Testimony of hearing God’s Voice
by Steven E. White

This last week I felt the Lord giving me a word regarding my current path in life. I'd been praying and listening for guidance on what to do after I finish the degree I'm working on. For the past several years I've become gradually more distant and taciturn toward the church, for a number of reasons. This last January I was finally at a place where I could come to Dwight and share what had been going on and start turning my walk back toward the Lord. With the start of the new men's small group and some other changes in my life, I believe I finally heard something from Him, though the answer what not what I expected.

This is what I heard: "Why are you eager to learn what's around the next corner in your path in life, when you're not correctly on track in your daily walk? Focus on where you are now, stay Faithful to the path I've already shown you, and you will see Fruit."

The picture in my head as I heard this was: I am on a hand-cart on a railroad track. I am moving through a valley, deep and kind of dark in places. I've just come out of a heavily wooded area, there was little visibility there and sound didn't carry. I was coming into a more open and brighter area of the valley. Ahead I can see the track starting to rise and take a sharp turn to the right quickly passing beyond the hills into what I do not know. This is the change in my life I feel is coming and have been seeking knowledge of. As I look around, I feel the cart vibrating under me while I'm moving forward; it's not a smooth efficient journey. Kneeling and peering under the cart I see that the wheels are not fit flush against the tracks as they should be. I hear a voice telling me the message I wrote above. If I turn myself, for the cart is an expression of my will, and focus on His path for me and stay on that path, I not only will travel with greater speed, but I'll have momentum coming into the turn ahead and be able to take the hill at speed. If I'm not correctly on the track, it may still be possible to surpass the hill, but the journey will be much longer and harder than if I'm moving, if you will, at God Speed.

Obviously this translates nicely to our everyday walk with Christ. Focus on Him and what's He's giving to us to do, Faithfully keep our walk straight day by day, and we will see the Fruits of our labor manifest in our lives.

-Steven E. White

2011 A Year of Tending: focus, faithfulness, fruit
Rev 2:5 to restore First Love for Christ and for one another
ask grace to remember, repent and redo.