Listening to God - The Holy Spirit

I'm ashamed to admit it but I pray that God would lead me and show me how He wants me to live.  Then when He tries to direct  my life and tell me something to do I ignore it and or reason it away.  What I'm talking about is how you get a gut feeling and or a thought to do something and instead of doing it you ignore that thought or inner voice or find a reason that you can't do it.

One example is when you may see a homeless person and you get the feeling to help that person but before you do you reason that they must want to be homeless in America because in America everyone can get  help.  Or that they probably are drug addicts and or drunks and only want to get their next fix.

Another simple example is when you get the feeling to call someone that you haven't spoken too in some time, but we shake that off as weird and go about or daily business.  Then we you do take the time to call that person it usually points out why God wanted you to call.  It may have been that person was thinking about you or some other reason.  This isn't coincidence, this is the Holy Spirit directing us and we should follow.

You drive by or don't call that person and then when the Holy Spirit convicts you, you learn to ignore your feelings of regret.  As you do this more and more you become hardened to God's word.  You create a barrier between you and God's voice so that you can't hear Him anymore. 

In the old testament in the Bible it speaks of the Hebrews as being a stiff neck group, stubborn, and unwilling to listen.  I believe that is many of us, I know it is me in the way I let my daily thoughts and worries block out God's direction for my life. 

God wants in on every aspect of our life from the simplest action to the grandest dream we may have.  He loves every part of us and wants only the best for us even if we don't understand the final destination.

I pray that I will have the courage and faith to listen to God and immediately move in the direction he wants me to take.  I also will pray that through this practice of listening that I will live a life being lead by God.

Judging Others

Lately I have been very critical of others.  I have said somethings that were critical and in my heart I have been quietly judging others.  How their actions or words were a big mistake and how they should be punished and pay for their words or actions.

The Holy Spirit has been condemning me for these words that I spoke and the thoughts that I have had and has caused me to think about what I have said and held in my heart.  So, after some contemplation, I know in my heart (Holy Spirit) I'm not suppose to be critical of others and judge them.  It doesn't mean I have to agree with what they have done and or allow evil to flourish., but I have to follow Luke 6:37 (NIV):
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

So, if I believe the word of God and I most certainly do than I must follow the word of God and not Judge others.

I also believe we all reap what we sow -
Galatians 6:7 (NIV): "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

and we have to pay for our actions.  So, the actions of others will be handled by God and what they receive in their life.

So, I will pray for strength from our Lord Jesus Christ so that I do not judge others so that I will not be judged.

Native American Wisdom

When I was in the other world with the Old Man,
I saw all the people who have died.
But they were not sad....
It was a pleasant land, level without
rocks or mountains, green all the time, and rich
with an abundance of game and fish.
Everyone was forever young.

After showing me all of heaven, God told me to
go back to earth and tell his people you must be
good and love one another, have no quarreling,
and live in peace....

Wovoka, Paiute
(His vision of the Ghost Dance revival, 1889)