As we come to the final part of our Preparing for Greater Works series, I want to leave you with one final truth: You are being trained for greater works.

We have spent the last several weeks talking about preparation. We have talked about seeking the Lord early. We have talked about seeking Him continually. We have talked about submission, humility, and teachability. We have talked about understanding that the enemy has limits—but God does not.

John 14:12 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Jesus said that those who believe in Him would do the works He did—and even greater works.

That is an incredible statement, and it should shape the way we think about our potential, our calling, and the work God may still have ahead of us.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Have an Expectation Without Losing Your Humility

Sometimes we become uncomfortable with the idea of expecting God to do great things through us.

We don’t want to sound presumptuous. We don’t want to seem prideful. We don’t want anyone to think we believe too highly of ourselves. But there is a difference between believing in ourselves and believing what Christ said about those who believe in Him.

You can have an expectation that God may use you in significant ways and still remain completely humble. In fact, humility should make us more available to God, not less. Humility doesn’t require us to deny the gifts He has placed within us. It requires us to recognize where those gifts came from.

You don’t have to minimize what God has given you in order to remain humble. You simply need to remember that the gifts were never given to make much of you.

They were given to make much of Him.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: You Have a Place at the Table

Jesus did not limit John 14:12 to one type of person.

The invitation to believe and participate in the work of God is not based on whether you are male or female. Don’t allow anyone to convince you that you are somehow less capable of being used by God because of who you are. You come to the table with the same potential for God to work through your life.

He is just as interested in developing you as He is in developing anyone else.

God has invested in you. He has given you gifts. He has given you experiences.\ He has given you opportunities to grow.

The question is not whether God is interested in using you. The question is whether you are willing to allow Him to prepare you.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Greater Works Require Greater Preparation

This is where everything we have discussed in this series comes together.

It is one thing to say that we want God to use us. It is another thing entirely to submit ourselves to the preparation required.

We cannot expect to carry greater responsibility if we refuse to develop the character necessary to carry it. We cannot expect to lead others if we refuse to learn from those who have gone before us. We cannot expect to be trusted with greater opportunities if we are unwilling to be faithful with the opportunities we have today.

If we are unwilling to submit to training, discipleship, and godly authority, then we may be asking for something we are not yet prepared to carry.

Preparation matters. And preparation often happens long before we understand why we are being asked to learn something.

God may be developing your patience. He may be teaching you how to receive correction. He may be placing you in situations that require humility. He may be teaching you how to work with people who are different from you. He may be asking you to remain faithful in a season that feels small.

None of it is wasted.

You are being trained.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Find Someone Who Can Call Out Greatness in You

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is finding someone who can recognize the gifts God has placed within you and help develop them.

You need people in your life who are willing to challenge you. People who will tell you the truth. People who will correct you in love. People who will celebrate what God is developing within you.

Growth is rarely comfortable. There will be growing pains. Expect them.

Refuse to be stopped by them.

When you experience frustration, uncertainty, or discouragement, don’t automatically assume that something is wrong. Sometimes discomfort is evidence that something is growing.

Talk to someone who can help you understand the process. Express how you are feeling. Ask questions. Remain open to correction.

The right mentor will not only celebrate your gifts. They will also help you strengthen the areas that still need development.

That is part of the training.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Celebrate the Gifts Developing in Others

Here is something else we need to understand if we want to grow into the people God is preparing us to become:

We must learn to celebrate the gifts developing in others. There is no competition in the Kingdom of God. There is no need for comparison.

There isn’t “better than.” There is only truth.

You have a place. I have a place. The people around us have a place.

We are not all called to do the same things. We are not gifted in exactly the same ways. However - that doesn’t make one person’s assignment more valuable than another.

There is great freedom in understanding that you are an important piece of a larger whole. If your teammate is winning, you are winning, too. Their success does not diminish your calling. Their gifts do not threaten yours. Their opportunities do not take anything away from what God has for you.

We can celebrate one another because we are on the same team.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Refuse Comparison and Offense

Living in community creates tremendous opportunities for comparison. Unfortunately, it also creates opportunities for offense.

Someone receives an opportunity you wanted.

Someone else’s gifts are recognized.

Someone seems to move forward while you are still waiting.

Before we realize what is happening, comparison begins to grow. Comparison can make us resent the very people we should be celebrating. Offense can separate us from the relationships God intended to strengthen us.

But we don’t have to live that way.

Psalm 119:165 says: “Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.”

What a beautiful way to live. Pursue peace. Protect unity. Refuse unnecessary offense. Celebrate what God is doing in others.

The Kingdom of God is not a competition.

We are better together.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Look Back at the Training

Perhaps today, you can look back over your life and see things that didn’t make sense when you were going through them:

A difficult season. A correction you didn’t initially appreciate. A disappointment. A closed door. A season that felt small.

Perhaps now, with the benefit of time, you can see how God was developing something within you. Perhaps there are things happening in your life right now that you don’t understand yet.

You may be tempted to ask:

Why am I here?

Why is this taking so long?

Why do I have to learn this?

Why does this feel so difficult?

Maybe you are being trained.

Maybe God is developing something in you before He develops something through you. Maybe the season you are living right now is preparing you for something you cannot yet see.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Keep Growing

So where do we go from here? Keep seeking the Lord.

Early.

Continually.

Remain humble.

Stay teachable.

Submit yourself to the preparation process.

Don’t be intimidated by the enemy. Remember that he has limits.

Remember that the God who is preparing you has none.

You don’t have to become everything overnight. You don’t have to know everything today. You don’t have to have all the answers before you take the next step.

Just keep growing.

Keep learning.

Keep following.

Keep allowing God to develop you.

Because you are being trained for greater works.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Reflection

Take a moment and ask yourself:

Am I willing to submit to the training God is providing in my life right now?

Who is helping me recognize and develop the gifts God has placed within me?

Am I willing to receive correction in love?

Can I celebrate the gifts and opportunities God is developing in others without comparing them to my own?

What difficult season or experience might God be using as part of my preparation?

You may not fully understand the training while you are in it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t preparing you.

Stay in the process. Remain faithful. Keep growing.

God is still developing you.

Whatever He has ahead, He knows exactly how to prepare you for it.

You Are Being Trained for Greater Works: Let’s Continue the Conversation

Over the past five weeks, we have walked through a journey of preparation together. We began by learning to seek the Lord early, and then we talked about the importance of seeking Him continually. From there, we explored submission and teachability, learned to recognize the limits of the enemy and the limitless nature of God, and finally, considered how God uses the process of training and development to prepare us for greater works.

