Tuning Into God Over the Mental Static
Are we hearing impaired when it comes to the voice of God? Could it be that what we believe and have labeled as relational, emotional, and spiritual problems are actually ‘hearing’ problems?
In this episode, Caesar shows us how to turn down the negative voices in our heads, dial in the authentic divine Voice, and listen intently. The voices you believe will determine the life you experience!
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
- Ways to sort out all of the chatter coming your way each day.
- Why the voices you listen to shape your own voice in the world.
- How to apply the “Jesus filter” to everything you’re hearing.
- Why listening prayer is so different from the ways we usually pray.
From this episode:
“If you are listening to the Voice of love, hospitality, generosity, justice, and compassion, and hope – NOTHING in this whole world will be able to snatch you away – nothing will be able to knock you down, tear you up, turn you around – it simply can’t be done – because nothing can separate you from the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ who is Lord.”
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Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Coaching with Caesar and Tina in discipleship and missional living.
Free Discipleship and Missional Resources
Transcript
Who's telling the truth?
Caesar Kalinowski:All of these various voices, including God's voice, shape us and inform our life and our faith task is to dial in and lean towards the source, the authentic divine voice, and listen intently.
Caesar Kalinowski:And then to act out of that, out of what we're hearing there from God's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:But I found it's a little bit like.
Caesar Kalinowski:The chicken and the egg.
Caesar Kalinowski:When it comes to listening, does your hearing shape your reality or does your reality shape what you think you hear and it filters everything you see.
Caesar Kalinowski:A heart grounded in fear is gonna shape your hearing and your living.
Caesar Kalinowski:If what you hear is a lot of doom and a lot of negative speak and a lot of fear, well that's gonna shape you and you're gonna start to try to control things that you really can't control.
Caesar Kalinowski:God alone is great, so we don't have to be in control, but we certainly try.
Caesar Kalinowski:We certainly do.
Heath Hollensbe:Welcome to the Everyday Disciple Podcast, where you'll learn how to live with greater intentionality and an integrated faith that naturally fits into every area of life.
Heath Hollensbe:In other words, discipleship as a lifestyle.
Heath Hollensbe:This is the stuff your parents, pastors and seminary professors.
Heath Hollensbe:Probably forgot to tell you.
Heath Hollensbe:And now here's your host, Cesar Kalinowski.
Heath Hollensbe:Okay,
Caesar Kalinowski:here we go.
Caesar Kalinowski:Good to be with you.
Caesar Kalinowski:Can't wait to get started.
Caesar Kalinowski:Another episode of the Everyday Disciple Podcast.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know it's probably been a few episodes since I talked about my grandkids.
Caesar Kalinowski:Woo.
Caesar Kalinowski:Do I?
Caesar Kalinowski:Do I do that a lot?
Caesar Kalinowski:Do I do it too much?
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't know.
Caesar Kalinowski:May.
Caesar Kalinowski:I probably was just with friends.
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't know.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's unlimited photos.
Caesar Kalinowski:My phone is full.
Caesar Kalinowski:I have millions.
Caesar Kalinowski:Patton and Remy, two of our grandkids from Kristen and Daniel Patton's, our oldest Remy's, our only granddaughter, uh, they spent the weekend
Caesar Kalinowski:with Tina and I, uh, while their parents were doing a little vacation.
Caesar Kalinowski:Wow.
Caesar Kalinowski:So much fun and so much work.
Caesar Kalinowski:I got to take Patton on his first ferry ride out here in Pacific Northwest in the Puget Sound.
Caesar Kalinowski:There's places like islands that you can only go to on ferries, and so Patton had seen ferries and he told me a few weeks ago, I've always wanted to do that my whole life.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, he's four and a half.
Caesar Kalinowski:So anyway, we took our first ferry ride.
Caesar Kalinowski:It was beautiful and sunny, and we got to do all kinds of fun stuff over there and see people clamming and dig up shells, and he had the biggest cookie I've ever seen in my life.
Caesar Kalinowski:So much fun.
