Devo for 11/24/2024 service- Message by Pastor Duane Vander Klok
Pastor Duane Vander Klok’s message this past Sunday was powerful. The testimonies they shared to start the message were inspiring and displayed the fruit that comes from obedience to pursue the desires and passions God places in our hearts.
Pastor Duane followed the testimonies by pointing out three points regarding hearing from God:
God speaks to us through His word,
God gives us new passions and desires,
We will be led by peace in knowing what we hear is from God
These statements are true and supported by the Bible. But have you ever had a time when you thought you heard from God, but then you began to doubt yourself? Or have you heard something and thought, “That can’t be from God?” I think we have all been there at one time or another. So how do we overcome that?
What I have found is this: Practice makes perfect. Can you imagine being on a football team that only practices in the classroom and not on the field? The team would know all the plays inside and out, but it would be a disaster when they got on the field and tried to play the game. They would begin to doubt if what they learned in the classroom would work.
The same thing can happen to us in our relationship with God. We know the Word says God speaks to us, but if we never take the time to slow down and listen and interact with Him, we open up the opportunity to let doubt creep into what we believe we are hearing from God. The enemy can begin to lie to us and say what we heard is not true. Our own thoughts can begin to cause us to doubt.
But let’s take that same football team and say they not only study the plays in the classroom but also practice those plays on the field daily. Their chances of being victorious go way up. Likewise, if we study the Word and interact with God every day, our ability to know that what we hear IS from God goes way up! This is exactly what He wants from us. He wants to be our Father and have a relationship with us, and to have a relationship requires communication!
But to all who did receive him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says… John 8:47
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. 1 John 5:14
So, make it a habit of inviting God into your everyday life. Not just when you think you need Him. Talk to him about the traffic on the way to work. Ask what He thinks about your plans for the day. See if He has any thoughts on what you should eat for lunch, or if you should fast. Change how you look and interact with God, and you will quickly see that you feel that peace in your life. You know the one, the peace that passes all understanding!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Don’t forget to invite God into your day!
Matthew 7:7
Jeremiah 33:3
2 Timothy 3:16-17