7 Day Challenge> Be Still And Listen To God

Mike’s 7 Day Challenge
Be Still and Listen To God Speak To Us Through His Word

Our pastor Mike Madding at the Cove Church (www.covechurch.org) challenged us last week during his message to take a new approach to our quiet time with God. He asked us to begin each morning for 7 days in a row to start out by not praying to God asking Him for all of the things we need or want but to just open the Bible and let Him speak to us through it. “Be still and quiet and hear God’s voice” was the challenge. Each day over the last week I have tried to do just that and below is where God directed me each day. It has been amazing and God has spoken to me so much with exactly what I needed to hear that day. I hope that it will help transform my quiet time to a more meaningful part of being His follower.

Day 1> I read Matthew Chapter 4 19-20 Jesus said “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him." They dropped their nets immediately and followed Him. They didn't question why, they just did it. God was saying to me, “Why do you always question “why” when I tell you to do something? Drop your nets and let’s go.”

Day 2>Today Was Galatians Chapter 5 "For freedom Christ has set us free; standfast therefore, and do not submit to the yoke of slavery." Stay focused on the prize and don't let the world and all of its distractions and sin divert you from it.

Day 3>Psalm 73:28 "But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works." God's reminding me I need to be telling it more! Changing my prayer habits has definitely made me feel nearer to Him despite all the issues and stress surrounding everything. It's good to be reminded to stay close to that refuge.

Day 4> 1 Samuel 17:1-50 The classic Bible story of David vs. Goliath. The thing that struck me is that all of the Israelites were just standing around waiting for someone to go face Goliath and they were afraid. David comes along a mere youth but with past successes against lions and bears and he steps up and takes it head on.
-What God is trying to say to me is "You've been successful overcoming challenges in the past and I have sustained you. Quit being afraid and just step up to the plate and take all the challenges head on knowing I am here with you."

Day 5>John 15: 7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." I use to read this is if I follow Him I would have everything I want or desire. Today I read it different "Abiding in Him" means asking for things only He would bless in my life.
-Truly abiding in Him means to only want for what He would want for us. Totally never read that scripture that way before.
Day 6> Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight." The key phrase tha stood out is trusting in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. As I struggle daily with all the things going on God is reminding me that it is He I need to turn everything over and not try to handle it by myslelf.

Day 7> Matthew 6:25-27"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" I have found myself worrying a great deal about work. It seems no matter what effort I make things have not been getting better from a production perspective. But God doesn't want me to worry. He just wants me to focus on Him. Amen.