I hope you’ll join me on the Connect Podcast this Thursday as we bring this series to a close and spend a little more time reflecting on what it means to remain faithful to the preparation process.

If this series has encouraged you, I’d love for you to explore Connect Mentoring Network. There are resources available for every season of ministry and spiritual growth. You can choose individual resources based on what you need right now, or join as a member and receive access to the full library.

The series may be ending, but the preparation doesn’t stop.

Keep seeking. Keep learning. Keep growing.

Remember: You are being trained for greater works. See you next time!

As we prepare for whatever God has ahead of us, there is a truth we need to understand: the devil has limits. But God does not.

As we continue our Preparing for Greater Works series, we have talked about seeking the Lord early, seeking Him continually, and remaining willing to submit and learn even when we don’t fully understand.

That doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulties. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience spiritual attacks. It doesn’t mean life will always go the way we planned.

But it does mean that the enemy is not all-powerful. He is not limitless. He is not God.

And he can only go so far.

The Devil Has Limits: The Enemy Has an “As Far As”

One of the Scriptures that has always encouraged me is Judges 6:3–4:

“So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.”

That phrase strengthens my confidence: as far as Gaza.

The Midianites could come. They could attack. They could destroy.

But there was an “as far as.”

There was a limit. And your enemy has an “as far as,” too.

He may attack your peace, but he can only go so far. He may attempt to discourage you, but he can only go so far. He may try to intimidate you, distract you, or convince you to give up.

But he can only go so far.

The devil is powerful—but he is not all-powerful. He has limits.

God does not.

The Devil Has Limits: It Shall Not Come Near You

Psalm 91:7 says: “A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.”

We often read that verse in the context of physical danger, and certainly, it can bring comfort when we are facing frightening circumstances. But the idea of falling can also include being overwhelmed or lost.

Isn’t that something we understand?

Perhaps ten thousand people around you are overwhelmed by their circumstances. Perhaps everyone around you feels lost because they don’t know where to turn.

Maybe the economy shifts. A company closes. A ministry experiences a difficult season. A relationship changes. The people around you are overwhelmed because the source they depended upon has disappeared.

But you have a different Source. Your Source was never the job. Your Source was never the ministry. Your Source was never the economy.

Your Source is the Lord.

That doesn’t mean you won’t experience difficulty. It means you are not left without hope.

It means that when everything around you begins to shake, you know where to turn.

The Devil Has Limits: But Don’t Depend on the “As Far As”

Now, I want to add an important caution: don’t depend on the “as far as.”

Depend on the Holy Spirit.

We cannot take God’s protection for granted while neglecting our relationship with Him. We cannot assume that because the enemy has limits, we can live however we want and remain spiritually healthy.

Without continual dependence upon the Holy Spirit and continued study of God’s Word, we can become vulnerable to the same discouragement, fear, confusion, and hopelessness that overwhelm those around us.

The enemy has limits.

But we still need to remain close to God.

This brings us back to everything we have talked about so far in this series. Seek the Lord early. Seek Him continually. Remain humble. Stay teachable. Now: depend on the Holy Spirit.

Preparation for greater works doesn’t happen accidentally. It happens as we remain connected to the One who prepares us.

The Devil Has Limits Meets The God Who Has No Limits

Now let’s look at the other side of this truth: the enemy has limits, but God has no limits.

Matthew 19:26 says: “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Whatever you need, God is able. Whatever circumstance you face, God is not intimidated. Whatever He is preparing you for, He already understands what will be required. Nothing is impossible with the Lord.

That doesn’t mean God promises to do everything we want Him to do exactly the way we want Him to do it. It means that there is no circumstance beyond His power.

There is no problem too complicated for His wisdom. There is no situation beyond His reach. There is no person too far gone for His grace. There is no obstacle too great for Him.

God has no limits.

The Devil Has Limits: Stop Measuring God by the Size of the Problem

Sometimes we look at our circumstances and unconsciously begin measuring God by the size of the problem. The bigger the problem becomes, the smaller our confidence becomes.

But what if we reversed that?

What if instead of measuring God by our circumstances, we measured our circumstances by the greatness of our God?

The problem may be bigger than you. It may be bigger than your resources. It may be bigger than your experience. But it is not bigger than God.

That is the difference. Your limitations do not limit Him. Your lack of resources does not limit Him. Your lack of understanding does not limit Him. Your circumstances do not limit Him.

Nothing is impossible with the Lord.

The Devil Has Limits: A Word for Whatever Is Ahead

You may not know what God is preparing you for. You may not understand what is coming next. You may feel inadequate for the assignment in front of you.

But God is not asking you to become limitless. He is asking you to remain dependent upon the One who is.

You don’t have to be strong enough for everything. You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to have every resource you might need. You simply need to stay connected to the Lord.

The enemy has limits.

But God does not.

Whatever you are facing today, there is an “as far as.” Whatever you are being prepared for tomorrow, nothing is impossible with God.

The Devil Has Limits: Reflection

Take a moment and ask yourself:

Where have I allowed the size of my circumstances to become bigger in my mind than the greatness of God?

Am I depending on the limits of the enemy—or am I depending on the limitless power of God?

Where do I need to remember that my Source is the Lord?

What would change if I truly believed that nothing is impossible with God?

The enemy may have limits. Your circumstances may have limits. Your own abilities may have limits.

But God has no limits.

When we remain close to Him, we don’t have to be limited by what we can see.

The Devil Has Limits: Let’s Continue the Conversation

This is Part Four of our Preparing for Greater Works series. So far, we have talked about seeking the Lord early, seeking Him continually, and remaining humble and teachable. Now we are learning to understand the limits of the enemy—and the limitless nature of God.

I hope you’ll join me again on Thursday as we continue this conversation on the Connect Podcast. Sometimes hearing a message in a different format gives us an opportunity to reflect on it in a new way, and I’d love to spend a little more time exploring this topic with you there.

If you’re looking for additional encouragement and practical resources for ministry and your walk with Christ, take a few minutes to explore Connect Mentoring Network. You’ll find resources created to meet you wherever you are in your journey—whether you’re developing as a leader, navigating a season of ministry, or simply wanting to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord.

Don’t forget to check back here next week as we move into the final part of our Preparing for Greater Works series. There is still more ahead—and I’m grateful we’re continuing the journey together!

As we continue our Preparing for Greater Works series, we have talked about seeking the Lord early and seeking Him continually. But seeking the Lord requires something else of us: submission and teachability.

Submission requires us to be willing to follow Him—even when we don’t completely understand where He is leading. Sometimes, following Him also requires us to listen to and learn from the people He has placed ahead of us.

