All tagged hearing God

5 Tips For Discerning God’s Voice in Dreams

5 Tips For Discerning God’s Voice in Dreams

Anna Burgess

I have found that in the Western world, even amongst Christians, dreams are not taking very seriously, and the assumption is that a weird dream is just a result of a bit of funny cheese.  Here in Peru I find that people dream a lot, and the assumption is that God is trying to say something, even if they have no idea what (or even if it is a result of a bit of funny cheese!).  So where is the balance? God definitely uses dreams to speak to us today, so here are some things I have found helpful when trying to discern God’s voice in dreams... 

Is the Holy Spirit a bully?

Is the Holy Spirit a bully?

Anna Burgess
In Right Relationship

I am a missionary and I hate going up and talking to strangers.  Does anyone see an irony there?

One of the callings that I know is on my life is to share with others about Jesus.  To let people know that there is a Beautiful One who invites them to have relationship with Him and saves them out of all the nastiness of life without Him. 

If others initiate conversation, if there is even just a glimmer of relationship, I am able to chat freely and openly with them.  But if some one is going about their business, I do not want to interrupt.  Anyone else here an introvert with similar feelings?! 

There has been a voice in my head recently that has been saying this:...

When God makes me lie down

When God makes me lie down

Anna Burgess
Rest in leadership

It is one of the most peaceful, satisfying and happy feelings to watch your child sleep.  After all the noise and activity of the day, to see them (finally!) at rest and knowing they will be restored and renovated in their rest.  

So why is it that we love seeing our children sleeping (not only so we can get a break!) but we think for some reason sleep is just a necessary evil for us as adults? ...

The day I ignored God's voice

The day I ignored God's voice

Anna Burgess
21 days Robed with Joy

As I have been reflecting on how God’s Word brings me joy this week, I reflected on how much the Word unlocks situations for me.  It speaks directly into my situations and gives me solutions, life and wisdom.   The enemy can use God’s word to bring discouragement (remember Jesus in the desert?) so it isn’t just the written Word in itself that speaks to me, but rather the Living Word, Jesus and His Spirit who bring the Word alive for me and who brings me joy... 

Learning to Hear God's Voice: My Journey

Learning to Hear God's Voice: My Journey

Anna Burgess

The first talk I ever went to about hearing God's voice around aged 13, the lady running the seminar described hearing God's voice like this:  

‘It is like listening to the birds...they are all around us, but you have to tune in to hear them most of the time.’ 

And so I spent rather a while trying to tune in my physical ears to hearing God’s voice. 

And not hearing much at all... 

7 Things To Remember When Discerning What God is Saying When Emotions are Involved:

7 Things To Remember When Discerning What God is Saying When Emotions are Involved:

Anna Burgess

Last week I shared an embarrassing failure when it came to trying to share a faith-filled prophetic word.  This week, I wanted to share some guidelines that will hopefully be helpful when trying to discern what God is saying when emotions are involved.   

    • 1. Whenever emotions are involved be extra careful.  Strong emotions do not mean they are God’s emotions. Take your time to ask God about a situation.  Don’t rush into giving someone a word...
    Discerning God's Voice When Emotions are Involved

    Discerning God's Voice When Emotions are Involved

    Anna Burgess

    Some of my most embarrassing failures to hear God’s voice have been the greatest opportunities for learning to discern His voice.  Learning to hear God’s voice is not a science.  There are some keys that will help you, but ultimately, it is one of those things that you learn through experience.  And failure. Learning to hear God when emotions are involved is especially difficult and where I find the most difficulty in discerning His voice. So, not surprising, it is in those emotion-charged situations where I have learned the hardest way... 

    Let me tell you a secret... 

    When Emotions Take the Wheel...

    When Emotions Take the Wheel...

    Anna Burgess

    Often we think our emotions are the enemy.  

    As I was sitting last night with a friend, we talked about emotions and how they have so much influence on her life. She made a comment about just needing to ignore her emotions and look at the logic of a situation. 

    But emotions can be incredibly useful if we know their proper role in our lives... 

    Presumption vs. Faith

    Anna Burgess
    "Discernment", "God's perspective", "God's will", "faith", "presumption"

    Last year, when I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with Kaleb, a C-section looked likely.  He was breech and there is only one doctor I know here in Peru who would even consider a breech birth under certain conditions.  When I had visited her when I was pregnant with Joel, our second child, we hadn’t seen eye to eye.   But, feeling the leading of the Holy Spirit, I returned to see her 8 months pregnant, and this time we really connected. (The first time I had been to see her, I had been on the defensive and she had responded likewise to my lack of trust.)

    I felt at ease with the doctor and when I went into labour, she did all she could to help me have a natural breech birth, but when Kaleb failed to descend, she felt that there was a reason why, and we should consider transferring to the hospital for a C-section...