What are some good places in scripture or other resources in trying to understand "listening to God" in our daily lives?
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This is probably a loaded question but I'm happy to learn of what you'll bring to the table if you think of some good input regardless of how you interpret the question.
I've noticed an mostly 'unspoken' discrepancy between Christian communities which leads to substantial differences in outcomes regarding them living out their faith (I'm in USA mostly around protestant circles for reference but I wouldn't be surprised if this conversation happens (maybe implicitly as well) in other places)
I am trying to wrap my mind around this and so far have only heard 'lessons' regarding these things which assume the audience to know/believe something about their lives and God which is never fully fleshed out.
Recently I heard John Mark Comer say something like [It's about the switch from decision making to discernment, or full surrender]. This is just the most recent example of such an idea that I've heard.
Frequently I've heard teachers explain away over-analyzing things through this lens like "what t-shirt you wear, what to eat for lunch etc. is not important in the grand scheme" but I've yet to hear a rigorous system of understanding these things.
As an ideology it is captivating as one can believe themselves to be behaving under the direction of God and making personal 'sacrifices' in offering up the outcome of decision to God, 'neglecting their personal desires and honoring more holy ways of being'.
But this same ideology can inspire guilt, as one could ask themselves "am I listening for/to God well enough, and not doing my best as a Christian?". When they are potentially expecting something of themselves that isn't actually expected (or desired) of us by God.
So that's where I'm at, I'm familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6, John 10: 27-28 and probably some other relevant verses I'm forgetting now, but I believe these things in layman circles get misconstrued and I'm looking for ways to understand how to apply these things in my own life (and maybe hopefully clear up confusion regarding these teachings for others if they've suffered in similar bouts of confusion/guilt).
To steal a quote from Dallas Willard "I don't have the [characters] to explain everything I don't mean" by this question so I hope I've done a decent enough job. Let me know if you think edits would be helpful.
I imagine it possible some early church father has some highly fleshed out discussion about internally walking through these things, but maybe I'm looking towards the past with too much of an enchanted lens. I just don't know of how to search for this concept in few words.
Thanks!
Asked by SubparBeginner1
(9 rep)
Sep 30, 2024, 07:48 PM
Last activity: Oct 7, 2024, 08:38 AM
Last activity: Oct 7, 2024, 08:38 AM