The kingdom of God is more than an attempt to change a lost world; it is about reclaiming and functioning within what God has always sovereignly owned and managed. Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” God framed creation and entrusted it to humanity for stewardship (Genesis 1:26-28). To make God our dwelling place is to understand His sovereignty, His presence, and our role in the cosmos He created. Moses even said, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Psalm 90:1).
This perspective reframes reality. Time and space, as Hebrews 11:3 reminds us, exist within God’s creative matrix. Acts 17:28 declares, “In him we live and move and have our being.” Coming into this revelation transforms our understanding of worship, life, and purpose. It shifts us from “going to church” to seeing the cosmos as God’s sacred dwelling place. Hence, Christ is not only “in” believers—but we are truly “in Him” and exist within His reality!
Furthermore, as His family, the church represents His Lordship on earth as it is in heaven.
Here are ten traits of those who make God their dwelling place.
Gratitude for Everything
Profound gratitude is the first mark of someone who makes God their dwelling place. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” Recognising that every blessing, resource, and opportunity comes from God fosters a heart of thankfulness.
When we acknowledge that the earth and everything belong to God, we shift from entitlement to appreciation. Gratitude becomes a daily act of worship, recognising God’s provision in all areas of life.
A Life Centred on Worship
Those who dwell in God find worship woven into every aspect of their existence—prayer, work, family, rest. Worship is not limited to Sunday services but permeates every moment, reflecting the rhythm of creation (1 Corinthians 10:31).
In Genesis, the six days of creation culminated in the seventh Day, a Sabbath of rest and worship, demonstrating that all activity ultimately leads back to glorifying God. Even the natural world testifies to His greatness: “The trees of the field clap their hands, and the rocks cry out in praise” (Isaiah 55:12; Luke 19:40).
For such individuals, worship becomes not an event but a lifestyle.
Submission to Christ’s Lordship
To make God your dwelling place is to recognise His absolute Lordship. Psalm 90:1 and 91:9 speak of God as the eternal refuge. This means submitting to His authority in every area of life.
Every decision, action, and goal becomes an opportunity to honour Him. Those who dwell in God’s presence are constantly aware that Christ is not just Savior but Lord. His will becomes the standard for all they do, and obedience is their ultimate act of love (John 14:15).
No Separation Between Secular and Sacred
People who make God their dwelling place understand that all life is sacred. There is no division between what is “secular” and what is “spiritual” because “The earth is the Lord’s” (Psalm 24:1).
Work, family life, recreation, and even mundane tasks are opportunities to glorify God. This understanding dissolves artificial boundaries, allowing them to see every moment as a chance to reflect God’s kingdom.
Integration of Church and Workplace
In the same way that they do not separate the secular from the sacred, these individuals refuse to divide the “church place” from the “workplace.” They see their work, whether in an office, a field, or a factory, as a ministry and an extension of God’s mission.
Colossians 3:23-24 encourages, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” The workplace becomes a platform for reflecting Christ’s values and principles.
Stewardship of Creation
Making God your dwelling place instils a deep sense of responsibility for creation. Genesis 1:26-28 calls humanity to steward the earth as caretakers under God. This involves honouring and studying the natural world, using resources wisely, and protecting the environment as an act of worship (Psalm 111:2).
In recognising creation as God’s possession, these individuals see stewardship as optional and a divine mandate.
A Call to Restore the Breach
Isaiah 61:3-4 speaks of those who will “rebuild the ancient ruins” and “restore the places long devastated.” Those who dwell in God feel compelled to be restorers—healing broken relationships, rebuilding communities, and bringing God’s justice to areas of destruction.
This trait reflects God’s heart for communities, cities, and nations. He has called His people to stand in the gap and see every “pain point” in their community as an opportunity to manifest God’s creative solutions that elevate the quality of life for all as a witness of the gospel.
Using Finances to Advance God’s Kingdom
Those who see God as their dwelling place view their finances as a tool for kingdom work. They understand that their wealth is not their own but entrusted to them by God for His purposes (Deuteronomy 8:18).