Caesar Kalinowski:And so many good conversations with these little kids, especially, I mean, Remy's not talking yet, but Patton doesn't, now that he's got a
Caesar Kalinowski:memory, 'cause like he'll recall things, you know, he's four and a half.
Caesar Kalinowski:So he is got a memory.
Caesar Kalinowski:He'll recall things and uh, like remember when we did this, grandpa, remember when I, you said this, whatever.
Caesar Kalinowski:And he's got an opinion on everything, of course.
Caesar Kalinowski:But, uh, so fun.
Caesar Kalinowski:Wow.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I'm happy to report that grandpa.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's me is still their favorite.
Caesar Kalinowski:Yay.
Caesar Kalinowski:Sorry, grandma.
Caesar Kalinowski:No, actually, uh, it's pretty even I think these days, but we, Tina and I like to have a little fun with whoever the kids seem to be most attached to and wanting to hang with.
Caesar Kalinowski:I would say this is true.
Caesar Kalinowski:Tina would agree if she was sitting here.
Caesar Kalinowski:Remy right now is definitely grandpa's favorite.
Caesar Kalinowski:She is all about grandpa, so.
Caesar Kalinowski:Hey, would you join us over on Facebook, the Everyday Disciple group that's over there?
Caesar Kalinowski:You can search that up Everyday Disciple podcast, or you can go to everyday disciple.com/facebook.
Caesar Kalinowski:That'll take you there very easily, and if you're already signed into Facebook, it'll take you straight into the group.
Caesar Kalinowski:I. And if you're interested in learning, uh, a full framework for discipleship and mission in everyday life where the gospel touches down and speaks into everything, and
Caesar Kalinowski:it's natural to include your kids and neighbors and make disciples that way, I would love to tell you a little bit about the coaching the Tina and I offer, and I would
Caesar Kalinowski:just say, Hey, let's set up a short zoom call so we can get to know each other better.
Caesar Kalinowski:Tell you about the coaching and mentorship and answer any questions you have.
Caesar Kalinowski:You can find out a lot more about that and even set up a little call.
Caesar Kalinowski:There's a a page with a video and a bunch of details and a little form everyday disciple.com/coaching.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you go there everyday, disciple.com/coaching, you'll learn a lot and we can get connected.
Caesar Kalinowski:I would love to do that.
Caesar Kalinowski:So I've been thinking about doing, uh, media fast, not like a full blown turn.
Caesar Kalinowski:Everything off in the whole world, go dark.
Caesar Kalinowski:I, I really can't given how much connection we have online with people we're coaching and all that, and all but a media fast in the sense getting real discerning
Caesar Kalinowski:about turning off certain stations, streams of social media that I wanna avoid.
Caesar Kalinowski:Certain networks on television I just can't handle anymore.
Caesar Kalinowski:I wanna see what it'd be like to turn down all the noise.
Caesar Kalinowski:Would, would life be better, easier, less negative?
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe all the time.
Caesar Kalinowski:I've done little mini tests and it seems like it could have that effect.
Caesar Kalinowski:And thinking about all this made me wonder, could it be that what we believe and have labeled as relational problems, or emotional and spiritual problems are actually hearing problems.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now track with me here.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like what we're hearing, what we're listening to, problems.
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe that's where all that really comes from.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are we hearing impaired when it comes to the voice of God?
Caesar Kalinowski:But we hear lots and lots of other voices, and that's what's dominant in our, in our heads, in our hearts.
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe we've all gone a bit deaf from the negative self-talk or outside voices of doom that don't let God get a word in edgewise.
Caesar Kalinowski:Can you relate to this?
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe you've listened to a voice of criticism so long that you can't believe anything else about yourself.
Caesar Kalinowski:Or maybe it's the enemy's voice, a voice of condemnation that speaks lies about who you really are.
Caesar Kalinowski:And this past year, with all of its historic changes and challenges, has not made any of this easier or better for us.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's why I'm thinking about turning some of it off refocusing a bit.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, every day you and I, everyone hears a lot of diverse voices.
