Genesis 12:1 - Stop, Look, and Listen
Step 1: Pray. Select.
As I sat down to pray this morning, I came to the Holy Spirit for guidance on making some changes in my life. Lately, I've been feeling like I've fallen into a pattern of spreading myself too thin, and out of fear that if I adjust or let go of a few things, I'll be a failure. What is more worrisome is that if I don’t adjust, I know it is only a matter of time before one of the balls I am tossing in the air will fall.
Before moving in any direction, I want to come to the Holy Spirit this morning for the Lord’s provision on how to better prioritize what is essential to achieve the best life the Lord has in store for me. I need the Lord to confirm what he would like me to keep and what he would like me to let go of.
As I searched for scriptures that spoke about receiving direction from the Lord during these pivotal life moments, one that stood out to me was Genesis 12:1. This is where I began my journey today, friends, so I proceeded to Step 2.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Step 3: Re-Write
With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here are the personalized sentence(s) that came alive in my heart.
Jennifer, get out, I will show you.
If you are doing this alongside me today, add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.
Step 4: Visualize
At first, when I closed my eyes, I thought the Lord would show me a physical location to leave in my mind. But quite the contrary. The Lord showed me that the place I need to get out of is my own mind.
I saw a picture of a mind filled with clutter and chaos. Frankly, it almost looked like a trash can overflowing with debris. But what is this trash made of? It is made of all the lies and expectations I had been putting on myself.
The Holy Spirit is showing me that no one is judging or watching what I achieve, or how much I am carrying. What people are watching, and possibly judging, is my demeanor. People watch whether I am a loving, kind, patient, and caring person.
I am beginning to understand that if I continue to fill my life with activities to feel productive or have value, and am empty because I am barely getting by, I am falling into a trap of living a busy life, but not a life of quality. I can show up to everything, but make no real impact on anything.
The Holy Spirit wants to make something very clear. Showing up for things when you are slightly inconvenienced may happen from time to time, but if you find yourself exhausted and spread too thin the majority of the time, your cup is empty, and your peace and joy are missing, you may need to reassess your priorities. You might be physically present, but are you emotionally and spiritually present?
You may need to examine the little things to start, meaning at home with friends and family, and ask yourself, “Am I fully present? Why or why not?” Are you able to take time to focus on a conversation without intrusive thoughts interrupting, barking orders, or reminding you of what you have to do next? It means prioritizing your life to give the most to every moment because every moment is a gift. If every moment is a gift and time is precious, then we must examine where we are spending and investing our time. If we are being robbed by chaos, then something is out of order.
In this way, I realize the Lord is answering me right now! I need to get out of the way of my own expectations of myself and ask the Lord what is important to Him and the Kingdom. If the Lord redirects me, then I should be ready to move with Him, no matter what is happening or where He goes, so I can live a quality life, rather than a life filled with meaningless quantity.
I have a question for the Holy Spirit, so I proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The requests/questions that came to mind are:
Holy Spirit, so what is the next step of letting go to bring focus back in precious moments of life and focus your kingdom work which is loving your neighbor?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Here is the answer I received:
”Pray and fast. You must pray without ceasing until you are clear. To start, you can ask as you enter each step, task, or duty for the day, ‘Is this you, Lord? Where are you in it?’ You have a wise husband, I have sent you, who keeps telling you to check and ask, ‘Where is God in this?’ If you do not see me, then am I there? If I am not there, then you can know I have moved, and you need to open your eyes and seek me in order to find me again. Seek me above all things, and I will show you where to step. You must let go and know that you are valuable, regardless of what others think of you, when you change direction. You are valuable to me. I created you. Stop, look, and listen for me. If I am not there, find me. I promise if you seek me, I will always meet you where you are. If you are drifting through life, then you may be under a spell of confusion causing you to think if you do not achieve the accolades and approval of man, then you are not doing my work. The only one who can tell you how to do my work is me. Stop seeking advice from men; surround yourself with wise counsel that seeks me alone. It is in those wise and close relationships, after they have heard my voice, that they will relay a message to you. And you will find that through two to three witnesses, it is confirmed and undeniable. Take a breath. Slow down. I am here. My purpose will always prevail. So stop and focus on the one who created you, the one who knows you inside and out, and the one who has the power and gave you a more abundant life through my son, Christ Jesus.”
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Thank you for showing me that I need to lean into my prayer life more than ever. To stop, look, and listen to your voice that will come through two or three witnesses.
I want to prioritize quality over quantity, and thank you for showing me that changing direction is not a failure, but a reassessment to ensure I stay close to you, rather than measuring my life by my own merit.
In Jesus' mighty name, I pray and seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus - Amen.
Step 8: Share. Testify
If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we would love to hear how God works in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.
Conclusion:
Friends, take a moment to re-evaluate your life with the Lord and ask, “Where are you, Lord, in this moment?” If you cannot find him, then maybe it's time to stop, look, and listen so you can locate him and go to where he is.
If you are not fully present in the gift of a moment, then are you fully there? And if you are not fully there, are we truly living the best life the Lord intended?
Surround yourself with quality friends who will spend quality time with you, sharing with you what they have received from the Lord. Not their own opinions. His purpose for creating you and your life is all that matters. No matter what the world thinks.
No one is judging you. So start embracing what is important, and declutter your mind with thoughts that do not come from the source who created you.
God bless you. See you soon!