This perspective drives them to give generously to support the gospel, help the needy, and invest in causes that reflect God’s heart. They live with the mindset that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Appreciation of Nature as a Reflection of God’s Glory
Creation is seen as a useful resource and a reflection of God’s glory and creativity. Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Those who dwell in God cultivate an acute appreciation for nature, seeing it as a testimony to His power and wisdom. Whether marvelling at a sunrise or tending a garden, they are reminded of God’s beauty and majesty.
An Acute Sense of God’s Nearness
Finally, those who make God their dwelling place experience an unparalleled awareness of His presence. Acts 17:28 declares, “In him we live and move and have our being.” This sense of nearness transforms their view of reality, enabling them to see God’s hand every moment.
Psalm 91:9 promises, “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you.” This intimate relationship with God provides peace, security, and confidence, even in trials.
Making God your dwelling place transforms every aspect of life. It shifts your perspective from merely “attending church” to living as part of God’s sacred cosmos. Those who embody these 10 traits demonstrate what it means to reclaim their role as stewards of creation, ambassadors of the kingdom, and worshippers of the Most High.
Understanding that the earth is the Lord’s and living in the light of this revelation calls us to gratitude, worship, submission, and stewardship. It reminds us that in every moment and every place, God is near—inviting us to dwell in Him and reflect His glory to the world
Pornography is probably one of the most pervasive influences in the western world today.
Consider the following statistics:
A 2020 report by the website Pornhub, one of the largest adult content platforms, claimed that it received over 42 billion visits in 2019, with an average of 1.3 billion visits per month.
A 2019 survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that approximately 1 in 5 Australians (21.5%) reported watching pornography at least weekly.
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Sex Research estimated that around 30% of internet users in the United States (approximately 90 million people) visited adult websites in a given month.
Various studies have revealed that porn use amongst teens is also widespread. This is very concerning as they are gaining an understanding of sexuality that is unrealistic and is deliberately isolated from the context of relationships.
A 2020 Australian study published in the Journal of Adolescence found that:
69% of males and 23% of females aged 15-16 reported watching pornography in the past year.
45% of males and 13% of females reported watching pornography at least weekly.
The purpose of pornography is to stimulate sexual desire through the use of imagery. There are complex chemical reactions that take place in the brain when exposed to pornography, but the general result of regular pornography use is that we become more fixated on the images that on real people, we seek ever greater levels of stimulation, and some get caught in a spiral that may lead to child sexual abuse material.
People often think that porn is harmless because nobody gets hurt- it is a lesser sin than sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.
The fact is that people are hurt badly by pornography. According to anti-pornography campaigners fightthenewdrug.org, there is no guarantee that actors are consenting to what is happening. There is often a high level of violence being portrayed. There is also evidence of links between pornography and human trafficking.
Right through the Bible there is a strong condemnation of sexual practices that are outside of life-long marriage. Prostitution, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and much more are described as sinful and even an abomination to the Lord.
Watching pornography, though, is not condemned in the Bible, because that was not an issue in those days. Jesus did say this: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “ (Matthew 5:28)
Pornography essentially strips away the personhood of the actors. These people were created in the image of God, but are partaking in something that is not honouring to God’s ways. To become a channel of merely stirring desire with no essence of relationship is a violation of the humanity of the people.
For these reasons, christians should not view pornography. It debases watcher, actor and producer. Rather than stir up the works of the flesh, christians should be producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:19-25)
A recent discovery has led some experts to believe they’ve found the fossil of Noah’s Ark.
Researchers have found that a boat-shaped mound — long believed by the faithful to be Noah’s Ark — was most likely submerged under water during a devastating flood some 5000 years ago, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The international team of experts has been working together since 2021 to study the Durupinar Formation, which they believe could be the site of a massive preserved vessel.
The 164m geological structure, composed of limonite — an ore of iron — is located approximately 35km south of Mount Ararat’s summit, in Turkey near the Iranian border in the Dogubayazit district of Agri.
This formation has interested experts for decades due to its ship-like shape and dimensions, similar to the biblical description of Noah’s Ark and Mount Ararat’s mention in religious texts.
According to the Bible, the dimensions of the vessel were “a length of three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits,” mirroring those of the Durupinar formation, “and the ark rested … upon the mountains of Ararat”.
New findings have also shown that the formation was once submerged under water as soil samples containing traces of claylike materials, marine deposits and seafood remnants were dated back to a time when the biblical floods are said to have occurred, between 3500 and 5000 years ago.
