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6 Habits in Your Life You Must Quit to Hear God_s Voice Clearly · truthunedited

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Speaker 1: Have you ever stopped to think that maybe God is
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Speaker 1: speaking to you right now, but something is blocking the communication.
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Speaker 1: Like a phone line full of static, our lives often
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Speaker 1: become filled with interference that makes it difficult to hear
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Speaker 1: the voice of the Creator. Imagine having a direct channel,
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Speaker 1: a crystal clear connection with God where you could sense
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Speaker 1: his guidance, his peace, and even his answers to the
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Speaker 1: deepest questions in your heart. Sounds amazing, doesn't it. Here's
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Speaker 1: the secret. Often it's not that God isn't speaking, it's
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Speaker 1: that we're tuned to the wrong frequency. Could it be
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Speaker 1: that you're stuck in habits that are drowning out God's
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Speaker 1: voice in your life. In today's video, we're going to
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Speaker 1: explore six habits that might be blocking this divine connection,
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Speaker 1: and most importantly, how to let go of them so
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Speaker 1: you can finally hear His voice clearly and unmistakably. Stay
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Speaker 1: with me, because what you're about to discover could transform
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Speaker 1: from your spiritual journey forever. The first negative habit is
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Speaker 1: the noise of distraction. Distraction is undoubtedly one of the
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Speaker 1: greatest enemies of communion with God today, in an age
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Speaker 1: where technology is everywhere where we are bombarded with notifications,
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Speaker 1: social media, endless commitments and obligations, finding time to hear
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Speaker 1: God's voice feels almost impossible. However, God does not compete
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Speaker 1: for our attention. He does not shout to make himself heard,
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Speaker 1: but often speaks in a whisper to hear his voice. Clearly,
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Speaker 1: it is essential to create dedicated space and time, which
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Speaker 1: is only possible when we silence the distractions around us.
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Speaker 1: The Bible offers numerous powerful examples showing how silence and
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Speaker 1: focus are indispensable tools for hearing God. One of the
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Speaker 1: most striking is the story of the prophet Elijah. In
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Speaker 1: Verd Kings nineteen eleven to thirteen. We find Elijah flas
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Speaker 1: leeing after an intense confrontation with the prophets of Baale.
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Speaker 1: Feeling isolated and discouraged, Elijah sought to hear God's voice.
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Speaker 1: Amidst his despair, God instructed him to go out and
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Speaker 1: stand on the mountain before the Lord, and there something
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Speaker 1: extraordinary happened. The text says, the Lord said, go out
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Speaker 1: and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord,
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Speaker 1: for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a
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Speaker 1: great and powerful wind tore through the mountains and shattered
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Speaker 1: the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not
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Speaker 1: in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake,
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Speaker 1: but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the
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Speaker 1: earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in
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Speaker 1: the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
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Speaker 1: When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face,
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Speaker 1: went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
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Speaker 1: Then a voice said to him, what are you doing here, Elijah?
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Speaker 1: God chose to reveal himself to Elijah in an unexpected way,
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Speaker 1: not in the powerful wind, the earthquake, or the fire,
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Speaker 1: but in the sound of a gentle whisper. This account
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Speaker 1: illustrates how God often speaks quietly and peacefully, and how
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Speaker 1: our busy lives can cause us to miss these precious moments.
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Speaker 1: This external noise that often blocks God's voice isn't just
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Speaker 1: what surrounds us, but also what we permit into our lives.
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Speaker 1: Think about how many times you've sat down to pray
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Speaker 1: or read the Bible only to be interrupted by a
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Speaker 1: message on your phone, a thought about an unfinished task,
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Speaker 1: or even a worry about the next day. Distraction doesn't
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Speaker 1: just interrupt our communion with God. It leads us to
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Speaker 1: live on autopilot without setting aside quality time for what
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Speaker 1: truly matters. Jesus gave us the perfect example of how
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Speaker 1: to handle distraction. In Mark one thirty five, we see
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Speaker 1: a habit of Jesus that reflects his priority in maintaining
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Speaker 1: connection with the Father. Very early in the morning, while
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Speaker 1: it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house
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Speaker 1: and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.
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Speaker 1: Jesus understood the importance of withdrawing from the noise and
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Speaker 1: the crowds to seek intimacy with the Father. Despite his
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Speaker 1: busy schedule and the constant demands of the people around him,
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Speaker 1: he prioritized moments of solitude and silence. He would rise
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Speaker 1: early before the day began to ensure nothing interfered with
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Speaker 1: his time of communion with God. Additionally, there are moments
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Speaker 1: when God invites us to simply stop and contemplate his presence.
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Speaker 1: In Psalm forty six ten, we read be still and
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Speaker 1: know that I am God. I will be exalted among
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Speaker 1: the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. This
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Speaker 1: verse is a call to stillness, surrender, and stepping away
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Speaker 1: from chaos and haste to recognize God's majesty, stop striving
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Speaker 1: and hand over our worries to him. We create space
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Speaker 1: to hear his voice. How do we fight distraction in
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Speaker 1: such a busy world. The answer lies in establishing intentional
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Speaker 1: spiritual practices that help us silence the noise. One effective
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Speaker 1: strategy is setting aside daily time for silence and meditation.