Because here’s the truth: You don’t know what you don’t know.

To be honest, I'm with you: neither do I.

There are things God sees that we cannot see. There are circumstances He understands that we do not yet understand. And there are times when the wisest thing we can do is submit to His leadership and remain teachable enough to receive wisdom from others.

Submission and Teachability Matter: Submission Doesn’t Require Complete Understanding

One of the most powerful examples of submission and teachability without complete understanding is Abraham.

In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to do something that must have been incredibly difficult to comprehend. Abraham had waited years for the son God promised him. And yet, when God spoke, Abraham rose early and set out in obedience.

Abraham did not know how the story would end.

But he knew God.

There is a difference between understanding everything God is doing and trusting the One who is doing it.

Sometimes we want complete explanations before we obey. We want details. We want reassurance. We want to know the outcome before we take the first step.

But obedience doesn’t always come with a complete explanation. There will be times when God asks us to trust Him before we understand Him.

And there will be times when submitting to godly authority requires the same humility.

Submission and Teachability Matter: When We Exchange God’s Wisdom for Our Own

In 1 Samuel 15, Saul was given specific instructions concerning the Amalekites: destroy them all. Unfortunately, Saul decided that his own reasoning was better. He partially obeyed. He preserved what he thought was valuable.

When Samuel confronted him, Saul had explanations and excuses.... but partial obedience is still disobedience.

Saul exchanged God’s wisdom for his own wisdom. That decision had consequences he could not fully see at the time.

There is a lesson there for all of us.

Sometimes our refusal to follow instruction is rooted in pride. But sometimes it is also rooted in our limited understanding. We simply don’t know what we don’t know.

Saul did not know the future consequences connected to the Amalekites. But God did.

Neither you nor I can see every consequence attached to our decisions. This is why obedience and humility matter.

Submission and Teachability Matter: “It’s Not Really That Dramatic”—Or Is It?

Sometimes we minimize the importance of obedience. We think, Well, this isn’t really a life-or-death decision. Everything isn’t that dramatic.

But perhaps we don’t know.

Proverbs 24:11 says: “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those who totter to the slaughter.”

The truth is, we don’t always know what is at stake. You don’t know who you are supposed to minister to today. You don’t know who may walk through your door. You don’t know what crisis may be waiting at the other end of the phone. You don’t know what conversation will require wisdom beyond your own experience. You don’t know whether you will need to bring the wisdom of God—or simply the fragrance of His presence—into someone’s life today.

But God knows.

That is why a life of continual dependence upon Him matters so much. We need to be prepared before we encounter the need.

Submission and Teachability Matter: What Fragrance Are You Carrying?

Second Corinthians 2:15–16 says: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

I love that picture: the fragrance of Christ. Paul says that through us, God diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Do you know who can smell the fragrance of His knowledge on you? Everyone.

Everyone may not be able to identify it. They may not have the words to explain what they sense. But they recognize something different.

The peace you carry. The wisdom you offer. The grace in your response. The hope in your words.

The presence of Christ changes the atmosphere around us.

And just for free—you know who can smell the fragrance of something else on you? Everyone.

Our attitudes have a fragrance. Our bitterness has a fragrance. Our pride has a fragrance. Our anxiety can have a fragrance.

What we carry within us eventually finds its way into the spaces around us. So what are we carrying?

Submission and Teachability Matter: Assume You Know Less

No one knows everything, but we would all do well to assume that we know less than we think we do.

That doesn’t mean we diminish the gifts God has given us. It doesn’t mean we pretend we have no wisdom or experience. Humility isn’t denying what God has placed within you. Humility is recognizing that you still have something to learn.

When someone farther along in the journey offers you wise advice or godly counsel, you would do well to listen. You don’t have to blindly follow every opinion someone offers. But neither should you automatically reject correction or counsel simply because you don’t like what you’re hearing.

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is remaining teachable.

Submission and Teachability Matter: Submission Is Part of Preparation

This series is called Preparing for Greater Works. Perhaps part of our preparation is learning to submit before we are given greater responsibility.

God often develops us through people. He places mentors, leaders, teachers, and mature believers in our lives who can see things we cannot yet see.

They may challenge us. They may correct us. They may ask us to reconsider something we were convinced was right.

If we refuse to submit to anyone, we may also refuse one of the primary ways God wants to prepare us.

Submission to godly authority doesn’t make you weak. Teachability doesn’t make you less gifted. In fact, they may be evidence that you are strong enough and secure enough to continue growing.

Submission and Teachability Matter: The Posture of a Teachable Heart

Perhaps the question isn’t simply whether we agree with every piece of advice we receive. Perhaps the question is whether we have created a posture of humility that allows us to learn.

Can someone correct you?

Can someone challenge your thinking?

Can someone tell you that you may be wrong?

Can someone see something in your life that you cannot see yourself?

And if they do, can you listen without immediately becoming defensive?

Those are difficult questions - but they are important ones.

Because the greater the responsibility, the greater the need for wisdom. Wisdom often begins with recognizing the limits of our own understanding.

Submission and Teachability Matter: Reflection

Take a moment and ask yourself:

Where might I be demanding complete understanding before I am willing to obey?

Have I confused independence with maturity?

Am I willing to receive wisdom, correction, and counsel from godly people who may see what I cannot see?

What fragrance am I carrying into the lives and spaces around me?

You don’t have to know everything. But you do need to know the One who does.

Seek Him. Follow Him. Remain humble enough to learn from the people He places in your life.

Because when you don’t understand everything, humility and teachability will help keep you moving in the right direction.

Submission and Teachability Matter: Let’s Continue the Conversation

This is Part Three of our Preparing for Greater Works series. So far, we’ve talked about seeking the Lord early and seeking Him continually. Now, we’re learning that preparation also requires humility, submission, and a willingness to remain teachable. Submission and teachability matter.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and join me on Thursday as we take this conversation a little deeper.

If you’re looking for additional resources to help you grow in ministry and in your life with Christ, I would love to invite you to explore the resources available through Connect Mentoring Network. Whether you are navigating ministry, developing as a leader, or simply desiring to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, you’ll find resources designed to encourage and strengthen you along the way.

Join me on the podcast—and next week, right here on the blog as we continue this series. I'll connect with you again soon!

In the first part of our Preparing for Greater Works series, we talked about the importance of seeking the Lord early. Now we want to talk about why we need to seek the Lord continually.

We don’t want to wait until the crisis comes to seek Him. We want His presence to be our daily rhythm rather than our emergency response.

But seeking the Lord early is only the beginning.