“According to the initial results, it’s believed there were human activities in this region since the Chalcolithic period,” professor Faruk Kaya, a lead researcher on the subject, told The Jerusalem Post.
The marine deposits and seafood remnants have pushed researchers to believe the area was once filled with water.
“Our studies show that this region harboured life in that period and that, at some point, it was covered by water, which reinforces the possibility that a catastrophic event of great magnitude occurred,” the researchers stated.
Previous research concluded that humans had likely been in the area, but the additional evidence of past floods in the region has encouraged those who believe this to be Noah’s Ark.
Various religious texts, including those touted by Christianity, Judaism and Islam, all reference Noah and the ark, but scientists have yet to determine the authenticity of the stories.
Since its discovery in 1948, many have theorised that the Durupinar formation is the fossilised wood of Noah’s ark.
More Coverage
The reality of these occurrences has continued to be a topic of debate between scientists and scholars for centuries. However, recent research has pushed more experts to believe the legend may be true.
Researchers involved in the project noted, “The evidence suggests that the story might have a basis in reality”.
As I write this, Tropical Cyclone Alfred is heading for Brisbane and is expected to wreak havoc though the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast areas as well as into the North Coast of New South Wales.
Tropical cyclones, called hurricanes or typhoons in other parts of the world, are very intense low pressure systems that generate huge winds and heavy rainfall, sometimes over very big areas. They can cause destruction and flooding and people rightly get nervous when a cyclone approaches. Readers of a certain age will recall Cyclone Tracey which on Christmas Eve 1974 flattened most of Darwin and killed 66 people.
Cyclones are very important in regulating the earth’s temperature. They are like conveyor belts for energy taking heat energy from the tropics and transporting it to more temperate regions. That is great for the planet, but not so good when people get in the way.
We often speak of storms as descriptions for what is happening in our lives. Relationships can be stormy. Angry individuals act like cyclones, destroying everyone they encounter. Sometimes we might go through a “perfect storm” where everything seems to be coming against us and it all threatens to overwhelm us.
On one occasion some followers of Jesus were caught out on the sea at night time in a tiny boat when a huge storm blew up. The waves threatened to sink the boat. They were already terrified when a ghostly figure approached them, walking on the water. One of them, Peter, called out, “Lord if it’s really you command me to walk on the water.” With that, Peter stepped out of the boat and strode across the waves that had a short time before scared him. (See Matthew 14:22-33)
You might be going through a “perfect storm” right now. Cyclone Alfred is nothing compared to the personal devastation you are fearing or feeling. Hand over all your cares to the Lord and put your trust in Him. He still calms the storms and gives us the grace to stride across them confidently.
Many years ago, it used to be complained about the churches that they are obsessed with sex. Since then, the situation has reversed and while the church remains quiet (or at least unreported) on sexuality, our society has become obsessed with it.
Sex, in almost any form you might like to imagine it, has become the obsession of our culture. Sexual activity in any form is considered a goal in itself, rather than as a part of an ongoing intimate relationship.
In the last two articles, I raised the principles that we are created by God and in that sense owned bu Him. If God “knitted me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13), then He has the right to direct my life and to give me wisdom about how my life works best. In the last few years, there has been a huge amount of attention given to transgenderism and the demands of such people to be not just recognised but celebrated. This movement followed a similar trajectory to the demands of homosexuals to be recognised, legalised and celebrated.
As christians our morality should be shaped by the Bible and not by our own ideas. Our sexuality should be determined by God’s word and not by societal norms.
In Genesis 2 we have the story of how the first man and woman were created. The chapter culminates with this Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:23-25, NLT
Contrary to the transgender issue, these verses show that God makes us male and female. There are only two genders, not the near infinite number proposed by advocates. Not only that, but our biological sex is written in the DNA in every cell of our bodies. Just taking hormones and having very nasty surgery will not change the reality of any person’s gender. Our gender is not assigned at birth as the activists like to say, it is determined at conception.
The Bible also shows that union of male and female is the norm of sexual relationships. In fact, at several places homosexuality is described as an “abomination” to God. In Romans 1, Paul talks about how God’s righteousness can be seen in nature, but people, instead of worshipping the Creator, started to worship creation. As a result, he says, God handed them over to their own desires:
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.