Caesar Kalinowski:So many, so many disagreeing or discordant voices, and it gets overwhelming.
Caesar Kalinowski:There are a lot of voices out there making noise vying for our attention.
Caesar Kalinowski:And then add to that, we've got a lot of voices in our own heads.
Caesar Kalinowski:Yeah, just stuff from our past and parents and like, you know, negative self-talk and something someone said at work or why did she, oh, right.
Caesar Kalinowski:All that stuff we're full of it.
Caesar Kalinowski:How do we discern what voice to listen to?
Caesar Kalinowski:Which voice to follow?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are we even aware of which, and whose voices are most dominant in our lives?
Caesar Kalinowski:I think it's kind of easy to go for a lifetime and not realize that the dominant voice or voices in your head have not been positive, they've not been helpful.
Caesar Kalinowski:They've not certainly been gods.
Caesar Kalinowski:There are voices out there telling you who you are, what you should want, who you should be, what you should look like, what you should do, what you shouldn't do, what you should think.
Caesar Kalinowski:Telling you to get woke.
Caesar Kalinowski:All that.
Caesar Kalinowski:There are voices telling us to do this.
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't do that.
Caesar Kalinowski:You're too fat, too skinny.
Caesar Kalinowski:You'll never amount to much.
Caesar Kalinowski:You're a sinner.
Caesar Kalinowski:You don't measure up.
Caesar Kalinowski:You're crazy.
Caesar Kalinowski:Here, take these drugs that'll help.
Caesar Kalinowski:You are wrong.
Caesar Kalinowski:They're right.
Caesar Kalinowski:There are voices telling us to believe this.
Caesar Kalinowski:Buy this, drive that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Wear this.
Caesar Kalinowski:Go there.
Caesar Kalinowski:You get my point.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you listening to voices on the News or to an endless ocean of websites and conspiracy theory posts and articles, maybe celebrities you like shape how you see yourself in the world around you?
Caesar Kalinowski:Which one gets to describe reality?
Caesar Kalinowski:Who's telling the truth?
Caesar Kalinowski:All of these various voices, including God's voice, shape us and inform our life.
Caesar Kalinowski:And our faith task is to dial in and lean towards the source, the authentic divine voice, and listen intently, and then to act out of that, out of what we're hearing there from God's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:But I found it's a little bit like the chicken and the egg.
Caesar Kalinowski:When it comes to listening.
Caesar Kalinowski:Does your hearing shape your reality or does your reality shape what you think you hear?
Caesar Kalinowski:It filters everything you see.
Caesar Kalinowski:A heart grounded in fear is gonna shape your hearing and your living.
Caesar Kalinowski:If what you hear is a lot of doom and a lot of negative speak and a lot of fear, well that's gonna shape you and you're gonna start to try to control things that you really can't control.
Caesar Kalinowski:God alone is great, so we don't have to be in control, but we certainly try.
Caesar Kalinowski:We certainly do see a heart grounded in suspicion.
Caesar Kalinowski:It is gonna make us skeptical of everything we hear, and it'll shape your outlook.
Caesar Kalinowski:You'll have trust issues and this is where indifference starts to kick in if that's what we're listening to.
Caesar Kalinowski:A heart grounded in self, like in other words, mostly me, I listen to me and I do what's right in my own eyes kind of thing, is gonna filter all the voices it hears in sort of a what's in it for me.
Caesar Kalinowski:Filter.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know what I mean?
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, um, everything is about me getting ahead, what people think of me.
Caesar Kalinowski:How's that going?
Caesar Kalinowski:Am I gonna get the credit?
Caesar Kalinowski:Am I gonna get a raise?
Caesar Kalinowski:Is this gonna go well for me?
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe, uh, that even determines how I talk about others.
Caesar Kalinowski:All of that.
Caesar Kalinowski:I've heard it said the voice you believe will determine the future you experience.
Caesar Kalinowski:Yeah.
Caesar Kalinowski:The voice you believe will determine the future you experience, and I think it also determines our presence.
