1. PLAN A TIME: (Preferably morning).

We need to give Him our day to help plan it. That can be challenging to do at night after the day is over and we are exhausted. We need HIM to be a part of all we do and plan.

In Exodus 16:4-7a we read of the Israelites being told by God to gather manna each day, a portion for that day, Also it says that “in the MORNING” you shall see the glory of the Lord, and “at EVENING” you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you through.

2. HAVE A PAPER AND PEN

Pro. 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.”Pro. 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.”

Here is a practical way we can apply those verses…. Jot down on the paper all the things YOU want to get down that day and things you feel should be done. Particularly on very busy days. Then, give it to the Lord, saying, “Lord, this is what I want to get done this day. What do YOU want me to do? Do YOU have a better plan, better ideas? Please show me. Could some things wait, be eliminated? How much am I doing from pride rather from necessity?”

Then start your reading for the day (whatever Devotional book you have chosen, a portion of the Bible you have chosen). Then as a thought comes to your mind about the day, DON’T fight it, assuming it is an unspiritual thought and you have to get back to the business at hand. Instead, jot down the thought and continue with your reading. Imagine releasing that thought to the Lord. Often, these are not the intrusions weaking to us in this time set apart for Him. He might putname on your heart to call or write to. Jot it down and continue.

This process I liken to popping corn in a microwave. Thoughts come fast for awhile and then slow down and are over, and we can get down to the business at hand of worship­ping and praising God and being filled for that day.

Sometimes we might read a Devotional Book and the Bible, other times just cry out to the Lord, “Help Me” and make straight my path. Just acknowledging Him. (Pro,. 3:5,6) Or perhaps we are crying out FORGIVE me. Or, “There is too much for me to do today. I’m going crazy and I know this isn’t your plan for my life – my days.”

Am I saying “Yes” when you would have me say “No”? Direct me, show me your way. Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I will take the first step Lord, show me the second. Pro, 16:9 “A man’s mind plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.”

And also Is. 55:8,9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

3. WHEN THE LORD HAS ARRANGED OUR LIST TO HIS PLANS, THEN WE ARE READY TO FOLLOW
Some practical tips for helping us follow:

Matt, 16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

What do we need to do to deny ourselves in order to have a more quality time with Jesus. Perhaps giving up 15 min. sleep in the morning to get up before the family does. Perhaps doing some of our “morning chores” in the evening, such as making lunches, laying out clothes for the children, laying out our clothes, setting the table, etc. etc.

We need to think about the “ministry” things and “serving the Lord” things on our list. Sometimes “ministry” can be more exciting than the daily duties the Lord has set before us as a wife and mother and we neglect those. OR we take on more than we should because we can’t say no.  We need the Lord’s perfect balance. A verse that was helpful to me as a young mama was Mark 1:35-38. I had been told that Jesus never said “No” to anyone so we should not. Then when I found this verse it was very freeing. Jesus did say NO, because he had been with his Father and the Father had showed him a different plan.

Let the Lord plan your day for His burden is light. When your burden is heavy, either it’s not the burden the Lord would have you carry, or you are not allowing Him to share it with you. Matt, 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,.” Isn’t that a wonderful promise?

Oh, Lord, what would you have me do this day, Go before and prepare the way.
My prayer for you:
–  To become hungry for His Word
–  To come to Him in eagerness and openness
–  Then have courage to follow Him, as He directs you
If you do, your moments with the Lord will become LIFE CHANGING MOMENTS.

Boot Camp verse: Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans with be established”

• Commit your work to the Lord, and then listen to Him because he will tell us if he has a better plan.

Do you know it is possible for the Lord to speak to you and for you to hear his voice? The Bible tells us this is true. Here are a few of the verses that speak to this truth:

• Mathew 17:05 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased: Listen to him?”
• John 8:47 “He who is of God HEARS the words of God; the reason you do not HEAR them is that you are not of God.”
• Job 15:8
• John 10:14
• John 10:27
• Isaiah 55:3a
• Matt 11:15
• Ecc. 5:1a
• Proverbs 1:23
• Psalms 143:8
• Heb. 3:7,8a

These verses offer proof that there are many promises regarding “hearing the voice of God”. But it takes time and practice to develop and strengthen your listening ear. Just as it takes time to practice and develop our physical muscles, so it is with our spiritual muscles. Especially the muscles of faith and the listening ear.

Remember to listen to God’s will for your day, rather than taking control into your own hands. Remember these verses:

• Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
• Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. “
• Isaiah 55:9 “For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When our spiritual listening ear is strengthened, sharp, and strong, we are able to instantly obey the voice of the spirit. RUDDER VERSE: Isaiah 30:20& 21 says “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eye shall see your Teacher. AND YOUR EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND YOU, SAYING, ‘THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT’, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

It can be fun to name a verse that has been powerful in your life. I (Grandma Rosy) have done that with my RUDDER VERSE and BANKING VERSE, and now my BOOT CAMP VERSE. It’s ok to take ownership of a verse. They are God’s gift to us to use, enjoy, and share.

The BANKING VERSE comes in the middle of the BOOT CAMP and RUDDER verses. BANKING VERSE: Psalms 50:14, 15 “Offer to God a sacrifice thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.”