Romans 1:26-28
Homosexuality, Paul says, is not a thing to be celebrated or equated with normal heterosexual relations. It is, in fact, God’s judgement on people for idolatry and materialism.
The passage from Genesis 2 says that a man and woman are joined in marriage and become one flesh. The idea here is that sexual relations outside of marriage (being one man and one woman committed for life) are not allowed for christians. The Bible condemns fornication (an unmarried person engaging in sex) and adultery (a married person who has sexual intercourse with a person other than their spouse).
Jesus says that divorce is not permitted unless a partner commits adultery (Matthew 19:1-12). Marriage is for life, so we enter into it carefully and leave it only if the marriage bond is violated. God blesses marriage, and enters into the covenant with the husband and wife. It is God who binds them together and makes them one flesh, so no human should allow that bond to be broken (Matthew 19:6)
We could go on to talk about casual sex- “friends with benefits” and hookup culture. These are abhorrent to God for the same reason.
God made us male and female. He made us sexual creatures. He determined that we flourish best when we value sex so highly that it is reserved for the most intimate and permanent of relationships, i.e. marriage.
This is not about killing fun or being Victorian era fuddy duddies. It is about being faithful to the God who made us and the God who owns us.
From the creation account in the very first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, it is clear that human beings, along with the rest of creation are made by God and are subject to His reign. They are given a commission to rule over the created order, which has been structured in such a way as to provide everything tat people would need (Genesis 1:26-31).
By the time we get to Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve are faced with a test- will they obey the very clear commandment of God or will they go their own way? As we know, they choose to disobey God and the whole of creation starts to unravel.
It was always God’s intention that our autonomy or freedom is exercised in the context of a relationship with Him. We are meant to rule the creation, but not in our own power. God has made us so He gets to direct our paths.
In an age of individualism and self-fulfilment such as ours, it is unpopular to think that we should be subject to God in any way. We don’t like being told what to do, and will go to any lengths to avoid that.
As Christians, we need to understand that we were bought with the price of the blood of Jesus. We are no longer free to direct our own paths. Our first loyalty must always be to the God who redeemed us, and to the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians we read this:
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:17-20.
You are not your own any more.
As followers of Jesus, our first thought must always be, “What does Jesus want me to do?” This is true of the daily decisions we make as much as it is true of the big life decisions.
When it comes to lifestyle choices such as career, where to live, who to marry, sexuality, money and possessions, everything must be subjected to the will of God. We will often find ourselves having different attitudes to the people of the world, making different choices and so on. That is the way of faith.
Increasingly, christians will find themselves swimming against the tide of popular opinion. We must be faithful to God, regardless of what other people think,
I have taken seriously the discipline of listening to the Holy Spirit for many years now. Mark Virkler’s 4 Keys To Hearing God’s Voice was foundational for me.
Here is a recent article by him explaining the 4 Keys:
Introducing Four Keys to Hearing God’s Voice
I tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. The thought kept going through my mind: “What if I died tonight? I’m not ready to go to heaven.” Since I could not shake the thought, I got up, went downstairs and waited for my parents to come home from their meeting. When they did, I announced that I wanted to get saved, and they took me straightway to the pastor’s home where he explained the plan of salvation and led me in the sinner’s prayer. I was 15 years old when I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior.
Hearing God but not identifying the fact that I was hearing God
It was God’s voice that was speaking to me that night, calling me into His kingdom. His voice came as a spontaneous flowing thought inside my head. However, I didn’t define this as the primary way God’s voice is heard until I had completed a desperate 10-year search to hear Him clearly.
Christianity is unique among religions, for it alone offers a personal relationship with the Creator beginning here and now, and lasting throughout eternity. Jesus declared, “This is eternal life – that they may know God” (Jn. 17:3). Unfortunately, many in the Church miss the great blessing of fellowship with our Lord because we have lost the ability to recognize His voice. Though John 10:27 promises us that “My sheep hear My voice,” too many believers are starved for that intimate relationship that alone can satisfy the desire of their hearts.
I was one of those sheep who was unable to identify the voice of my Shepherd. I hungered for deeper spiritual intimacy with God, but I could not find it. Then on the eleventh year of my Christian life I had the spontaneous thought that “I should take a year of my life and focus on learning to hear God’s voice.” I decided to act on that thought and devote a year to focused effort, learning to hear His voice. Unbeknown to me, it was the Lord calling me to invest that time.
