Stop and Listen to the Director of Your Life
I had a dream the other night that planted this month’s goal to stop and listen deep in my heart.
My dream went like this:
I was in school. (It’s funny how often my dreams take place in a school. I guess it’s my constant desire to learn.)
And I was getting ready to perform in a musical. But nothing was going right. I couldn’t find the right thing to wear. I couldn’t find my music. I couldn’t remember my lines. I was a mess.
The school was filling with people and I was running from one person to another trying to get help.
At one point the director stopped me and with a disappointed warning told me I’d missed an important pre-performance meeting and list of instructions. But that didn’t solve my problem or change my behavior. I went right back to asking people to help me find my music and fix my look.
Finally . . . I just gave up and entered the auditorium.
Everyone was gone. The performance was over and I’d missed it. I’d missed it!
I woke up.
It was 4 AM. I love how God used a dream and then chose that moment to speak to my heart.
His quiet voice whispered:
Deb, I know you want to do things the right way. I know you want to please the people in your life. But I am the Director. I am the One best able to instruct you and teach you. I am the One who can help you. Stop running around performing. Stop worrying about how you look. Just stop and listen to me. I will help you and you won’t miss a thing!
I rested there in bed, thanking Him for this precious gentle correction and gradually drifted back to sleep.
The dream and His words have tumbled around my thoughts since I woke up the following morning.
Do you run to friends for advice? Do you read self-help books by the dozens? Do you go to seminars and listen to a long list of teachers?
None of those things are wrong if you and I are adding them to spending time at Jesus’ feet, but when they replace . . . well, I can’t help but wonder how often we’re missing the mark because we didn’t go to the source of truth. Because we didn’t stop and listen.
Jesus Pursues
When I professed my faith at thirteen, my pastor chose a verse for me to help me remember the day.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20
I’ll be honest. I was disappointed.
My friends who were given verses like:
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. John 3:16
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can defeat us. He did not spare his own Son but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. Romans 8:31–32
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you. Deuteronomy 31:6
I knew my pastor prayed about the verses he chose for us, so I wondered . . . was my pastor telling me he didn’t think I trusted Jesus? Was Jesus, the One who knew everything about me, telling me my faith was lacking? It took me years to celebrate the giving of Revelation 3:20.
It was the perfect choice for me. Jesus knocked at the door of my heart because He wanted a close personal relationship with me. And He wants that closeness with you, too. Because He doesn’t just want us to trust Him with our eternal future . . . He wants us to be blessed by His direction today.
Jesus Directs
Jesus wants to come in and sit with you, with me.
He wants us to stop running around looking for what we’ve lost to stop going from person to person for opinions and answers, to stop and listen because He has the answer . . . He is the answer.
“Listening to God in stillness helps us know how to apply His will to our lives.” ~Henry Blackaby
3 Steps to Letting Jesus Direct Your Life
- Seek God’s guidance by reading His Word, praying faithfully, and sitting in stillness.
- Then be alert and ready for His direction.
- Follow where He leads by obeying His direction.
My dream painted a picture of what learned all month. I need to stop listen and sit quietly with my Savior. I need to let Him for direct and guide me. I need to “cease striving” and know Him.
I need His help and I don’t want to miss a thing He has planned for me.
I need Jesus!
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This was wonderful. I work in women’s ministry where I so often find this at play. We go to a book or commentary first, and never let the Holy Spirit get a word in edgewise. I love my time at Jesus’ feet. I want others to have the same experience of sitting in His presence. Thank you for writing this.
What a precious and helpful way God guided you. We often struggle to let Jesus be the director of our lives. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’ve taken the reigns and running my course. Thanks so much for sharing my post this week!
Thanks for featuring my contentment post!
Often, I try to figure out something on my own, then I ask a friend, and then I think, “Oh, I should have prayed about this first.” I’m getting better at going to God first, but, still, I struggle.
Blessings,
Patti
I still have multiple dreams where I’m in school too. 🙂 Usually I’m late to class or have forgotten that a major test is today. I love your advice to listen to the Director in our life. He won’t ever lead us wrong or leave us unprepared. Thanks for sharing your dream, Deb. May it inspire us all.
Thank you for sharing your dream and its interpretation. I and my pastor husband are leaving for a four day trip to the mountains. It’s way overdo. I need that reminder to still myself and let God direct. Bless you my sister.
Lord, give me ears to hear.
Beautiful, Deb.
Ha! I’m familiar with the “everything’s going wrong dreams” and God has used them to speak to my heart as well. As you have said, God so gently reminds us of His truth. I love the image of you meeting with him in the wee hours.
Such a great reminder, Deb, of who truly directs our lives. May we sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him for guidance always.
Blessings!
What a great word, Deb!
I love this line (and it convicts me at the same time), “Just stop and listen to me. I will help you and you won’t miss a thing!”
Thank you for such a powerful reminder today to look to Him!
Sure am blessed by you~
That dream paints a vivid picture for me, of how God wants us to listen to him. He wants our trust. I’m so glad you shared this with Grace and Truth last week. I would like to feature this tomorrow.
Oh, thank you, Dawn! You are such a huge blessing and encouragement to me! Thanking God for you today!
Oh Deb, thank you for this amazing reminder that God is our Director. It can be tempting to look to others for guidance when we should really look to God alone. God is the One Who knows us better than we know ourselves. His plan is for our good, not harm.
Currently, I’m trying to figure out how to retrace my steps back to the point that I got off track–getting there and doing what I sensed I was to do will be a start in hearing from Him again, I hope.
Blessings!