While watching television one evening I saw a trip to Jerusalem advertised. I was prompted to send for the information. I had never had a desire to go to Israel and for some reason I really wanted to go on this trip. I started to wonder if this is God's idea or mine so I asked for a sign. I took my Bible and it opened to Jonah who tried to run from God. I was not going to run away if God was calling me. I said yes God. I will book it and go. You know, however that I do not have the money. I hear what I have always thought was my conscience (that still small voice) say: "O ye of little faith." (Journal 1 pg 6) I felt surprise and thought, I do not talk to myself like that and realized that God had just spoken to me in a still small voice or an inner voice. I was thrilled and hurt at the same time. After all, no one wants to hear God tell them thay have little faith and yet I was excited and rejoicing for I had recognized that God had just spoken to me in an audible voice. Yeesss!!! I had heard God speak. I repented and started praying and asking Jesus for a stronger and unshakable faith. I became aware of this inner voice and started listening for it. I would notice things that were directives or in the third person. I was so blessed and rejoiced in this new communication.
I got on the plane bound for the Holy Land and as I was sitting in the seat ready for take off I heard God say to me. "I'm going to give you the best trip you have ever had." (Journal 1 pg.9) I was so thrilled!!! I had enjoyed some wonderful trips in the past but nothing was going to come close to this. It was by far the best and greatest trip ever. Under the topic God Speaks Through Visions you will read more about this and one of the visions God gave me while I was there. It is necessary here to stay focused on God communicating with an audible voice. What a Awesome God. I had no idea of what was in store for me. I was going to visit the land where Jesus lived, the land of my ancestors, places I had only read about and little did I know my life would never be the same again.
About five months later, on my birthday, I was at Lake Tahoe walking. It seemed like I didn't enjoy things as much as I used to. My life didn't seem very purposeful any more and I wondered what was in store for me. I heard God say: "These will be bonus years." God said they would not be as I had thought but they would be wonderful years. I would be serving Him and that they would be joyful and exciting. He requested I buy a journal and record my visions and thoughts and meditate on them." (Journal 1, pg. 24) I bought the journal as my Lord instructed and started recording the special things He had done for me and writing my thoughts addressing God. This opened up a wonderful and much more fulfilling prayer life.
A few months later I woke up one morning hearing the question over and over. "Who will teach My children to pray?" (Journal 1, pg. 35) So how do I do this? I was assuming God must want me to do it since He was asking me the question. I told Him I would with His help.
About a year after God called me to serve Him in Jerusalem I got up from prayer. As I went to get dressed, God spoke to me and said: "I have called you to be a Nun, I have called you to be a Missionary. I have let you do what you wanted to do. From now on your Life is Mine." (Journal 1, pg. 107) My immediate response was, "YES LORD." I had always loved Jesus and in the 7th and 8th grade I wanted to be a Nun but I did not realize God was calling me or recognize that He was speaking to me. I thought it was my own desire. Because I also wanted to be a mother and have my own children I gave up the desire to be a Nun. Later in my life I thought about doing missionary work but did not act upon it because I didn't recognize it was God calling me again. I thank God that He chose to bless me even though I did not do what He was calling me to do. You can see that God has been calling me all my life to serve Him but I did not understand How God Speaks to us. He gave me a wonderful husband and three very special children. Because I did not recognize His voice I was in His permissive will instead of His perfict will. My prayer since has been to be in God's perfect will and that is my prayer for you also.
Even though God has a plan and a desire for our life He allows us a free choice. If we do exactly as God wants us to do we are in His perfect will. If we don't recognize what His will is because we don't hear Him speaking to us and we are trying to do what is right and live according to His commandments and statutes we are then in His permissive will.
Then one morning God spoke to me during prayer. He said that He wanted me to tithe 10% of my time and He wanted the first 10%. (Journal 1, pg. 122) I had never heard of anyone tithing their time but agreed to do so. It seemed like a long time to pray. It would mean getting up two hours earlier each morning to avoid interruptions. It has proven to be a very easy task and most of the time it goes by so quickly that I go beyond. God was calling me to intercessory prayer and to draw even closer to Him.
Can you see the sequence? God opened up a deeper and richer prayer life for me when He told me to address Him in writing. What happened? I was not as easily distracted because I was writing. I was actually documenting my prayers and seeing the power of God as He answered them. He then asked me to teach others to pray and I agreed. God was then showing me what He wanted in prayer. By calling me to give the first two and a half hous every morning He was taking me even deeper into the true meaning of prayer and actual communion with Him. I was fresh in the morning. I took time to worship and praise God giving Him thanks for His blessings. God was given time to speak into my life. Unfortunately, prayer is another topic and too lengthy to be covered here. If you are just saying routine prayers, making your request, saying thank you and rushing in to your day you may want to consider pursuing God a little in the early morning. Remember to give God some time to speak also. You may eveen want to try what God had me do and get a journal.
The following will show one of the advantages of writing in a journal. God spoke to me during prayer as I was writing and said that He would prosper me and said: "The greatest profit will be the saved souls and Jess will be one." (Journal 8, pg. 2) Jess had worked for me for several years as a gold prospecting guide. He had become a good friend. That same day in the afternoon Jess called and informed me that he had been evicted from his home. I told him not to worry. I would come get him and move him down into one of my cabins. Jess was in my prayers a lot as he did not believe in God and I was very concerned about him.
Three days later I was down repairing the roof on the cabin I had just moved Jess into. I had to go get some supplies and I was telling Jess I would be right back. He was concerned that I was working too hard. I told him not to worry that the Lord takes care of me and he said: "He takes care of me too. I see Him on the cross each morning up there on the hill. You've made a believer of Me." (Journal 8, pg. 110) Oh how I praised God. What a day of rejoicing.
The prophecy was written down three days before it actually happened. If anyone should question that God actually spoke to me the journal can be produced and offered as proof. There are other similar prophetic Words spoken by God during my prayer time which have come to pass. Had it not been written there would be no actual proof.
A new and wonderful communication was developing and a much richer prayer life where I actually fellowship with God. As you can see God was definitely trying to get my attention and He was. (Finally)
Listen carefully. See if you know and recognize God's voice. Listen and ask for God's help in hearing and recognizing His voice. Oh what joy awaits you!!!
Quoted from the book: Hearing God Speak
Author: Margaret Jensen