“God’s voice in our hearts sounds like a flow of spontaneous thoughts. Therefore, when I tune to God, I tune to spontaneity.” – Mark Virkler

I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:1-3)

Lord, why do You want me to learn to hear Your voice?

There are times in our lives when God strings together a most unusual set of circumstances to really get our attention to learn a critical life lesson, form a new habit, or change our life coarse. I call these attention grabbers. Let me share an example of a recent attention grabber.

On the night of June 8, I went to bed around midnight and chose not to set my PDA alarm. I woke up around 6:25 AM on June 9 to use the bathroom and then lay in bed for about 10 minutes resting and reflecting before finally getting up. When I got up, I immediately came to my office, knelt down, and prayed. After that, I began journaling on my computer.

I felt prompted to help Jerry Graham prepare a Daily Gram to go out on Wed June 11 about the introductory journaling webinar we were promoting together. The title of the message I wrote was “Are you seeking BREAKTHROUGHS in your life?” and the key scripture I had chosen was Habakkuk 2:2.

When I accessed Jerry’s Constant Contact account to post the message I had prepared, I discovered to my surprise that Jerry had already prepared an outstanding message about journaling using the exact same scripture verse I had chosen – Habakkuk 2:2. I ended up using a slight modification of Jerry’s devotional for my June 11 devotional instead of the original message I had prepared.

Later that afternoon on June 9, I called Mark Virkler to talk to him for the very first time. Jerry had referred me two weeks earlier because he knows Mark well. When I talked to Mark, I discovered that he is top teachers for spiritual journaling in the world. As I was showing Mark how I journal online and shared that morning’s amazing story about Habakkuk 2:2, Mark told me Habakkuk 2:1-2 serves at the foundational scripture for his entire Communion with God Ministries. That was 3 times in one day that same scripture came up from different sources. God had grabbed my attention.

Early the next morning (June 10) I woke up with the instruction to immediately apply Mark’s “4 keys to hear God” and also design a new computer desktop image with those 4 keys. After typing my prayer with a 2 way dialog with God, I was astonished with the result – a deeper intimacy with the LORD.

On June 18, the morning after the very first “UNCOMMON Journaling for Destiny” class, I began the daily habit of applying Mark’s 4 keys to hear from God. Visit today’s Link of the Day to read my prayer entry from that morning addressing the Day #1 question “Lord, why do You want me to learn to hear Your voice?”

Prayer Power
LORD, you want each of us to learn to hear Your voice because You love us and have specific instructions to give us each day – not vague thoughts, but specific things You want us to know and to do. You know what works and what doesn’t. You want to take each of us to an entirely new level of abiding in You. You want us to experience Your love like never before. You want us to know that You’re not just here beside us, but You’re here to answer questions that we have. You have been waiting. Teach each of us to hear Your voice by applying Mark Virkler’s 4 simple keys. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
June 18 prayer entry in Dr. Peck’s journal – “Lord, why do You want me to learn to hear Your voice?” (see below)

Blessings to learn to hear God’s voice by applying Mark’s 4 simple keys!

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Prayer Power (June 18, 2008)

Day 1 Question
Lord, why do You want me to learn to hear Your voice?

Because I love You and I have specific instructions to give You each day – not vague thoughts, but specific things I want you to know and to do. Randy, I know what works and what doesn’t. I want to take you to an entirely new level of abiding in Me. I want you to experience My love like never before. I want You to know that I’m not just here beside You, but I’m here to answer questions that You have. I’ve been waiting.

All the things you’ve been praying and waiting for, I want to make happen. It was Me who put those desires in your heart. But first you had to learn to hear My voice. I know what order You are to do things, when You are to do things, what to do, and what not to do. I’m not a vague God. Just as you want your children to know clearly what you want them to do, so I want You to know clearly what I want You to to. I love You Randy. I want You to be married to Me, not just engaged. I can use you because You have a heart after my own heart. I’ve been preparing You. The time in NOW. Behold I do a new thing. My glory is upon You. My favor is upon You.

Jesus, I’m overwhelmed. This morning as I reflected back on yesterday, I realized all the breakthroughs that happened in just that one day. Then this morning, I have one of the most awesome days of my life. When Amy told me the Holy Spirit kept nudging her to pay for Beth Spangler, I was so grateful. Beth has been looking for and waiting for a friend like Amy for years. Thank You Jesus. Thank You.

Randy, this journaling course is more for you than it is for the participants. When I had Matt Gregory and Ben Stewart sign up as the first two people in the “UNCOMMON Journaling for Destiny” course, that was huge. You see, I’ve brought them into your life to be in covenant relationship with you for life. The greatest habit I have blessed you with is journaling and now I want to have you bless them with that habit. I want to take them to a much deeper abiding in Me. I want them to learn to hear My voice. Thank You, Randy, for obeying my recent instruction to listen to Julia.

Randy, another reason I want You to hear my voice is because I want You and Mark Virkler to be in covenant relationship with one another. Mark will open doors for prominent church and ministry leaders. You will meet Dr. Yonghi Cho in 2008. I’ll let you know when. Prepare your devotional message now. Thank you for dining with me again. When you’re ready, come back. I’ll be here.