That year the Lord revealed four simple keys, all found in Habakkuk 2:1, 2, which unlocked the treasure of His voice. Using the four keys together allowed me to easily hear God’s voice daily. It was the most transforming step I have taken in the 57 years of my Christian life! I would like to share them with you so you can try them and see if they do the same for you.
Key 1 – STILLNESS: Quiet myself in God’s presence
STILLNESS: Quiet myself in God’s presence
Habakkuk said, “I will stand on my guard post...” (Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk knew that to hear God’s quiet, inner, spontaneous thoughts, he had to first go to a quiet place and still his own thoughts and emotions. Psalm 62:5 encourages us to silence our souls before God. There is a deep inner knowing (spontaneous flow) in our spirits that each of us can experience when we quiet our flesh and our minds. If we are not still, we will sense only our own thoughts.
Loving God through a quiet worship song is one very effective way to become still. (Note 2 Kings 3:15.) After I worship and become silent within, I open myself for that spontaneous flow. If thoughts come of things I have forgotten to do, I write them down so I can do them later. If thoughts of guilt or unworthiness come, I repent thoroughly, receive the washing of the blood of the Lamb, putting on His robe of righteousness, seeing myself spotless before God (Is. 61:10; Col. 1:22).
Clear focus provides the purest flow: To receive the pure word of God, it is very important that my heart be properly focused as I become still because the intuitive flow comes out of the vision being held before one’s eyes. If I fix my eyes upon Jesus, the intuitive flow is pure and comes from Jesus. But if I fix my gaze upon some desire of my heart, the intuitive flow is affected by that desire. To have a pure flow I must become still and carefully fix my eyes upon Jesus (Heb. 12:2).
Again, quietly worshiping the King, and receiving out of the stillness that follows quite easily accomplishes this. Beginning my prayer time as Jesus taught us to pray is expedient: “Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name…” Jesus taught us to begin prayer by lifting our eyes up to our Father and beholding Him. We don’t start prayer with our issues. We start our prayer by gazing upon Him!
Key 2 – VISION: Fix my eyes upon Jesus
VISION: Fix my eyes upon Jesus
Habakkuk said, “I will keep watch to see,” (Hab. 2:1,2). Habakkuk was actually looking for a vision as he prayed. Since I believe the Bible is meant to be lived, I decided that I, too, would begin looking with the eyes of my heart into the Spirit world to see what I could see.
Do what King David did! A good way to begin using the eyes of your heart is by doing what King David did: “For David says of Him, ‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN” (Acts 2:25 NASB). The original Psalm makes it clear that this was a decision of David’s, not a constant supernatural visitation: “I have set (literally, I have placed) the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Ps. 16:8). Because David knew that the Lord was always with him, he determined in his spirit to see that truth with the eyes of his heart as he went through life, knowing that this would keep his faith strong.
We say, “A picture is worth 1000 words.” I believe that is because pictures are the language of the heart. We notice that Jesus used pictures constantly as He taught (Matt. 13:34). When I use pictures in my prayer time, fixing my eyes on Jesus, I am speaking the language of my heart and that moves me quickly into heart/spirit realities getting me beyond my mind.
Use godly imagination: I choose to do what King David did and I develop “godly imagination,” which I define as “picturing things God says are so.” If I am picturing that Jesus is NOT with me, that would be picturing a lie, which is unwise. I can’t imagine any reason I would want to picture unscriptural things. So I see Jesus at my right hand, always. I add to this Paul’s prayer for God to enlighten the eyes of my heart (Eph. 1:17,18). Then I tune to the flow of the Holy Spirit, and He brings the scene alive. I find I can step from these godly imaginations, into a divine vision.
It is amazing, simple, and child-like! Of course, it would need to be, as we are told that to enter the kingdom we must become as little children. My 6-year-old granddaughter can do this and she shares with me her journaling and the visions of the angels standing on both sides of her protecting her and watching over her. You will find your young children can do these four keys more easily than you can! Try it with them and see.
From Genesis to Revelation God gave dreams and visions, and He specifically said that in the last days, He would pour out His Spirit and wewould see dreams and visions (Acts 2:1-4, 17).