Caesar Kalinowski:And for too many of us, for too long, it's also determined our past.
Caesar Kalinowski:What voice do you hear?
Caesar Kalinowski:Whose voice are you really listening to and following?
Caesar Kalinowski:In the book of John Jesus', buddy, the beloved one in chapter 10 verses 27, 28 says, Jesus says, as my sheep, listen to my voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you one of his sheep?
Caesar Kalinowski:He says, I know them and they know me.
Caesar Kalinowski:They follow me.
Caesar Kalinowski:I give them eternal life and they'll never perish.
Caesar Kalinowski:That, that, that, that term eternal life is, is really not so much about our afterlife as a life of shalom, a life of peace, a life of fullness, a life of trust.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now that's what eternal life is, and it's never ending, but we don't have to wait for it.
Caesar Kalinowski:My sheep listen to my voice, Jesus said.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I know them.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'll give them eternal life, this richness of life, this peace, this joy, and they'll never perish.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are we first and foremost as Christians hearing Jesus' voice and allowing his life and his spirit to filter all the other voices out there?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are we interpreting all other voices based on what we hear Jesus saying, or are we letting other voices shape how we interpret what God may be saying to us?
Caesar Kalinowski:See that, that, that flips.
Caesar Kalinowski:We wanna be interpreting everything else through what Jesus says and his words in ways.
Caesar Kalinowski:And what we hear him saying, not the other way around.
Caesar Kalinowski:And so often there is so much negative speak and talk and not God's opinion and view on how the world works, that that's constant.
Caesar Kalinowski:So then when we read scripture or we pray, we go that, nah, I don't, I don't agree with that.
Caesar Kalinowski:I couldn't do that.
Caesar Kalinowski:That must be wrong.
Caesar Kalinowski:That must be a contradiction or whatever.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are we interpreting and filtering everything else through what Jesus says and what he says to us?
Caesar Kalinowski:Or is it the other way around?
Caesar Kalinowski:When you pray, when you listen to God, do you hear a voice of love and acceptance?
Caesar Kalinowski:I hope so.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's waiting to tell you how much he loves you.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's so huge.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, how often do we need to be reminded that we're completely and utterly loved?
Caesar Kalinowski:And God sees you as his dearly loved son or daughter.
Caesar Kalinowski:Can you hear that?
Caesar Kalinowski:Too often?
Caesar Kalinowski:Would once a day be, uh, just enough or, or once a year or, you know?
Caesar Kalinowski:But if you hear the voice of love and believe it's true for you, and you filter life that way, then you'll share this love and grace with others, and you'll start to introduce others to that voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Compare that to so much of what we hear in the media.
Caesar Kalinowski:Does most of what we hear in the media sound like the voice of love?
Caesar Kalinowski:What about this do you hear when you speak to God, a voice of hospitality, that you're welcome in God's family just as you are?
Caesar Kalinowski:There's nothing you have to do to measure up, add up, add to his love, earn it, that there's a place for you at God's table.
Caesar Kalinowski:I, if that's the voice you hear from God, then you'll look to make room for others and treat everyone like family.
Caesar Kalinowski:We talked a lot about that on the last episode.
Caesar Kalinowski:When you listen to God, do you hear a voice of generosity that you've been given a wonderful gift of life, life eternal, and that you've had God's
Caesar Kalinowski:own creativity poured into you and His power, his spirit now dwells in you.
Caesar Kalinowski:You're alive, you're gifted just because you bear the image of God.
Caesar Kalinowski:You now share his authority and power and creativity.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you hearing that?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you listening and following and being generous not only with money, but with your time, with your talent, with your joy and laughter,
Caesar Kalinowski:and yourself with others, the way God is and what he speaks to you?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you hearing his voice of generosity?
Caesar Kalinowski:What voice do you hear most?
Caesar Kalinowski:What voice are you following today?
Caesar Kalinowski:Do you hear God's voice of justice and compassion?
Caesar Kalinowski:That's his voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you listening to make sure that others, children, families, have food and homes and the sicker cared for the uninsured?
