Deuteronomy 9-10, Luke 8:4-21, Psalms 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3

What God said to me – There is an old saying that you were given two ears and one mouth because you need to listen twice as much as you speak.  My word says to be quick to hear and slow to speak.  It also says to take care how you listen.  Listening is important but it takes effort and focus to get your mind off of yourself so you can hear someone else.  When it comes to hearing from Me, it also takes a relationship with Me because spiritual things are spiritually discerned.  I speak to My children through My word as you spend time in it and My Spirit teaches you.  You don’t hear from Me when you let worries and riches and pleasures of this life choke out My word because your focus is on things and circumstances rather than on Me and My word.  Everyone has been in a situation one time or another where someone told you something and you didn’t “hear” it even though you should have heard it, but your mind was on other things so you tuned them out – selective hearing if you will.  If you are not hearing from Me, it might be because your mind is so set on earthly things that you are tuning Me out.  Set your minds on things above and seek Me, then you will hear from Me.

Deuteronomy 7-8, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalms 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1

What God said to me – How dumb would you be if you were in the middle of a math test and the teacher came up and looked over your shoulder and told you that you were doing it wrong, here’s how to do it, but you kept doing it your way?  In Proverbs I said, “whosoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”  Pretty blunt, isn’t it?  Like a good parent I discipline My children.  When I say discipline, it has two parts- reproof and training.  I don’t just punish and reprove you when you are wrong, but I also discipline you by teaching and training you in the right way.  I disciplined Israel by making them wander in the wilderness for forty years before they could enter into the promised land.  It was partly punishment for their disobedience in refusing to enter the land when I told them to go, but it was also a time of training to teach them about My sovereignty and My provision.  In all the time they wandered, their clothing never wore out.  I protected them and fed them and quenched their thirst.  They learned to trust me for their every need.  So, when I reprove you when you are wrong, be grateful I didn’t let you continue going the wrong way.  When you encounter trials and difficulty, be eagerly looking for what “I AM” teaching you or how “I AM” strengthening you.  Learn to love discipline – it’s good for you.

Deuteronomy 5-6, Luke 7:11-35, Psalms 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

What God said to me – Throughout history you see men called “titans of industry” or inventors who invented incredible things or kings who build vast kingdoms or generals who led great armies and inevitably they are called “self-made men” who came from nothing and rose to great fame or accomplishment.  In reality, however, there is no such thing as a “self-made man”.  All talent and intelligence and ability and health come from Me.  I created each person with a specific plan in mind for them so it’s not what they did or made themselves into, it’s My sovereignty that makes the difference.  Take the nation of Israel for example.  When they went into the promised land, I gave them land they did not earn.  I gave them cities they did not build.  I gave them cisterns they did not dig.  I gave them vineyards and olive trees they did not plant.  It was not because of anything they did to earn or deserve it, but it was by My grace and My plan.  All that you have and are, is because of My grace and My plan for your life.  Whether you are intelligent or not, whether you are healthy or not, whether you are wealthy or not – it’s all by My grace and My plan.  What are you doing to bring glory to Me with who you are, where you are, and what you are?