What if I don't recognise it's God?

Do you ever have a thought pop into your head that may be God speaking to you, but you go, “No, that’s just me”? In this episode of the Hearing God Podcast, we unpack this, consider whether it really matters, and explore how we can make sure we recognise that it’s God speaking to us.

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Transcript

Episode Description:

Do you ever have a thought pop into your head that may be God speaking to you, but you go, “No, that’s just me”? In this episode of the Hearing God Podcast, we unpack this, consider whether it really matters, and explore how we can make sure we recognise that it’s God speaking to us.

Episode Notes:

Background to this topic:

·        In Darwin, we were running a session on hearing God, and one of the people gave the Bible verse – Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Thought it was just her own thoughts.

·        Episode 18 – Am I hearing God or is it just me?

·        Episode 4 – The different ways God can talk to us.

·        Episode 27 – Times when we can easily miss hearing God

·        Episode 3 – The different voices we can hear.

First Point: When we don’t recognise it’s God, we usually give ourselves the credit.

·        We can think it’s our own thoughts.

·        It seems a natural progression in our thoughts.

·        Faith quotient comes into play here – are my desires overpowering God’s voice?

·        Am I aware of how God can speak? Episode 4 – the different ways God talks to us.

·        Sometimes we don’t recognise God because we have an incorrect theology and don’t think God would be interested in talking to us. It can tie in with our self-worth.

·        Do we sometimes not recognise God because it’s not what we think God would say? i.e., we are praying for a different answer or a different method of achieving that answer.

·        Trusting God wants to talk with you and that He is talking to you.

Second Point: Does it really matter if we don’t recognise it’s God?

·        I suppose it depends on what it actually is. If God is trying to ‘hit us over the head’ with telling us something and we don’t recognise it’s God, then that’s an issue.

·        Eg Balaam and the donkey Numbers 22-24. Episode 49 (If a donkey can hear God, then what about me?)

·        Balaam got on his donkey, and 3 times the angel of the Lord stood in the donkey's way. 1st time the donkey turned off the path to the field. Balaam beat the donkey. 2nd time was in a narrow path, and the donkey pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam beat the donkey again. 3rd time, the donkey lay down. Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the donkey said to Balaam, “What have I done to make you beat me 3 times?”

·        Balaam responded, “You have made a fool of me. If only I had a sword, I would kill you right now.”

·        The donkey said, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden? Have I ever done this to you before?”

·        “NO”, said Balaam. (Notice how he was so intent on sinning that he didn’t notice the strange phenomenon of a talking donkey??)

·        Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. Balaam bowed low and fell face down.

·        The angel said, “Why did you beat the donkey? I came here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one. The donkey saw me and obeyed. If the donkey hadn’t turned away and tried to stop, I would have killed you, but I will now spare your life.”

·        Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.

·        The Disciples were with Jesus 24/7, yet they still didn’t recognise Jesus after He rose from the dead and walked and chatted with them on the road to Emmaus.

Great question: how can we make sure we do hear God?

·        Intimacy with God.

·        Accountability

·        Journal

·        Prayer points – sometimes don’t thank God for answers to prayer as we forget we prayed for that.

·        Wise people in your life.

·        Read the Bible

·        Read autobiographies of Christians who did great things.

·        Hudson Taylor’s secrets to his ministry.

·        Reduce sin. Obey quickly.

·        Don’t try to shortchange God, e.g., Abraham and Sarah, with having children. Abraham slept with Hagar. Genesis 16. Episode 62 Abraham and Episode 48 Hagar.

Summary of what we’ve looked at today:

1. When we don’t recognise it’s God, we usually give ourselves the credit.

2. Does it really matter if we don’t recognise it’s God?

3. Looked at how we can make sure we hear God.

Prophetic activation: 

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him: 

·        “God, can You please bring someone to mind in the next few moments that I could contact today to encourage?”

Time Stamps:

[0:37] – Gary & Jane share how they have heard God this week.

[3:43] – Background to this topic.

[7:31] – First Principle: When we don’t recognise it’s God, we usually give ourselves the credit.

[9:36] – Second Principle: Does it really matter if we don’t recognise it’s God?

[15:27] – How can we make sure we hear God?

[17:38] - Summary

[18:06] – Prophetic activation.

[19:03] – Gary & Jane share a prophetic word for a listener.

[22:03] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:  

·        Episode 18 (Am I hearing God or is it just me?): https://garyandjane.co/episode-18-am-i-hearing-god-or-is-it-just-me/ 

·        Episode 4 (The different ways God can talk to us): https://garyandjane.co/episode-4-how-does-god-talk-to-us/ 

·        Episode 27 (Times when we can easily miss hearing God): https://garyandjane.co/times-when-we-can-easily-miss-hearing-god/ 

·        Episode 3 (The different voices we can hear & the first thought principle): https://garyandjane.co/episode-3-what-does-gods-voice-sound-like/ 

·        Episode 49 (Balaam and his donkey): https://garyandjane.co/if-a-donkey-can-hear-god-what-about-me/ 

·        Episode 62 (Abraham): https://garyandjane.co/did-abraham-get-it-wrong-in-hearing-god/ 

·        Episode 48 (Hagar): https://garyandjane.co/hearing-god-when-feeling-unseen-uncared-for-abused-or-overlooked/ 

·        Hudson Taylor’s secrets to his ministry: https://www.amazon.com.au/Hudson-Taylors-Spiritual-Secret-Howard/dp/0802456588 

·        YWAM Christian Heroes Then and Now by Janet & Geoff Benge: https://www.ywampublishing.com/c-70-christian-heroes-then-now.aspx 

·        30-Day Devotional 'Hearing God for the Year Ahead' https://www.unlockingthegold.com/product/hearing-god-for-the-year-ahead/

Bible Verses Mentioned:

·        Joshua 1:9

·        Numbers 22-24

·        Luke 24

·        1 Corinthians 14:3

·        Genesis 16

Connect with Gary & Jane:

•            Visit the Hearing God podcast website: https://garyandjane.co

•            Email admin@garyandjane.co or garyandjaneb@gmail.com 

•            Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092429006234 

•            Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/hearinggodpodcast/ 

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