I was to stop ignoring His voice and write!  (This was after refusing to listen to three different people who encouraged me to write what I teach.)

When you read books about following Christ, be listening for God’s voice. He is speaking today—into your current circumstances—even through those who are now with Him. Don’t miss what they have to say today!

7. Through Spirit given thoughts that prompt action
Scripture affirms and illustrates that God speaks and guides us in many ways— but every thought, word, or action must always be consistent with Scripture, God’s character, and God’s purposes for the world.

If you feel the urge to call a friend, to pray for someone, to reach out in some way, recognize this can be the Spirit of God who indwells you directing your thoughts. Weigh what you should do and be willing to step out in faith.  If it wasn’t a God-prompt, don’t feel embarrassed—know that your willingness to care honored God. That’s what truly matters!

In my next article, as part of learning to hear God speak, I’ll share 12 questions to ask when wondering what path to take.

Never forget: God is alive, He hears, He cares, He communicates. 

Blessings,
Poppy

   

"Speak, for your servant is listening”  1 Samuel 3:10 .

“Go and see Ellen,” came a thought out of nowhere as I drove my children to school many years ago. 

“Stop and see her on the way home.”

“You don’t stop at 8 am on a weekday morning to see someone,” I argued with myself. But the thought persisted.

After dropping off my daughter and son, I thought about how embarrassing it would be to knock on my friend’s door, say I was thinking about her, and have her wonder why I’d turn up at such a strange time.  But I couldn’t stop feeling I should go and see her.

When she came to the door it was clear she had been crying. Explaining I felt I should stop by, she said, “I have been praying for the last hour that God would send someone to help me. Thank you for coming!”

Does God Speak? Yes, in many ways. But we don’t hear unless we are listening for His voice.

1 Samuel 1-3 gives a powerful illustration of the importance of listening for His voice. Perhaps you remember the story?

After God answered Hannah’s agonized prayer she gave birth to a son, who she dedicated to His service. Samuel became a vital instrument in God’s hand, blessing Israel as their prophet, priest, and last Judge of Israel. He was the one God directed to anoint David as king.

Under the guidance of his less than perfect spiritual mentor, Eli, Samuel learned a key lesson in the walk of faith:

God not only created us; He also communicates with us. 

To be led by God, to experience God’s presence and power in his life, Samuel needed to learn to hear Him speak.

So do you and I.

Like Samuel, we also need to daily say, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (3:10)   How Does God Speak? Here are 7 ways I have heard God speak which we can all experience:

1.Through Scripture:
Psalm 1 emphasizes the life-changing power of meditating, thinking about, chewing over, taking time to digest what God says. Listening requires hearing, analyzing, applying what God says to your attitudes, your choices, your behavior, and your response to God. (See my article on Meditation: https://www.poppysmith.com/blog/meditation-buddhist-based-or-bible-based)

Another way to discern God’s voice is to choose to focus on a few verses each day rather than covering large chunks of Scripture. Select a few verses, a scene from the Gospels, or part of a Psalm:

Read it slowly.
Reflect on it. Maybe put yourself into the narrative.
Respond in prayer to what stands out to you
Rest, contemplate, ask and listen to what God is saying to you.
 
2.Through Prayer—Drawing close to God
Personalizing prayers in Scripture draws us closer to God: Try praying verses from various Psalms such as Ps.31, 34, 40, etc. Or pray from your heart Paul’s words in Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 3:20-21 and other places. Practice repeating the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) slowly, thoughtfully, and apply it personally. 

Confession is another powerful way we draw close and hear God speak. Go to Him when you’re struggling with difficult emotions and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and release any attitudes that don’t honor Him. (Ps. 139:23-24) Listen for His words of love, acceptance, and grace toward you, His beloved child.

3.Through Other Believers.
Be listening for God’s voice when spending time with other Christians who live out their faith. Sometimes it’s just a sentence or a thought or an experience they share that sticks in your mind.  Notice it! Ask God if He is speaking. Is it a word of encouragement from Him? A word of conviction, or guidance, or support? His Spirit speaks through His people so seek out a church community, a small group, or a mentoring relationship. Ask Him to lead you to where you are fed, challenged and encouraged. It’s essential!
 
I had too much to share with you in this article so be sure and watch for Part 2 next week. We’ll look at how God speaks through:
“Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19)
Through the Spoken Word
Through the Writings of Mature Believers
Through Spirit given thoughts that prompt action
 
May you hear His voice of love and acceptance today,
Poppy