We can learn so much from moms.
1. FAITH: "You better pray that comes out of the carpet."
2. TIME TRAVEL. "Straighten up, knock you into next week!"
3. FORESIGHT. "Clean underwear in case in accident."
4. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"
5. HYPOCRISY. "If told once… million times. Don't exaggerate!"
A USA Today article entitled Mother Knows Best, (October 20, 1998) referenced research from the University of Arizona stating, “Women who claimed to have an intuition about the gender of their child made the right choice over 70 percent of the time.”
We are all designed with senses and abilities from God that are beyond our natural faculties! Obviously the supernatural element of the Creator is revealed in creation.
The National Geographic reported about how just before the massive tsunami hit in December of 2004 Elephants ran for higher ground, dogs refused to go outdoors and flamingos abandoned their low-lying breeding areas.
We are all equipped by God for far more than we realize! God wants to awaken this within us more than we realize. Purpose to memorize Jeremiah 33:3 as family goal or with friends to encourage each other in this important area of growing in hearing the voice of God. Consider memorizing more of the following verses if you would like to be a little more aggressive with your desire.
Jer 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. NIV
1 Cor 4:1 Men ought to regard us as those entrusted with the secret things of God. NIV
Dan 2:28 “…there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” TLB
Isa 42:9 "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."
Notice the key word, “announce” here. Over the years I’ve watched students in our school hear announcements but very commonly not pay any attention to them. God’s constantly making announcements and unless we’ve learned to pay attention it is entirely possible that we are hearing but not listening.
John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;" (NAS)
Once again we find a similar language that speaks of hearing God’s voice but listening and paying attention is the key. We all know what it is to talk to somebody who is hearing us but not listening to a word we say.
It takes practice to hear the voice of God. The more you pray and practice the conversational nature of prayer with God the more you’ll find yourself noticing what God is saying in your everyday life. I can be in a room full of people talking and suddenly my mom calls my name and I’ll hear her voice over all the other voices. I’ve had a lot of practice over the years hearing my mom call my name. This is what makes it stand out above other voices in my life. This is exactly the same with God.
Are you practicing praying attention? You need to purpose places where you can be free from distraction and work on conversational prayer with your heavenly Father. Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. We are moving into a season where we will focus on our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Please read the book of Acts this week. Write down questions and begin asking God to help you and all of us to grow in our understanding in this important area of our lives.
GP2RL Action Point:
Memorize Jeremiah 33:3 as a family goal or with friends. Read the Book of Acts.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Share something you have really appreciated about your mom or about a mother figure in your life.
2. What are some things you can do this week to more effectively express what you have observed in her?
As we focus together over these next several weeks on a season of growing in our awareness of what God desires to reveal Pastor has started with this idea of what is commonly called a mother’s intuition.
A USA Today article shared research revealing, “Women who claimed to have an intuition about the gender of their child made the right choice over 70% of the time.” Interestingly the Bible speaks in many places about how we are all designed w senses and abilities from God that are beyond our natural faculties and human abilities!
1 Corinthians 4:1 Men ought to regard us as those entrusted with the secret things of God. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
3. Has there ever been a time in your life when you knew God had revealed something to you or perhaps God spoke through someone else to you? Explain if so.
4. As we read the following verses consider what stands out to you?
Daniel 2:28 “…there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” TLB
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. NAS
Isaiah 42:9 “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” NIV
John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” NAS
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” NIV
(Make room for discussion on these verses)
God wants his will in your life more than you want his will in your life. God wants you to hear his voice even more than you want to hear his voice.
A great verse to memorize as we move into this season is Jeremiah 33:3. Also Pastor is asking us all to purpose to read the book of Acts as we ask God for wisdom to grow deeper in our relationship with Him.
GP2RL: Start reading the Book of Acts and memorize Jeremiah 33:3 as a goal with friends and family.