The next question is this: How long should we seek the Lord? The answer is simple. Continually.

Seek the Lord Continually

One of my favorite Scriptures is Hosea 10:12: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

I love the instruction in that verse: Seek the Lord. I especially love the answer to the question of how long we should seek Him: Until He comes.

Say it louder for the people in the back, okay? How long should we seek the Lord? Until He comes.

We don’t seek Him for a season and then assume we have arrived. We don’t seek Him until we receive the answer we have been waiting for and then move on with life. We don’t seek Him until the crisis is over and then return to doing things in our own strength.

We seek the Lord continually.

Seek the Lord Continually: This Is Not a “One-and-Done”

There is no point in our relationship with God where we no longer need Him. There is no level of spiritual maturity where we graduate from prayer. There is no amount of experience, wisdom, knowledge, or ministry success that makes us independent from His presence and direction.

In fact, the longer we walk with the Lord, the more we should recognize how much we still need Him.

Seeking the Lord isn’t something we check off a spiritual to-do list: "I prayed.” “I read my Bible.” “I went to church.” “I’m good.”

No.

A relationship with Christ is not a one-and-done experience. It is continual. It is daily. It is ongoing. You must seek the Lord continually.

Seek the Lord Continually: Yesterday’s Encounter Cannot Replace Today’s Pursuit

Think about the children of Israel in the wilderness.

Each morning, God provided manna for His people. They gathered what they needed for that day.

They weren’t supposed to store it up and depend upon yesterday’s provision for tomorrow’s needs.

God was teaching His people something about daily dependence. Every day, they needed Him. Every day, they trusted Him. Every day, they gathered what He had provided.

Perhaps there is a lesson for us there as well.

Yesterday’s encounter with God may strengthen us. Yesterday’s revelation may encourage us. Yesterday’s answered prayer may build our faith.

But yesterday’s pursuit of God cannot replace today’s pursuit of Him. We cannot live today on yesterday’s relationship with God.

God is not limited to a single encounter, and our relationship with Him was never meant to be built on one.

Seek the Lord Continually: Don’t Try to Store Up What Was Meant to Be Experienced Daily

There are things we remember from powerful moments with God that can sustain and encourage us for years.

A Scripture He spoke to our hearts. An answer to prayer. A moment when we experienced His faithfulness in a way we will never forget.

Those moments matter.

But memories of God’s faithfulness are not a substitute for continuing to seek Him. We cannot assume that because we experienced His presence powerfully last year, last month, or even yesterday, we don’t need to seek Him today.

We need fresh dependence. We need continued communion. We need to remain sensitive to His voice.

He invites us into a relationship with Him that is living, active, and continual. God is not asking us to live on spiritual leftovers.

Seek the Lord Continually: What Got You Here May Not Be What Takes You Forward

There is a danger in believing that because something worked yesterday, it will automatically be the answer for tomorrow.

God may have used a particular season to teach you something. He may have spoken to you through a particular Scripture. He may have given you a strategy that was exactly what you needed at the time.

But as we move forward, we still need to listen. We still need to seek. We still need to follow.

We cannot assume that yesterday’s instructions are sufficient for today’s circumstances.

This is particularly important in ministry and leadership. We can become so confident in what God did before that we stop asking Him what He wants to do now.

But the Lord is not asking us to simply repeat yesterday. He is inviting us to walk with Him today.

This requires continual dependence.

Seek the Lord Continually: Seek Him Until He Comes

Hosea gives us the answer: “It is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

How long do we seek the Lord? Until He comes. Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. Until you experience the evidence of His hand. We know He is working even when we don't see it - but we don't assume He is working and stop praying. We don't assume He is working and stop seeking His presence continually.

And in the meantime, what?

We continue walking with Him. We continue seeking Him. We continue depending upon Him.

And when we do receive the blessing of experiencing His work in our lives? Even then, we don’t graduate from needing His presence. We don’t outgrow prayer. We don’t reach a point where we know enough to stop asking Him for wisdom.

The more responsibility we carry, the more people we lead, and the more opportunities God places before us, the more important our continual dependence upon Him becomes.

Seek the Lord Continually: A Daily Pursuit

Perhaps today, you can look back on a powerful encounter you had with God. Be grateful for it.

Perhaps you can remember a season when His presence carried you through something difficult. Thank Him for His faithfulness.

Perhaps He answered a prayer that changed the direction of your life. Celebrate it.

But don’t stop there.

Seek Him today. Open His Word today. Listen for His voice today. Spend time in His presence today.

Because yesterday’s encounter cannot take the place of today’s pursuit. Tomorrow’s needs will not be met by our determination to live on yesterday’s manna.

We need Him continually.

Seek the Lord Continually: Reflection

Take a moment and ask yourself:

Am I living on memories of what God has done, or am I continuing to seek Him today?

Have I allowed my relationship with God to become something I remember rather than something I actively pursue?

Where might God be inviting me into greater dependence upon Him right now?

There is always more to know of Him. There is always more to learn. There is always another opportunity to depend upon Him.

So don’t stop seeking. Seek the Lord continually.

Seek the Lord Continually: Let’s Continue the Conversation

This is Part Two of our Preparing for Greater Works series. In our first conversation, we talked about seeking the Lord early. Now we are learning that seeking Him early is only the beginning—we must also seek Him continually.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and join me on Thursday as we take this conversation a little deeper.

And if you’re looking for additional resources to help you grow in ministry and in your life with Christ, I would love to invite you to explore the resources available through Connect Mentoring Network.

Whether you are navigating ministry, developing as a leader, or simply desiring to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, you’ll find resources designed to encourage and strengthen you along the way.

Join me on the podcast - and next week, right here on the blog when we will continue this series! We're on the journey together!

Over the next several weeks, we’re going to talk about what it means to prepare for the greater works God may have ahead of us. We’ll begin by looking at why it is important to seek the Lord early and continually. From there, we’ll talk about submission and teachability, understanding the limits of the enemy and the limitless nature of God, and finally, how God trains and prepares us for greater works.

There is a progression to all of this. Before God can prepare us for what is ahead, we must first learn to follow Him, remain dependent upon Him, and seek the Lord early. The seeking is where we begin.

There is something about a crisis that makes us seek the Lord.

When the phone rings with unexpected news, when a relationship begins to unravel, when the diagnosis comes, when the ministry becomes difficult, or when we simply don’t know what to do next—we pray.

And we most definitely should.

God invites us to call on Him in our trouble. He is near to the brokenhearted. He is our refuge and strength. But what if we didn’t wait until the crisis to seek Him? What if seeking the Lord wasn’t our emergency response but our daily rhythm?