We must look if we want to see! Daniel saw a vision in his mind and said, “I was looking…I kept looking…I kept looking” (Dan. 7:2,9,13). So I needed to repent for not looking and begin presenting the eyes of my heart to the Lord, and looking. As I pray, I look for Jesus, and I watch and listen as He speaks to me, doing and saying the things that are on His heart. Many Christians will find that if they will only look, they will see flowing pictures, in the same way they receive flowing thoughts.
Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). It is as simple as that. You can see Christ present with you because Christ is present with you. In fact, the vision may come so easily that you will be tempted to reject it, thinking that it is just you. But if you persist in recording these flowing pictures, your doubt will soon be overcome by faith as you recognize that the content of them could only be birthed by Almighty God.
A lifestyle: Jesus demonstrated the ability of living out of constant contact with God, declaring that He did nothing on His own initiative, but only what He saw the Father doing, and heard the Father saying (Jn. 5:19,20,30). What an incredible way to live!
Is it possible for you to live out of divine initiative as Jesus did? Yes! It is called “abiding in Christ” (Jn. 15). Fix your eyes upon Jesus. The veil has been torn, giving access into the immediate presence of God, and He calls you to draw near (Lk. 23:45; Heb. 10:19-22). “I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened” and you will see His visions. They are His gift to you, freely given (Acts 2:17). See blog: Can I Live in Continuous Revival?
Key 3 – FLOW: Tune to flow
FLOW: Tune to flow
Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him (Hab. 2:2). Elijah described it as a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). I had always listened for an inner audible voice, and God does speak that way at times. However, I have found that usually, God’s voice comes as spontaneous thoughts or flowing thoughts and His visions as flowing pictures within my mind.
For example, haven’t you ever been driving down the road and had a thought come to you to pray for a certain person? Didn’t you believe it was God telling you to pray? What did God’s voice sound like? Was it an audible voice, or was it a spontaneous thought that lit upon your mind? Jesus said the Holy Spirit is experienced as a River within us which FLOWS (Jn. 7:38,39).
Experience indicates that we perceive spirit-level communication as spontaneous flowing thoughts, impressions, and visions, and Scripture confirms this in many ways. For example, one definition of paga, a Hebrew word for intercession, is “a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting.” When God lays people on our hearts, He does it through paga, a chance-encounter thought “accidentally” intersecting our minds. We consider it a chance encounter in that we didn’t reason it up, however it is purposeful because God sent it to us.
Therefore, when you want to hear God’s voice, you tune to chance-encounter, spontaneous, or flowing thoughts. Even satan’s thoughts come to us as spontaneous thoughts, which is why we are commanded to “take every thought captive” (2 Cor. 10:5). I am sure all of us have experienced spontaneous evil thoughts coming to us, even attacking right in the middle of our prayer and worship times. So I conclude that analytical thoughts are mine, spontaneous good thoughts come from the Holy Spirit, and spontaneous evil thoughts come from evil spirits.
God’s flowing thoughts line up with Scripture and with His various names: Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Giver of Life, Healer, and Deliverer. His thoughts edify, exhort, and comfort. They are pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering (James 3:17).
Satan’s flowing thoughts line up with his various names: accuser, adversary, thief who comes to kill, steal and destroy. His thoughts condemn and bring despair, rejection, fear, doubt, unbelief, and in general, misery. Satan’s thoughts bring jealousy and selfish ambition (James 3:14,15).
Key 4 – JOURNALING: Record the flowing thoughts and flowing pictures
JOURNALING: Record the flowing thoughts and flowing pictures
God told Habakkuk to record the vision (Hab. 2:2). This was not an isolated command. The Scriptures record many examples of individual’s prayers and God’s replies (e.g. the Psalms, many of the prophets, and Revelation).
I call the process “two-way journaling,” and I have found it to be a fabulous catalyst for clearly discerning God’s inner, spontaneous flow, because as I journal I canwrite in faithfor long periods, simply believing it is God. I know that what I believe I have received from God must be tested. However, testing involves doubt and doubt blocks divine communication, so I do not want to test while I am trying to receive (Heb. 11:6). With journaling, I can receive in faith, knowing that when the flow has ended I can test it. This way I can stay in flow for an extended period of time and have extended two-way dialogue with Jesus. Afterward I make sure it lines up with Scripture (1 Thess. 5:21) and get confirmation from my spiritual advisors.
