Join the bandwagon

I try and try to hear Gods voice but don,t. I have in the past but the more I pray about this the less I hear im getting so upset and dont know what to do

The answer to maintaining and keeping the enthusiasm that Paul had, and we all need -can be found in the first few words of the verse you had mentioned, vs 17 "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. Being IN CHRIST is everything!

In another part of Scripture, Paul had said, "That for him to live was Christ, and to die was gain" Jesus needs to be our all in all!!

David B.-- I know exactly what you are feeling. There have been, and still are, times in my life where I feel the more I pray, the more silent God seems to be. It can be frustrating.

I find that during those periods I am doing most of the "talking" during my quiet times with God. I lay out a series of requests and talking points. The Psalmist writes "Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10 NIV). It is hard for me to be still before God.

Playing some quiet Christian music (usually instrumental) playing softly also helps to still my racing mind and requesting heart.

I will keep you in my prayers.

In Christ,
David M.

David,

Thanks for your comment this morning. With regard to hearing God's voice, the Bible is God speaking/communicating to us. It is the primary way we hear from God. So every time you read your Bible you are hearing from God even though you may not "feel" that way. We all go through dry spells and they can be tough. So hang in there. Keep praying and reading and meditating on the Word and the rest of us doing P4 will be reading right along with you! Tami W.

David B. - I am going through a long dry spell myself. Suffice it to say that I have been seeking and not receiving real direction in my life. Maybe the time is not right just yet, maybe I'm not ready for it. Maybe there are some things I need to do first like work on myself, my relationship with God, moving myself to a place of even deeper commitment. Maybe His silence is a way of testing my willingness to endure, that I will hold to Him no matter what. And that brings me to my response to the question, How do we get and maintain our enthusiasm for God. By KNOWING we are His, that He is in us, that no matter what is going on around me in my life that He is always there and He will never leave me. Feelings of enthusiasm come and go, but faith is forever. We walk in faith that He is our soon coming King, rejoice in the love He gives us and then go forth every day to do our part to spread that love to the world.

Tami, your comments to David are so true. I also find that sometime God speaks to me but because it is not what I want to hear I do not pay attention then a few days later something comes up and I remember and realise that He was answering me. On those occasions I just thank and praise Him. There are times I seek an answer about something and a week may past and I do not hear from Him even though I am reading His Word daily; then a few weeks later while reading His Word I will see my answer. During the same period a friend might call me and she is telling me about a spiritual experience she had without knowing mine and would you believe it it is the same response I got when I read the Word. So God also reinforces. He is just awesome.

David M. I have the same problem with the silent times sometimes and I do just what you do - be the one "talking" silently. I always wondered is God silent because I am doing all the talking when I should be listening to Him?

We already have the tools so let us use them and try each day to be more and more like Christ sharing His Word and our experiences. God bless you all.

What impact has the Spirit's sanctification had on your daily life?

I thank God for the Holy Spirit in my life. At times I get tired and weary of the constant struggle with my flesh. Not a good place to be. It is like Satan has seen my "game plan" and knows exactly where my weaknesses are. However,I have learned (thru life and reminded by BTTB) that I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me to help me battle my flesh and the one I feed the most will be the stronger one. Therefore, I must stay in God's word so I (with the help of the Holy Spirit) can win the battles against the flesh, at least most of them. :)

This is going to get two birds with one stone. I am studying once again in Romans, because this is the "how to" book for Christains. Recently I had to walk away from a job that God had given me, not because he wanted me there; but because I wanted it. It took me away from church and my time with him, my life took a serious fall. Now i'm back in church, and praying alot. Although I know that God is excited that I'm back like the protical son, I don't always hear from him clearly. The Holy Spirit is my clearest guide, for he has given me the discernment of right and wrong since I was saved. But to truly hear from God and know that I know, I have to be slow to speak, and quick to listen, and have paitants for God's timeing is perfect. Sometimes I have to ask myself "how long did he have to wait on me and my selfish ways?" We live in a microwave generation, so we always want an answer now, now, now. The reality is that we all can look back over our lives and see God's hand and wisdom on our lives, so we know he hears us and answers our prayers. There will be times when that answer is "no", and if you're like me you don't like hearing that. But I'm thankful for the "no's" as much as the "yes's", for then I know that I know that I am in his will and not my own. God bless you all for jumping to encourage David, that's what family is all about!