What Does It Mean to Seek the Lord Early?

Psalm 63:1 says: “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You.”

I love that verse. But I don’t think seeking the Lord early is limited to a particular time on the clock.

Certainly, there is great value in seeking Him early in the morning. Beginning the day in His presence helps us intentionally turn our hearts toward Him before the demands, distractions, and unexpected moments of the day begin competing for our attention.

But perhaps early can mean more than early in the morning. It can also mean early in the situation.

Don’t wait until you are overwhelmed to seek the Lord. Don’t wait until the relationship is in trouble, the decision becomes urgent, or the circumstances become impossible.

Isaiah 26:9 says: “With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early.”

The posture of seeking God isn’t reserved for desperate moments. It is the posture of a life that recognizes its continual need for Him. Seek Him early, whatever that means on any given day or circumstance.

Seek the Lord Early: Don’t Wait for the Crisis

One of the dangers of waiting until a crisis develops is that we often begin seeking God only after we have exhausted our own ideas, resources, and strength.

We try to fix it. We ask everyone else what they think. We worry. We strategize. We try to figure everything out.

Eventually, when none of those things gives us the answer we need, we turn to God.

But what if prayer was our first response instead of our last resort? What if we sought the wisdom of God before we made the decision? What if we sought His direction before the crisis?

What if we developed such a consistent relationship with Him that we didn’t have to remember to run to Him when trouble came because we were already walking with Him?

Seek the Lord Early: Our Bible Heroes Give Us a Great Example

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of people responding to God with prompt obedience.

Abraham rose early when he set out to obey God’s difficult command regarding Isaac. Moses repeatedly responded to God’s instructions as he led the Israelites through crisis and uncertainty. David often rose early and set out in obedience, even when facing circumstances that required courage and faith.

These men did not always understand everything that was happening. They did not always know how the story would end - but they understood the importance of responding to God.

Sometimes we want God to explain the entire situation before we obey. We want details. We want reassurance. We want to know how everything is going to work out.

But seeking God early means choosing His presence before we have all the answers. There is something powerful about seeking Him before we understand everything.

Seek the Lord Early: Before You Need an Answer

This is one reason it is so important to develop a habit of seeking the Lord before the crisis comes.

You may not know what is waiting for you today. You don’t know who will call. You don’t know what conversation you will have. You don’t know what decision will suddenly require wisdom. You don’t know who may cross your path and need the hope, encouragement, or wisdom God has placed within you.

But God knows.

When we seek Him early, we enter the day aware of our dependence on Him. We make room for Him to direct our thoughts, our words, our decisions, and our responses.

Seeking the Lord isn’t simply about getting something from Him. It is about knowing Him.

When we know Him, we learn to recognize His voice, trust His leadership, and follow Him even when we don’t understand the entire journey.

Seek the Lord Early: Make Seeking Him Your First Response

Maybe today you aren’t in a crisis.

That’s wonderful.

Seek Him anyway.

Maybe everything feels stable right now. Seek Him anyway.

Maybe you don’t have a major decision to make. Seek Him anyway.

Because the best time to develop a deep dependence on the Lord is before you find yourself desperately needing direction.

Don’t wait until you are drowning to learn where the lifeline is. Don’t wait until you are lost to become familiar with the voice of your Guide. Don’t wait until the crisis comes to discover that you need the presence of God.

Seek Him early. Seek Him before the problem. Seek Him before the decision. Seek Him before the need becomes desperate.

When the crisis eventually comes—as it inevitably will—you won’t be trying to figure out where to find God. You will already be walking with Him.

Psalm 63:1 says, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You.” If you think early in the day is what the psalmist meant, seek Him early in the day. If you think early in the crisis is what the psalmist meant, seek Him early in the crisis. I'm not going to fuss over semantics - I'm going to seek Him early, continually, whatever it takes. If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready, right?

Seek the Lord Early: Reflection

Here are a couple of reflections for you:

Are you seeking the Lord only when you need an answer, or have you made His presence a regular part of your life?

What might change if you chose to seek Him early—in the morning, in the situation, and before the crisis?

Today, don’t wait. Seek the Lord early.

Seek the Lord Early: Let’s Continue the Conversation

This is just the beginning of our Preparing for Greater Works series, and I hope you’ll continue the conversation with me. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and join me on Thursday as we take this conversation a little deeper.

If you’re looking for additional resources to help you grow in ministry and in your life with Christ, I would love to invite you to explore the resources available through Connect Mentoring Network. Whether you are navigating ministry, developing as a leader, or simply desiring to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord, there are resources designed to encourage and strengthen you along the way.

I’ll see you on Thursday! 😊

There are some words in Scripture that don’t immediately sound comforting - correction is one of them. Most of us don’t wake up hoping someone will point out where we’re wrong. We don’t naturally welcome having our motives examined, our choices challenged, or our direction redirected.

A few weeks ago on the Connect blog and podcast, we talked about Jesus flipping tables.  Some of us are uncomfortable with the idea of Jesus being angry, and that discomfort could extend to God’s correction as well.  However, God’s correction can be a sign that you belong to Him - let’s unpack this angle!

“Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? … O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction.”
—Habakkuk 1:12

I usually skip the history lesson, but this one is too good (and y’all know I love the history!  Please stay with me - you’ll see the value!). The book of Habakkuk opens with the phrase the “burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw”. God gave him eyes to see what was wrong, and then the burden of speaking it. Not an easy calling.

Unlike many prophets who primarily delivered messages to the people, Habakkuk’s book is largely a conversation between the prophet and God. He brings his questions and complaints to God, and God answers him. Judah was experiencing tremendous violence, injustice, corruption, and spiritual decline. Habakkuk looks around and essentially asks, “God, how long are You going to let this continue?”

Habakkuk isn’t a prophet standing comfortably outside the problem, telling everyone else what they’re doing wrong. He’s a prophet who is also struggling to understand God’s correction while living in the middle of a very difficult moment. We can relate to this for sure.

In its immediate context, Habakkuk is talking about God’s judgment of Judah through the Babylonians. But tucked inside this difficult conversation is a phrase that carries a beautiful truth about the character of God: “You have marked them for correction.” 

There is more comfort in those words than we might initially realize, because correction is not rejection when it comes from a loving father: correction is protection.

God's Correction: Life Was Hard for a Prophet

Habakkuk was not writing from a place of ease. He looked around and saw violence, injustice, destruction, and corruption. He brought his questions honestly before God: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2)

God answered him, but the answer created another question: God was going to use the Babylonians to bring judgment upon Judah.