Remove doubt: Doubt may hinder you at first, but throw it off, reminding yourself that recording God’s words and visions is a biblical concept and that God is present, speaking to His children. In the Bible, satan is constantly casting doubt by saying, “Did God really tell you…?” (Gen. 3:1 GNB).
Learn to relax! When we cease our labors and enter His rest, God is free to flow (Heb. 4:10). Sit back comfortably, take out your pen and paper (or computer or iPad), smile, picture yourself as a child, and turn your attention toward the Lord in praise and worship, seeking His face. Write down, “Good morning, Lord! I love You. What do You want to say to me?” Then become still, fixing your gaze on Jesus. You will suddenly have a very good thought. Don’t doubt it; simply write it down. Later, as you read over your journaling, you will be blessed to discover that the content is amazing and that you are indeed dialoguing with God!
Reflections
Hear God through illumined Scripture: Knowing God through the Bible is a vital foundation to hearing His voice in your heart, so you must have a solid commitment to knowing and obeying God’s written Word. We are commanded to meditate on Scriptures (Josh. 1:8). As we pray over Scripture, we find verses leap off the page and hit us between the eyes. This is another very powerful way that God speaks to us. Regular scriptural meditation is commanded by God and is a must for the effective Christian life.
Utilize spiritual advisors: It is also very important for your growth and safety that you be related to solid, spiritual counselors. All major directional moves that come through journaling should be confirmed by your counselors before you act upon them. The Bible says in the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact is to be established (2 Cor. 13:1). Also, in the multitude of counselors, there is safety (Prov. 15:22). So make sure you walk in meekness and seek out and receive input from your spiritual advisors. This step must not be skipped! I ask them, “Does your heart bear witness this came from God.” So you are not asking what they think, but what their heart is saying.
The four keys appear again in the book of Revelation: John used the same four keys that Habakkuk did. In Revelation 1:9-11 we find he was in the spirit (stillness), and he heard a voice behind him (tuned to spontaneity), saying, “Write in a book (journaling), what you see (vision).” So in both the Old and New Testaments, we find the same four keys being used to receive God’s voice. Don’t worry about the order of the keys. Just make sure you are using all four keys. See blog:The majority of the Bible was written by men using these four keys.
As a PACKAGE these four keys work. Stop-Look-Listen-Write is another way to say the same four keys. These four keys get the job done! People hear. We guarantee that if you use these four keys together, they will work for you and you will hear God’s voice. Try them as a bundle, and see how they work for you. We have free downloadable coaching Jesus encounter adventure. It is available at www.cwgministries.org/galilee. The first part of the recording takes you for a visionary walk with Jesus along the Sea of Galilee, and guides you into using all four keys together. We encourage you to try several times! May you be restored to taking walks with the Lord in the garden in the cool of the day. May you experience the fullness of a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May communion with God be deepened in your life, and may His healing and creative rays fill you through and through.
“Saviour In The Sky” proclaimed the headline in a recent edition of The Courier.
The article was a tribute to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service which has been a literal life-saver for many people in this region and right through New South Wales. Over the years, there have been countless people scooped up from road accidents, farm accidents or major illnesses and taken to hospitals in larger centres where they have received timely care.
Without in any way detracting from the work of this wonderful service, there is a greater “Saviour in the sky” who perform even greater rescues than the helicopter service.
When God first created the world, He had a great goal for the people He had made. Pretty soon, people refused God’s way of living and tried to run their lives on their own terms.
Sin, rebellion, selfishness and disobedience have ruled the world ever since. We live in a world that is separated from God’s love and everybody suffers.
At the right time, God came to earth as a person, whom we call Jesus Christ. He showed people what living God’s way could look like. The rulers didn’t take too kindly to His teaching and so they had Him executed.
If you have ever heard the saying, “You can’t keep a good man down” you will know that Jesus came back to life. He came with a promise: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” In other words if we just turn away from our acts of selfishness, and ask Jesus to forgive us, then we will know eternal life with God.
Jesus not only gives us a command to be good, He also gives us the ability to live the good life and to enter into eternity.
New Life Narrabri 