Greetings My Friend,
Recently I was asked do I know that the Holy Spirit is in me. Some people are able to speak in tongues and feel that means they are filled with the Holy Spirit. I have never been able to speak in tongues, I also know I am able to hear the Holy Spirit's prompting in my heart. As I read the Bible the gift of tongues is a gift, not everyone has this gift. My gift is encouragement, I have been an encourager most of my life even before giving my heart fully to Jesus. I am not good at teaching although I do well with one on one friendships, somewhat of a mentor type of friendship at times. I have developed my ability to hear the Holy Spirit's prompting on my heart as I have read the Bible, year in and year out and in prayer. In the last few years my ability to hear the Holy Spirit has gotten better because of the journal process I go through as I study the Bible. I journal my thoughts first, write a prayer to God, then write out the passages I am reading. When I read those passages I find a passage or two sticks out from both the OT and the NT then one of the wisdom books like Psalms, Song of Solomon. I write the passages that speak to me, my heart then afterwards I write a heading, What does the Holy Spirit say. I reread my passages sometimes two or three times, ask the Holy Spirit to help me hear what I am to learn, then I write down what I sense the Holy Spirit is telling me. As I have learned to discern the Holy Spirit's voice on my heart through Bible reading and prayer, I sometimes feel prompted to walk away from a situation, other times I may feel compelled to speak to someone so I am learning to listen then do. In the Psalms through the years I often read a verse that says, "Be still and know that I am God." When I run across it even today, my heart seems to pause, to slow down and reflect. God has been teaching me in my faith journey to listen to the small still voice. I would not have known the Holy Spirit's prompting on my heart without quiet time in the Word of God. Anything I learn from the Holy Spirit will always match up with what the Bible teaches, which is how I know if what I am sensing is right or not. I can't hear God's calling for my life from my Pastor, although he may be able to put me in the right direction. I have to develop the ability to hear by being alone with God. I learned to pray very short prayers at first, "God help me." As I drew closer to God, I could formulate my prayer into a conversation with God. All of this took time, took discipline in the Word. I no longer need to buy a Bible study book to do my quiet time, I started out doing those, since I learned the above journal format I find the Holy Spirit is directing my time in the Word. Very few people find their calling right away, sometimes they will fulfill various job roles within the church, which leads them to what their calling will be. In my older years God has not allowed me to volunteer like I once did. He has had me start a ministry at home on the internet, with people in the community we have moved to. I no longer have a lot of energy to do the work I once did so God has used me at home, being friendly to people when I am out. He has also shown me how to minister to my husband, our fur family of rescues and the more I trust and obey, the more peace I find right at home. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
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