This verse speaks of the same principle I have been talking about. “Paying” your vows to the most High, and then on the day of trouble He will deliver us. It can be compared to putting money in the bank little by little. Then when a crisis comes we have sufficient funds to cover the needs. This is similar to our daily encounters with the Lord. Little by little we learn to listen and then when the crisis comes and we really need to urgently hear what He tells us, we are able to do so.

Another analogy that comes to mind is referring to Proverbs 16:3 as the Minor Leagues and referring Isaiah 30:20,21 as the Major Leagues. We practice daily in the Minor Leagues to listen to the little things of the day and make our listening ear stronger. Then when we get into Major League problems, we can hear what the Lord is telling us and instantly obey the voice of the Spirit, whether we are to turn to the right or the left.

I consider the following some of the issues we might face in the Major Leagues as far as needing to REALLY hear what the Lord is telling us….

• Should we move?
• Should I change jobs?
• Am I doing the right thing by holding firm with my decision with my teenager?
• What church should we join?
• I have a serious health problem. Do I have surgery or wait?
• Lord, I don’t want to sweat the “little things”, but I need to know what are the “little things” and what are the “big things”

These decisions are more than just planning the schedule of the day. But unless you have been trained in Boot Camp, you will not be able to hear the Lord’s voice when a major need comes.

“If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13

This verse explains that if you give your answer to a certain problem, perhaps one of the above, before you hear a word from the Lord, you are going to be in BIG trouble.

Christians struggle with “How do I know God’s Will?” and “How am I led by the Holy Spirit?” But God does have a plan and a promise if we only become “doers of the word” and not simply hearers. James 1:22-25 “But be DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets, BUT DO THAT ACTS, HE SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DOING.”

John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

May the Lord bless you as you learn to listen to Him.

IMPORTANT: Set your timer for 5 minutes for the first time. This will be a lesson to recognize how much you can accomplish in only 5 minutes (try this on a busy day).

Read a Devotional (Here are two copies from God Calling and God at Eventide) (other options: My Utmost for His Highest, Steams in the Desert, A Treasury of Devotion, and Jesus Calling)

God Calling– January 21^st “A Crowded Day”

“Believe that I am with you, and controlling all. When My Word has gone forth, ALL are powerless against it.

Be Calm. Never fear. You have much to learn. God on until you can take the most crowded day with a song. ‘Sing unto the Lord.’ The finest accompaniment to a Song of Praise to Me is a very crowded day. Let Love be the motif running through all.

Be glad all the time. Rejoice exceedingly. Joy in Me. Rest in Me. Never be afraid. Pray more. Do not get worried. I am the Helper. ‘Underneath are the Everlasting Arms.’ You cannot get below that. Rest in them as a tired child rests.”

God at Eventide– November 27^th “Spirit of Adventure”

“The path has been tried, every step has been planned with a view of your progress. Never erst you work by what others can accomplish, or by what they leave undone. Yours to master the test I have set before YOU. Go forward in My Strength and in the Spirit of Adventure. Undreamed of heights can be attained in this way. Never question your capability. That has been for Me to decide. No experienced Leader would set a follower a tasks beyond his power. Trust Me, your Leader.

The world would have you been won for Me ere this had My followers been dauntless, inspired by their faith in Me. It is not humility to hesitate to do the great task I set. It is a lack of faith in Me.

To wait to feel strong is cowardly. My strength is provided for the task, but I do not provide it for the period of hesitancy before you begin.

How much of My Work goes undone through lack of faith. Again and again might it be said, ‘He did not do my mighty works through this follow’s unbelief.’”

Read in the Bible: Start with Philippian’s Chapter 1:1-11. Read a few verses each day until something grabs you, a thought that you can carry with you during the day.

Commit your work for the day to the Lord: Proverbs 16:3- “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established”

“Oh, Lord go before and prepare the way for me this day. I commit the following things to you that I have on my plate today”

“Lord please establish my plans. Is there a better way to do anything I have planned? Is there anything that should be taken away? Added? Please direct me today. Walk with me. Hold my hand. God I lift up the following concerns and people to you. “

“Lord, please help to today to be the person you want me to be. I love you.”

Further questions for Devotional time

General Starting questions:

• What is keeping me from focusing on the Lord right now?
• What do I feel guilty about/ ashamed of that is keeping me from wanting to connect with God?
  • What fears are underneath my shame?
• What are 10 things I can thank God for today?
• Where did I see God working this week?
• How might God be using my challenges to shape me or grow me?

Reading the Bible & Reflecting:

• (Read passage in the bible)
  • Initial reaction?
  • What questions do I have?
  • What are my frustrations with this passage?
  • Where do I see a challenge for my own life?
  • How can I apply this to my own situations?

Relationship:

• Who in my life is it hard to love right now?
• What comes up for me when I am around this person?
• How might God be using me/ growing me by putting me around this person?
• What am I uncertain about in relationships right now?
• What does God ask me to do in these relationship?
  • Do my actions align with this?

Decisions:

• How do the options align with God’s calling in my life?
• Will each choice allow me to live a life according to my own values?
• What fears come up when I consider making one choice or the other?
• Will either choice allow me to further the Kingdom of God?