How do we get enthusiasm for spreading the gospel?
Paul knew the importance of spreading the gospel, he knew that nothing else is what more doing than preaching the gospel, he knew the importance of the gospel. Rom 1:16- for i am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation...... Only through the gospel can a man be saved, paul knew this and didn't want anyone to be left out of this great salvation. And he also didn't forget what the gospel had done in his life -1Tim 1:12-16.
So if we want to get such an enthusiasm for spreading the gospel, we need to know the importance of the gospel; what the gospel would do in people's life and what will happen if we don't preach the gospel to people. And also we should never forget what the gospel has done in our lives.
How to maintain our enthusiasm for spreading the gospel?
Paul maintained his enthusiasm by staying focused on his goal (spreading the gospel). Phil 1:21- for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. To paul life meant living for Christ, so if we are to maintain our enthusiasm, we ought to realize that life to us is living for Christ. 2Cor 5:15- and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on thier behalf. And please don't forget HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS.

Many times we are not patient enough to wait for an answer from God and we just conclude that He is not talking to us or i some even assume He has forgotten or abadon us. But i know better now that He always want the best for us. i have my conclusion that in case i look forward to Him for anything at all and it does forth coming.it doesn't mean that He is not answering or not there, but that He is thinking of the best for me. I will not compromise,i will keep spreading the gospel as i am opportune.David.B know it that God is always talking,be ready to hear and you will hear from Him.

Wow -- so many good things were said above! I was just given an opportunity to minister to someone WHOM I DID NOT WANT TO TALK TO!! The Holy Spirit gave me some encouraging words to give a man who was using motivational speakers to lift him from his depths of despair and not the Holy Spirit! Funny when he called me I didn't want to take the call but after we spoke I saw it as a divine appointment. The Holy Spirit prompted me with some practical wisdom to impart. Let me stress this conversation was not "of me" it was the Holy Spirit -- I am always amazed when often the Lord can use all of us even in our "unwilling" moments

To get and keep enthusiasm in serving the Lord is to know Him; To have an intimate relationship with Him. We do this by staying focused on Him, His word and sharing what He has done for us. Showing who God is by our actions AND our words. He will use us, if we let Him.

Job 2:10 – ‘But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

We have to learn, as Chris W. stated earlier, to accept “No” as an answer. We should be asking God what can I do to serve You today? How can I serve You better? He loved us before we even knew Him and He owes us nothing. When you focus on doing God’s Work and God’s Will, it is very easy to be enthusiasm about service. The focus has to remain on Our Lord and Savior each and every day.

I start my day studying His word, on my way to work listening to BTTB, I revive myself on my lunch at work and lastly, I get my evening started by reading P4. I am ready to serve, are you?

I was encouraged and strengthend by today's scripture reading, and all of your blogs. It reminded me that the more I feed my spiritual self the stronger it will become.

I can relate to not feeling like I am hearing from God. Over the years I have had my ups and downs in that area.
During the times when I feel like God is not answering me, and those times have at times lasted for months, maybe years! I just hold on with faith remembering God will not forsake me, Hebrews, Chapter 13:5,6

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say , The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

The scripture today was good. The first part talked about the sins which we as Christians are overcoming in Christ. I for many years thought that I was the only one who had all these sins. And there in bold black and white is a list of them. :) It is so great that we can overcome through Christ and be in him to testify. I think one good way is to encourage others in Christ. I find that so many people are Christs but oppressed because they feel they are sinners and not ok with him. I find that encouraging them in what they do know of Christ will draw more people back to him and in time they will overcome. Hang in there David, those times are hard. Just rely on your faith in Christ and read His word with us and you will eventually hear his voice again. :) Praise the LORD!