God Speaking

      So I was just sitting here reading the book of James and I just decided to finally post something that God has been dealing with me about. You may be able to relate or you may not, but I believe that it will minister to you because I believe that at times we've all struggled a little in this area.
      It's been such a long time since my last post and to be honest I've been itching to write something new but never really knew what to right about. I just want to be real and, as cliche as it may sound, I want to share with you life the way I know it. So I'm just going to be me and if I'm able to minster to anyone through these posts, I know I'm doing something right.
      The past year or so I've been battling with a few things in particular and I've been drawing closer and closer to the Lord so whatever I've been dealing with, could be revealed. One thing I've noticed about myself in the past few years is that although correction may sometimes feel painful, I've learned to truthfully say "God, bring it on!" I know that anytime the Lord corrects, a deeper level of intimacy with Him is established. The bible says in Proverbs that "whom the Lord loves, He corrects." So I know He loves me! Lol!
      One area where I feel as though God has really shown me some things about myself is in the confidence that I have in hearing Him accurately. In the past, I've had a tendancy to doubt what I heard or sensed for fear of looking like an idiot if I spoke and noone else agreed or felt the same. I would pray and ask for an answer and question every answer I got. So not only did I allow fear to set in and become doubtful, but the opinions of men became more important.
      In James Chapter 1 verses 5-8, the bible talks about being unstable and not being able to receive what the Lord has because of it. The Message reads: "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open." The New King James says in verse 8, "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
      Ouch!!! Never once did I think that I was double-minded, but I cannot argue with God's Word. Let God be true, and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). When we ask God for answers, we need to put our faith out there to believe that regardless of what He says, it's Him speaking and we need to act on what He tells us to do. Now, we definitely need to know that we know that it is God, and the main way that we make sure of that is by staying in His word and renewing our minds to what it says. When we are so entangled in His word, then we can't go wrong because we begin to look, think, and act just like Him. We become the spitting image of who He has called us to be.
      You know, we don't have to be able to quote the most scriptures, know every bible story or the historical facts of it all to have confidence in our walk. We just need to be obedient to His word which will guide us down the road to fufilling our individual destinies.
      I think when we allow others to become the determining factor of whether we do something that God has told us to do, we miss it. I've actually had days before where I knew that God placed something significant on my heart and I didn't share it because of the fear of looking immature to certain individuals. Obedience is definitely better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22).
      Contentment in who you are in Christ will help so much in every area of your life. Paul said "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11). Learn to be content in whatever state you are. Fellowship with God daily. Stay in His word. Allow your mind to be molded into the mind of Christ and you will have such a surety that God will be able to use you more and more to aid in the advancement of His kingdom.