Habakkuk couldn’t understand it, so he waited. He stood at his watchpost and said: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

I love that picture: Habakkuk didn’t understand what God was doing, but he positioned himself to listen. Correction requires a posture of listening.

In this position of trust and surrender, God reminded him of something that is easy to forget when life is confusing: God is still God.

Habakkuk begins his prayer by remembering who God is: “Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?”

Before Habakkuk talks about what God is doing, he reminds himself of who God is.

This reminder was necessary. When we don’t understand God’s correction, we can easily begin to question His character. We start to wonder: Does God really love me? Is He angry with me? Have I disappointed Him? Why is He allowing this?

Or maybe we just wonder: Why won’t He just leave me alone?

Scripture gives us another way to understand correction.

God's Correction Is a Sign of Relationship

A loving parent doesn’t allow a child to continue unchecked in behavior that will ultimately harm them. When a toddler runs toward a busy street, a good parent doesn’t stand back and say, “Well, I don’t want to hurt their feelings.”

They intervene. They stop them. They correct them. Not because they want to control, but because they love their child. The correction is protection.

God does the same with us.

Hebrews 12:5-6  tells us: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 

Notice the connection: the Lord disciplines the one He loves.

God's correction is not evidence that God has turned His back on you. God's correction is evidence that He is invested in you.

A parent who has completely given up on a child may stop correcting them, but a loving parent keeps teaching, guiding, redirecting, protecting.

God’s correction says: I love you too much to leave you here.

God's Correction: God Corrects What Could Harm Us

We sometimes think of correction as punishment, but God’s correction is often more like a road sign.

Wrong direction.
 Turn around.
 Danger ahead.
 This way is better.

God sees what we cannot see. He knows where our choices are leading. He knows what unchecked attitudes will eventually produce. He knows what unforgiveness will do to our hearts. He knows where pride will take us. He knows what compromise will cost us. He knows what our need for control is doing to us. He knows when busyness is becoming an identity. He knows when our striving has replaced our dependence.

And because He loves us, He is willing to interrupt us.

Sometimes His correction comes through Scripture.

Sometimes through the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes through a trusted friend.

Sometimes through circumstances that expose something we have been unwilling to see.

Sometimes God simply brings something to our attention that we can no longer ignore.

When He does, our first response shouldn’t necessarily be fear: our first response should  be gratitude.

If God is revealing something, He is also inviting us to do something about it.

Correction is a kindness.

God's Correction: Conviction Is Not Condemnation

This distinction matters. Condemnation says, “You are bad.” Conviction says, “This is not who you were created to be.”

Condemnation pushes us away from God. Conviction draws us toward Him.

Condemnation tells us to hide. Conviction invites us to come into the light.

Romans 8:1 reminds us: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Be prepared: there may be pain in correction, there may even be consequences.

Be encouraged: there will be an opportunity for repentance, there will be opportunity for greater surrender.

Viewed in this light, correction itself is one of the clearest demonstrations of His love.

What If You Welcome God's Correction?

What if instead of immediately becoming defensive when God reveals something in us, we became curious?

What if we prayed: “Lord, what are You trying to show me?”

What if we stopped asking only, “Why is this happening to me?” and started asking, “What are You inviting me to learn?”

What if we understood God's correction not as God pointing a finger at us, but as God extending a hand toward us?

Instead of ending the conversation with “Why won’t He just leave me alone?”, we can continue the conversation with “thank You, Lord, for loving me enough not to leave me here”. That is an invitation to the Holy Spirit - “Lord, please continue Your work in me”.

Take a selah there. Pause and think about that.

What if we became people who could pray like David in Psalm 139: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Throughout Scripture, correction is not presented as evidence that God has abandoned His people. Quite the opposite. God corrects because He loves. And that’s a truth we can lean into, confident that God’s correction is molding us into something beautiful. 

Habakkuk didn’t get every answer he wanted. He didn’t get an explanation that tied everything up neatly. What he received was an invitation to trust the character of God.

Sometimes that’s what we receive when God corrects us, too. We may not immediately understand why He is asking us to surrender something. We may not see what He sees. We may not understand what He is protecting us from.

But we can trust the heart of the One who is correcting us.

Habakkuk lands here, and gives us an excellent example to follow. He simply says, 

“But the Lord is in His holy temple.Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20

Sometimes God’s correction makes us uncomfortable because we don’t have the whole picture. But Habakkuk shows us: we don’t have to have the whole picture. We just have to trust the One who does. Trust Him to know what you do not know. Trust Him to have your best in His heart.

From the shock of Jesus flipping tables to the peace of receiving God's correction with surrender - I’d love for you to take the conversation a little further with me on this week’s episode of the Connect Podcast. You can subscribe here so you never miss an episode!

If you’re looking for a place to grow deeper in your walk with Christ while serving faithfully in ministry, I’d love to invite you into the Connect Mentoring Network. It’s a community created for women in ministry who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process. You’ll find biblical resources, on-demand courses, mentoring, a private community of women in ministry, and practical encouragement to help you lead from a place of health rather than exhaustion.

You were never meant to navigate ministry or life alone. I’d love to stay connected with you through the podcast and, if it’s the right fit for you, welcome you into the Connect Mentoring Network community.

Let’s keep growing, learning, and pursuing Christ together. Thanks for spending this time with me today. I’ll talk to you soon!

Have you ever noticed that some of the most powerful spiritual disciplines are also some of the most misunderstood? Prayer. Worship. Sabbath. Giving.

And fasting.

For many believers, the word “fasting” immediately brings up images of extreme sacrifice: a 40-day fast, no food or water, something so difficult that it feels impossible for the average Christian to practice. And because we misunderstand it, many of us miss the gift God intended it to be.

Recently, I heard a phrase in a song that caught my attention: “The devil wants to extend the game: free throws.” That line made me think about basketball. A free throw is awarded after a foul. One team’s mistake gives the opposing team an opportunity to score. A free throw may only be worth one point, but one point can change the outcome of a game. A few seconds may seem insignificant, but those seconds matter when the clock is running down.

The enemy of our souls understands something important: he doesn’t always have to convince us to walk away from God. Sometimes, he only has to convince us to neglect the spiritual disciplines that keep us connected, strengthened, and spiritually alert.

Prayer becomes optional.

The Word gets pushed aside.

Worship becomes occasional.

And fasting? Many believers never even begin because they don’t understand what it is.

But fasting is not a burden. It is a gift.

What Is Fasting?

A fast is dedicating time to your relationship with God. A fast is a means of drawing closer to God. A fast is pushing away something that your flesh craves in order to embrace something that your spirit craves.

