Through the “Identity Exchange”, Jamie and Donna Winship recently offered a workshop called “Becoming Fearless in a Freaked-Out World”. Here is one of my take-aways from their teaching.
Being in relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a dialogue; a two-way communication. Listening, receiving and doing. God is communicating all the time, every day, in every way. He uses other people and nature to talk to us. Are we taking time to listen?
We have the fruit of the Spirit in us; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23. And we have the mind of Christ, the free flow of thoughts that come to mind, when we’re focused on Christ. I Corinthians 2:16
Donna calls this dialogue with God, “Listening Prayer”- John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Donna says what you are sensing from God, as you listen to Him, will line up with scripture and bring glory to God! There will be a sense of peace and a motivation to move forward. She says you will never feel condemnation, if you do, it’s not from God. He loves you and He calls you into relationship with Him.
When Jamie and Donna Winship came to Windrush this past spring, they shared two important questions that I use in my “Listening Prayer” time.
1. “God, what do you want me to know?”
I wait and listen. Then I receive what He says. For me, this can be simply an answer to what needs to happen today. Usually a verse comes to mind and I jot it down.
Today I was reminded of a physical key I got at my virtual workshop with Revel. The verses from Matthew 16:13-20, came to me. Especially verse 19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” God said to me, “Take out your key and free yourself and others, you are forgiven. And I love you!”
2. “God, what do you want me to do?”
God is asking us to act on what He is saying to us! My actions today are to share with several people in my life what I’m hearing and to offer forgiveness.
Practice “Listening Prayer” this week. Ask these two questions, wait and listen. Then act on what He tells you.
-Cindy Bartman