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't have to be scared.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you hearing God speak that justice isn't about punishment, that the voice of justice speaks restoration and hope and celebration, and not just into your life,
Caesar Kalinowski:but into this whole world when God wants to speak that to you and then through you, to us and through us, do you hear his voice in the sounds of liberation and hope?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you really listening to that?
Caesar Kalinowski:If your heart moves towards that voice?
Caesar Kalinowski:Then you're not gonna live with fear and suspicion won't shape your world.
Caesar Kalinowski:It really seems to me that if you're listening to the voice of love and hospitality, and generosity, and justice, compassion, creation,
Caesar Kalinowski:hope that nothing in this whole world will be able to snatch you away.
Caesar Kalinowski:Nothing will be able to knock you down or tear you up or turn you around.
Caesar Kalinowski:It simply can't be done because nothing can separate you from the grace and love of God through Jesus.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's what scripture teaches, and I believe that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Do you believe that?
Caesar Kalinowski:Hey, and by the way, I wanna thank Pastor John Lentz for some of his thoughts on all this today.
Caesar Kalinowski:It really helped me put words to much of my own thinking.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, how do we test the voices we're hearing?
Caesar Kalinowski:How do we know if this really is God's voice or just a good idea?
Caesar Kalinowski:How do we know that it's good news and not just a good idea?
Caesar Kalinowski:What are some practical steps in learning to listen better and be confident that we're hearing God's voice?
Caesar Kalinowski:And that's what's shaping our life and our day and our world, and our words here.
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's a few thoughts.
Caesar Kalinowski:First, does what you're hearing line up with the words, ways and works of Jesus when you're praying and asking God for guidance or his insights into something?
Caesar Kalinowski:Does it line what?
Caesar Kalinowski:What you think you're hearing?
Caesar Kalinowski:Does it line up with Jesus and the way he lived?
Caesar Kalinowski:In his words, does it square with the actual scripture, the full story found in the Bible?
Caesar Kalinowski:Not talking about proof texting here, but as we get to know and live within God's full, big story.
Caesar Kalinowski:Does what you're hearing from God, does the direction you feel like he's leading you, the choices you're trying to make, and you want
Caesar Kalinowski:God's wisdom and understanding, does it line up with that full story?
Caesar Kalinowski:Is that how God is?
Caesar Kalinowski:Is that what he's always been up to and how he treats his people?
Caesar Kalinowski:These are, these are some ways to help us know, am I hearing God here, or is this just me, or is this fear, or is this something I heard on TV or whatever.
Caesar Kalinowski:When you pray and you listen to the spirit, do you feel calm and peaceful, or do you feel uncertain and full of fear and like it's all on you?
Caesar Kalinowski:I gotta pick right?
Caesar Kalinowski:I gotta guess, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:If, if you start to move toward a particular voice or action, do you feel at peace?
Caesar Kalinowski:You will, with God's voice, you will as you learn to listen, as you attune to his voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's another, here's another way that's really served me well is when I'm trying to hear God's voice or test a particular voice to see is that God speaking is, what do other Christians say?
Caesar Kalinowski:Do other believers and friends, people close to me affirm after praying and looking at the word that, yeah, that that sounds like God.
Caesar Kalinowski:I do this with Tina all the time.
Caesar Kalinowski:Of course, she's my wife and it's one of God's biggest blessings throughout our whole marriage is when we both are praying for something and we hear very, very similar words from dad
Caesar Kalinowski:when God speaks really similar things to us, or we both have a really great sense of peace and calm about a decision we've both come to, and you get to do this in community as well.
Caesar Kalinowski:I know a lot of us were afraid of that.
Caesar Kalinowski:We, we fear letting our redemption show or the fact that we are trying to discern something.
Caesar Kalinowski:Everybody feels like they have to know and have the right answer for everything.
Caesar Kalinowski:But what a gen, what a gentle, beautiful way of hearing God's voice is to do it together.