At its heart, it is about surrender.

It is choosing to say, “God, I want You more than I want this thing.”

Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people fasting during times of seeking, dependence, repentance, preparation, and prayer. Fasting creates space for us to quiet distractions and become more attentive to God.

Jesus modeled fasting during His time in the wilderness before beginning His earthly ministry. He did not fast because He was trying to earn the Father’s approval. He fasted as part of His dependence on the Father.

And when Jesus taught about spiritual disciplines in Matthew 6, notice His wording: “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16)

Jesus did not say if. He said when.

Fasting was not presented as an extra-credit activity for the most spiritually mature believers. It was presented as a normal part of a disciple’s life.

What Fasting Is Not

One of the greatest obstacles to practicing fasting is misunderstanding what it is. Many people hear the word “fast” and immediately think: “I could never do that.”

But often, we have rejected something we have never truly understood. Fasting is not a way to manipulate God. Fasting does not force God to answer our prayers or make Him do what we want.

Fasting is not about controlling God—it is about surrendering ourselves to Him. It changes us. It positions our hearts to listen.

It reminds us that our deepest needs are ultimately met in Him.

Fasting is not a spiritual competition. A longer fast does not automatically make someone more spiritual. The goal is not to complete the most difficult fast or prove how disciplined we are.

The goal is intimacy with God.

A 40-day fast is not the standard every believer must achieve before fasting “counts.” Scripture contains many different examples of fasting for different purposes and seasons.

The question is not: “How extreme can I make this?”

The question is: “How can I intentionally seek God?”

Fasting is not about harming our bodies. God does not ask us to harm ourselves. Our bodies are gifts from Him, and we are called to steward them well.

Biblical fasting is not about punishment or self-destruction. It is about surrender and spiritual focus.

For some people, a traditional food fast may not be appropriate because of health considerations. That does not mean they cannot practice fasting. There are many ways to intentionally remove distractions and create space to seek God.

The heart behind the discipline matters.

Why Does the Enemy Want Us Confused About Fasting?

The enemy knows the power of spiritual disciplines. He knows that prayer strengthens us. He knows that the Word transforms us. He knows that worship redirects our hearts.

And he knows that fasting draws us closer to God.

When we misunderstand fasting, we often dismiss it before we ever experience the blessing of it. We convince ourselves:

“I don’t have time.”

“I’m not spiritual enough.”

“That’s only for certain people.”

“I could never do something like that.”

But God is not inviting us into this discipline because He wants to make our lives harder. He invites us into fasting because He wants to draw us closer.

Isaiah 58 gives us a beautiful picture of the kind of fast God desires. It is not merely about outward actions—it is about transformed hearts. God connects fasting with freedom, compassion, righteousness, healing, and His guidance.

A biblical fast is not simply about what we give up.

It is about Who we are making room for.

How Do We Begin?

If fasting is new to you, begin with prayer. Ask God:

“Is there something You are inviting me to surrender?”

“Is there something distracting me from seeking You?”

“How can I create more space for Your presence?”

Then, intentionally replace what you remove with time focused on God. If you remove a meal, use that time to pray. If you step away from a distraction, use that time to worship, read Scripture, or seek God.

The purpose of fasting is not simply subtraction. It is exchange. We are laying something down so we can receive something greater.

We are creating room for God.

A Final Invitation

Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline, but it is often misunderstood. It is not about earning God’s love. It is not about proving our spirituality. It is not about achieving an impressive spiritual milestone.

It is about drawing closer to the One who already loves us.

If you want to learn more about this practice — including different types of fasts found throughout Scripture, why people fasted, and how to practically incorporate this discipline into your walk with God—I invite you to explore my Fasting e-Course available through Connect Mentoring Network. You can take the course on its own - or you can look into memberships and have access to a full library of resources!

My prayer is that fasting would not be something you fear or avoid, but a beautiful invitation to experience deeper intimacy with God. Thanks for connecting with me today - let's continue this conversation on the podcast on Thursday! Subscribe here so you don't miss a thing!

Have you ever found yourself asking, “If this is God’s will, shouldn’t it feel easier?”

It’s a question many of us wrestle with. We naturally associate peace with comfort, ease with blessing, and open doors with God’s approval. But when we read Scripture, we discover a different pattern.

Again and again, God calls ordinary people to extraordinary obedience—often requiring them to leave behind what is familiar before they experience His provision.

Noah built before it rained.

Abraham left before he knew the destination.

Ruth walked away from everything familiar.

Jonah learned the hard way that comfort and calling are not always found in the same place.

God’s invitation has never been to pursue the easiest path. His invitation is to follow Him faithfully, trusting that His presence is greater than our preference for comfort.

As I reflected on this truth, I had the privilege of writing a new article for The Christian Post titled “Comfort Is Not Confirmation: Rethinking How God Blesses Us.” In it, I explore what Scripture teaches about obedience, God’s provision, and why we should be careful not to mistake comfort for His confirmation.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/comfort-is-not-confirmation-rethinking-how-god-blesses-us.html

As you read, I’d encourage you to prayerfully consider these questions:

• Is there an area where I’ve allowed comfort to influence my decisions more than obedience?
• Am I waiting for circumstances to become easier before saying “yes” to God?
• Where has God already made His direction clear?
• What is one step of faithful obedience I can take today?

One of the beautiful truths of Scripture is that God doesn’t ask us to have every answer before we obey. He simply asks us to trust Him with the next step.

Whether you’re navigating a ministry transition, a career decision, a family challenge, or a season of uncertainty, remember this: God’s faithfulness isn’t limited by your circumstances. He is present wherever He calls you, and His grace is always sufficient for the journey.

I’d love to hear your thoughts after you’ve read the article. Leave a comment below or send me a message and tell me what resonated with you most. Your stories encourage me, and I know they’ll encourage others as well.

Grace and peace,

Jennifer Spivey

Introduction: The Question Many Believers Quietly Ask

It's a common question among believers—whether new to faith or seasoned in ministry— and perhaps you have also wondered how to hear God's voice.

Underneath that question is often something deeper: Does God still speak today? And if He does, how do I know it’s really Him? Understanding how to hear God’s voice begins with understanding God’s desire for relationship with His people.

For many people, hearing God can feel distant, complicated, or reserved for spiritual leaders. But Scripture tells a very different story: God has always desired relationship with His people—not distance, not mediation, and not spiritual hierarchy.

One of the clearest pictures of this comes from one of my favorite moments in Deuteronomy 5.

God’s Original Invitation: Direct Relationship

In Deuteronomy 5, the people of Israel have just experienced something extraordinary.

