Convo with Pastor - Psalm 127

H O W   T O   H E A R   T H E   V O I C E   O F   G O D

Too many people say that "they try and try, but can't hear God."

For the next several days, I want to share with you a technique

I've learned from T. W. Hunt in "The Disciples Prayer Life."

It's a three-step process: 1) read a passage of scripture,

2) ask "What God is saying to me?" (each day I'll give fewer hints),

3) pray, "What I am saying to God?" (reflecting what God said to you).

PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. 2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. --Psalm 127

WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO ME?

1. VERSE 1 - If you ever feel like you're living your life in vain, God has an alternative.
2. VERSE 1 - The alternative to a life lived in vain is building our life on God.
3. VERSE 2 - Feeling "anxious[]" and "useless" and working "from early morning til late at night" is a timeless epidemic.
4. VERSE 2 - God's "rest" (including Sabbath rest) is God's "gift" to us and a hopeful alternative to perpetual human exhaustion.

WHAT I AM SAYING TO GOD?

1. Lord, my life seems in vain in these ways: trying so hard to figure out what I should do; fretting over things I want to control, yet know I shouldn't; even studying your word seems to be done in vain. 
2. Lord, these are the ways in which I want to make changes and build my life more fully on you: I want to fully trust you with my heart and life. I don't want just knowledge - I want to feel you working in my life. I want your will to be my only will. 
3. Lord, I confess my exhaustion and living my life in ways that are "out-of-balance." Yes. And honestly - I am not sure if I know what balance is and how to obtain it. 
4. God, grant me true rest ... and a refreshment that comes from finally resting in you. Yes. Please. Amen.
5. additional prayers .... not to be posted.

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I am not going to post my response to this one. We'll see what the other days hold. 


Update: I will post my responses in red to these 'listening' posts.