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's another thing that can really help, I, I was kind of alluding to this in my own life with this media fast is turning off voices that you know are not in line with Jesus' voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:I've had shows, TV shows that I've had to actually quit watching because of such snarkiness and negativity or criticisms and critical nature about it, or just dark and angry all the time.
Caesar Kalinowski:What?
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, those are not voices that are in line with what Jesus is saying.
Caesar Kalinowski:And when I wonder, well, why am I having a hard time hearing his voice?
Caesar Kalinowski:It's like, well, how many hours have you been bingeing that?
Caesar Kalinowski:See, constantly bombarding ourselves with negativity and stri only produces more of that in life, and it makes it harder and harder.
Caesar Kalinowski:We get more and more tone deaf to God's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's okay to turn some of that stuff off.
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's a quick sort of ab comparison between God's voice and the enemy's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:'cause remember, we do have a very real enemy.
Caesar Kalinowski:Satan is real.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, he's not omnipresent, he's not everywhere, but there are legions of fallen angels that there are there to distract and destroy and kill, and they're deceivers, and it's very, very real.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you don't believe in any of that, I'd say, have you not read the New Testament?
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's a quick comparison between God's voice and the enemy's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's voice calms us.
Caesar Kalinowski:But the enemy causes us, us, to obsess over things.
Caesar Kalinowski:We're obsessing.
Caesar Kalinowski:You gotta worry about that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you choosing the right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you making the right decision?
Caesar Kalinowski:Because they're all due to be due to be right.
Caesar Kalinowski:You gotta make sure you choose right.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's voice comforts where the enemy brings worry.
Caesar Kalinowski:Well, what if I choose this and it doesn't go well?
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe I don't.
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe I could hedge my bet or whatever.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's voice convicts brings light.
Caesar Kalinowski:Whereas Satan condemns, it's an attack on who we are, our identity, not on just our choice, but now, well, if you do that, you suck.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's not God's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's the enemy.
Caesar Kalinowski:When you hear things like that, God's voice enlightens, whereas the enemy confuses.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's a big part of his tactics to confuse us.
Caesar Kalinowski:And by the way, I'm just, as I'm thinking out loud here, he uses media and TV shows and all that other stuff to do that.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's voice leads us and asks questions, and invites us into relationship.
Caesar Kalinowski:The enemy pushes us, pushes us out on our own.
Caesar Kalinowski:You can do this.
Caesar Kalinowski:Go.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's you.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's up to you.
Caesar Kalinowski:You can do this.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's voice is love.
Caesar Kalinowski:His voice has power.
Caesar Kalinowski:His voice can bring us healing.
Caesar Kalinowski:His voice is a voice of wisdom.
Caesar Kalinowski:God's voice produces joy in our lives.
Caesar Kalinowski:And in the lives of others, our kids, our family, our neighbors.
Caesar Kalinowski:Learning to discern and listen to God's voice is a big part of us growing in our gospel fluency and making disciples.
Caesar Kalinowski:And just like any language this will take, practice the practice of intentionally listening and then practice speaking.
Caesar Kalinowski:So that like our brother Jesus, we can say, I only speak what I hear the father speak.
Caesar Kalinowski:I love the way the, the message translation puts John 12 this way.
Caesar Kalinowski:He says, the father told, this is Jesus speaking.
Caesar Kalinowski:The Father told me what to say and how to say it, and I know exactly what his command produces.
Caesar Kalinowski:Real and eternal life.
Caesar Kalinowski:He says, that's all I have to say.
Caesar Kalinowski:What the father told me, I tell you.
Caesar Kalinowski:I want to be like that.
Caesar Kalinowski:I wanna be that certain of God's voice and his fluency, and I want that eternal peace filled shalom life that Jesus promises not just for me, but through me to others.
Caesar Kalinowski:And if you're interested in growing in that, that's gonna take intention.
Caesar Kalinowski:Gospel fluency in everyday life takes intention.
Caesar Kalinowski:I've mentioned this before.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's a big part of what we teach and train in coaching with people.