They heard the voice of God from the mountain. They witnessed His presence in fire and glory. They came face to face with the reality that God actually speaks to His people.

Their response is revealing. They say, in essence: “We have heard God’s voice… and it is too much for us. Moses, you go hear from God for us.”

Instead of embracing direct relationship, they request a mediator.

And God responds with a heartbreaking observation: “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep My commandments…” (Deuteronomy 5:29)

This moment is not just historical—it is deeply theological: God’s desire was never distance. It was relationship. He wanted to speak directly to His people.

But they chose mediated access instead of intimate connection.

How To Hear God’s Voice: The Subtle Shift from Relationship to Religion

One reason many believers struggle with how to hear God’s voice is that they have unknowingly replaced relationship with religious performance.

This moment reveals something we still struggle with today. It is possible to have access to God… and still choose distance in how we relate to Him.

Many believers unintentionally shift from relationship with God to a system of spiritual dependence on others.

This can look like:

• Only hearing God through sermons
• Relying entirely on others for direction
• Feeling unqualified to discern God’s voice personally
• Believing intimacy with God is reserved for “spiritual leaders”

But Scripture consistently shows the opposite: God’s invitation has always been personal.

Relationship vs. Religion: Two Different Ways of Living

One of the clearest distinctions in spiritual life is the difference between relationship-driven faith and rule-driven religion.

Religion sounds like:

• “I have to read my Bible so God is pleased with me.”
• “I need to pray or I’ll fall behind spiritually.”
• “I’m afraid I’ll miss God if I don’t follow the right formula.”

Relationship sounds like:

• “I want to hear from God because I know Him.”
• “I look forward to time with Him.”
• “His voice brings clarity, peace, and direction.”

The external behaviors may look similar—but the internal motivation is entirely different. One is driven by fear and obligation. The other is driven by love and intimacy.

How To Hear God’s Voice: God Never Intended a Middleman for Intimacy

When Israel asked Moses to hear from God on their behalf, God allowed it.

But it was not His ideal design. It was a concession to fear, and a desire to be in relationship whatever that looked like for the people at that moment. It was not a reflection of His heart: His heart was intimacy.

We see this same tension today when believers unintentionally outsource their spiritual discernment:

• “What did your pastor say about it?”
• “What do you think God is telling me?”
• “Can you pray and hear from God for me?”

While spiritual counsel is valuable and biblical, it was never meant to replace personal relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit was given so that every believer could know God personally.

Jesus said: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things.” (John 14:26)

That is direct access.

Not mediated spirituality.

How To Hear God’s Voice: God Still Speaks Today

Learning how to hear God’s voice is not about discovering a secret spiritual formula. It is about growing in relationship with the God who is already speaking.

One of the most important truths in Scripture is this: God did not stop speaking after biblical times.

He speaks through His Word. He speaks through the Holy Spirit. He speaks through peace, conviction, wisdom, and confirmation.

But His voice is always consistent with His nature and His Word.

We see this modeled throughout Scripture:

David

David regularly pours out his heart to God, then listens in stillness. His psalms reflect a rhythm of expression and listening—what he later describes as “Selah.”

Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42)

Mary chooses presence over performance. Jesus affirms her choice as “the better part”—not because work is wrong, but because intimacy must come first.

Paul

Paul makes ministry decisions based on spiritual direction: “I had no rest in my spirit…” (2 Corinthians 2:13)

He was being led internally by the Holy Spirit—not merely external circumstances.

Jesus: The Model of Intimate Relationship with the Father

Jesus is the clearest picture of what it means to live in constant connection with God. He says: “This is eternal life, that they may know You…” (John 17:3)

Not know about God.

Not perform for God.

But know Him.

Jesus lived from continual communion with the Father. He withdrew to pray. He listened. He obeyed. He moved in step with what He heard.

Even on the cross, He could say: “It is finished.”

Not because everything in the world was completed, but because everything the Father asked Him to do was fulfilled.

That kind of clarity comes from intimacy.

Law vs. Relationship: The Internal Difference That Changes Everything

Paul describes two ways of living in Romans 8. One is life under law. The other is life in the Spirit.

Living under law often feels like:

• Pressure
• Performance
• Fear of missing it
• Constant self-evaluation

Living in relationship with God feels like:

• Peace
• Guidance
• Trust
• Freedom

Paul writes: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1)

That means hearing God’s voice is not rooted in fear of getting it wrong.

It is rooted in relationship with the One who speaks.

Why This Matters for Your Spiritual Life

As you learn how to hear God’s voice, you begin to experience greater confidence, peace, and clarity in your daily walk with God.

When believers begin to trust that God still speaks, everything shifts:

• Prayer becomes relational instead of transactional
• Scripture becomes alive instead of routine
• Decision-making becomes Spirit-led instead of fear-driven
• Faith becomes interactive instead of passive

And most importantly: You stop living spiritually through others—and begin walking with God personally.

Reflection Questions

Take a moment to consider:

• Do I believe God speaks to me personally?
• Have I unintentionally relied more on others than on the Holy Spirit?
• Do I approach God from relationship or obligation?
• What would change if I truly trusted that God wants to lead me personally?

Action Step: Rebuild Intimacy with God

This week, set aside intentional time to simply be with God—not to perform, not to complete a checklist, but to listen.

Ask Him: “Lord, what are You saying to me right now?” Then pause.

Write down impressions, Scriptures, or thoughts that align with His Word and His character.

Spiritual growth is not only about learning more. It is about learning to recognize His voice.

Conclusion: The Invitation Still Stands

The story of Deuteronomy 5 is not just about Israel’s past. It is about our present invitation.

God still speaks. He still invites relationship. He still desires direct communion with His people.

The question is not whether God is speaking. The question is whether we are willing to listen and learn how to hear God’s voice through a growing relationship with Him.

Connect With Us

If this message resonated with you, I want to invite you to go deeper.

Inside Connect Mentoring Network, we help women in ministry and leadership grow in:

• Hearing God’s voice
• Spiritual discernment
• Leadership clarity
• Emotional and spiritual health
• Sustainable ministry rhythms

If you’ve ever wondered how to hear God’s voice with greater confidence and discernment, you’re not alone. In our How to Hear God’s Voice e-course, we walk step-by-step through developing confidence in recognizing God’s voice in everyday life.

You don’t have to live spiritually distant or uncertain. You were created for relationship with God. And that relationship is still available today. God is not silent. He is not distant. He is speaking.

The invitation is still the same: Come near. Listen. Walk with Me.

Let's continue this conversation on Thursday's podcast - subscribe here. I can't wit to connect with you again soon!