Caesar Kalinowski:Discipleship happens as we hear God's voice and speak truth in the good news of who he is, what he's accomplished through Christ, and what he
Caesar Kalinowski:says is now true of us, and we live out of that, helping others do that.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's what discipleship's all about.
Caesar Kalinowski:Again, I'd love to be able to help you with that.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you're interested, check out our coaching page over there@everydaydisciple.com slash coaching.
Caesar Kalinowski:But hear this, regardless if you're gonna wanna get in touch or not, practicing listening, prayer is a big deal.
Caesar Kalinowski:Spending time, not just filling and got up with a bunch of tasks, but spending time working, learning to hear his voice, listening intentionally.
Caesar Kalinowski:In our communities, we talk about this rhythm of listening where we, we get to come to God with our petitions and our needs and all but practicing five to 10 minutes a day of just listening to God.
Caesar Kalinowski:And when I start to fill in the blanks, 'cause I'm not used to it, oh Lord, father I'm listening.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'm listening.
Caesar Kalinowski:And just wait and listen to what God has to say to you.
Caesar Kalinowski:Ask God a question and then listen.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's what we do with people we love and we are in relationship with.
Caesar Kalinowski:Our prayers should not be one way barrages towards God, where we don't listen.
Caesar Kalinowski:Just think about that in a prayer relationship, in a relationship with God, the God of the universe, with Jesus himself, by His spirit.
Caesar Kalinowski:Who should be doing most of the listening?
Caesar Kalinowski:It should be me.
Caesar Kalinowski:It should be us.
Caesar Kalinowski:Well, as always, I wanna sort of summarize some of this for you in the big three takeaways from today's topic.
Caesar Kalinowski:So, uh, if nothing else you'd wanna miss these, or if you're at the gym or out running or driving or whatever, you can get a printable PDF of the big three from
Caesar Kalinowski:today as a free download by going to everyday disciple.com/big three B three.
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's the big three for today's episode.
Caesar Kalinowski:Number one.
Caesar Kalinowski:Many voices are out there competing for your attention, and they're happy to tell you who you are and what you need to do in life.
Caesar Kalinowski:Be aware that you don't live in a vacuum, and vast amounts of money and effort are spent to make sure you hear those voices.
Caesar Kalinowski:On the other hand, God's voice has been described as a whisper or a still small voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are you actively listening to Jesus?
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's number two.
Caesar Kalinowski:Jesus has promised that listening to and following his voice is the surest way to be kept from the world, snatching away your joy and salvation and eternity now in this life.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you want more of that, listen to Jesus' voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you feel like you've got a great lack, listen to Jesus' voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:He's not saying that that's dependent on you, that's on him.
Caesar Kalinowski:But if you're not listening to his voice, you may be confused or fooled by other voices and choose ways for yourself that are outside of his will for your life and maybe for others.
Caesar Kalinowski:And number three, start to practice listening prayer.
Caesar Kalinowski:Set aside time to just listen to God's voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't pull out your to-do list for God.
Caesar Kalinowski:Just listen.
Caesar Kalinowski:I think you're gonna be surprised at what you hear.
Caesar Kalinowski:Try posing more of your prayers as questions, not commands or orders to God.
Caesar Kalinowski:And then listen.
Caesar Kalinowski:Expectantly.
Caesar Kalinowski:Remember, our dad loves us.
Caesar Kalinowski:Find other believers who you know also listen to and hear God's voice and submit your concerns and questions and decisions to them as well.
Caesar Kalinowski:Ask them to listen with you.
Caesar Kalinowski:Pray with you.
Caesar Kalinowski:We're all better listeners, and have more wisdom together than alone.
Caesar Kalinowski:And remember, together we are the body of Jesus, not alone, but together.
Caesar Kalinowski:I hope that encourages and
Caesar Kalinowski:equips you.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'll talk to you again soon.
Heath Hollensbe:Thanks for joining us today.
Heath Hollensbe:For more information on this show and to get loads of free discipleship resources, visit everyday disciple.com and remember, you really can live
Heath Hollensbe:with a spiritual freedom and relational peace that Jesus promised every day.