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Speaker 1: This can be done early in the day before external
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Speaker 1: demands begin, or at any moment when you can be
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Speaker 1: in a quiet place without interruptions. Another important practice is
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Speaker 1: consciously turning off devices that create distractions during prayer or
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Speaker 1: Bible reading. Put your phone on silent or leave it
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Speaker 1: in another room. Create an environment that fosters concentration and
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Speaker 1: intimacy with God. Additionally, consider setting up a dedicated space
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Speaker 1: for prayer, a specific place in your home where you
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Speaker 1: can retreat and be in God's presence without distractions. The
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Speaker 1: impact of combat distraction goes far beyond the present moment.
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Speaker 1: When we learn to prioritize silence and communion with God,
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Speaker 1: we experience profound spiritual transformation. We begin to notice His
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Speaker 1: voice not only during dedicated prayer times, but also in
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Speaker 1: our daily lives in small details we may have previously overlooked.
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Speaker 1: By silencing distractions, you open the door to a life
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Speaker 1: more attune to God's voice, bringing clarity, peace, and a
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Speaker 1: closer relationship with Him. The prophet Isaiah in chapter thirty,
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Speaker 1: verse fifteen, delivers a powerful message from God to the people.
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Speaker 1: In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and
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Speaker 1: trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
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Speaker 1: This verse highlights the importance of choosing rest and quietness
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Speaker 1: in God instead of seeking solutions in the turmoil of
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Speaker 1: this world. When we trust in God and take time
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Speaker 1: to rest in his presence, we are spiritually strengthened and renewed. Thus,
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Speaker 1: the first step to clearly hearing God's voice is to
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Speaker 1: abandon the habit of distraction. It is necessary to cultivate
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Speaker 1: moments of silence and surrender, following the example of Jesus
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Speaker 1: and learning from the lessons of Elijah and other servants
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Speaker 1: of God. God's voice is present, but we must adjust
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Speaker 1: our hearts and minds to perceive it. However, this adjustment
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Speaker 1: is not easy, especially when our lives are overwhelmed with
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Speaker 1: commitments and concerns. Often distractions can be symptoms of something deeper,
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Speaker 1: an anxious or burdened heart. This is precisely why in
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Speaker 1: the next section we will explore the impact of unforgiveness
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Speaker 1: and how it can distance us from God's voice, blocking
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Speaker 1: our ability to fully connect with him. The second negative
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Speaker 1: habit is the weight of unforgiveness. Forgiveness is one of
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Speaker 1: the most challenging practices in Christian life, but it is
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Speaker 1: also one of the most liberating. When we refuse to forgive,
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Speaker 1: we carry a burden that not only affects our emotions
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Speaker 1: and relationships, but also creates a barrier between us and God.
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Speaker 1: Forgiveness is fundamental to spiritual health and is a reflection
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Speaker 1: of the grace we have received. The Bible repeatedly teaches
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Speaker 1: us that forgiveness is a requirement for those who wish
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Speaker 1: to draw near to the Father. In the Gospel of Matthew,
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Speaker 1: Chapter six, verses fourteen and fifteen, Jesus declares, for if
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Speaker 1: you forgive other people when they sin against you, your
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Speaker 1: heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do
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Speaker 1: not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive
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Speaker 1: your sins. These words leave no room for doubt our
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Speaker 1: willingness to forgive others is directly connected to the forgiveness
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Speaker 1: we receive from God. When we hold on to grievances, resentments,
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Speaker 1: or grudges, we allow these emotions to become a spiritual obstacle.
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Speaker 1: They harden our hearts and make us less receptive to
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Speaker 1: God's voice. In Hebrews Chapter twelve, verse fifteen, we find
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Speaker 1: a warning that reinforces this. See to it that no
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Speaker 1: one falls short of the grace of God, and that
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Speaker 1: no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
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Speaker 1: The bitter root mentioned in this text is not just
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Speaker 1: a metaphor for negative feelings. It is a reminder that
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Speaker 1: these emotions, if left unchecked, can grow and contaminate not
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Speaker 1: only our spiritual lives, but also those around us. A
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Speaker 1: powerful example of how forgiveness frees the heart to hear
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Speaker 1: God is found in the story of Joseph in Egypt.
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Speaker 1: Joseph's narrative, recorded in the Book of Genesis, is one
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Speaker 1: of the most remarkable accounts of the power of forgiveness
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Speaker 1: in the Bible. Joseph was cruelly betrayed by his own brothers.
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Speaker 1: They sold him as a slave, and he spent years
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Speaker 1: enduring injustices, including being falsely accused and imprisoned. In Genesis
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Speaker 1: chapter fifty, verse twenty, Joseph reveals his perspective to his
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Speaker 1: repentant brothers. You intended to harm me, but God intended
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Speaker 1: it for good to accomplish what is now being done,
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Speaker 1: the saving of many lives. This moment is not just
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Speaker 1: about the reconciliation of a family, but about the spiritual
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Speaker 1: liberation that forgiveness brings. By forgiving, Joseph not only restored
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Speaker 1: his relationships, but also gained the ability to see God's
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Speaker 1: greater purpose in his life. He did not remain trapped
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Speaker 1: in the pain of the past, but allowed God to
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Speaker 1: use his story for good. This shows that forgiveness is
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Speaker 1: not something we do just for others. It is an
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Speaker 1: act of faith that allows us to move forward in
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Speaker 1: God's plan for our lives. Forgiveness is often misunderstood. Some
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Speaker 1: people believe that forgiving means forgetting or justifying what was done. However,
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Speaker 1: biblical forgiveness is not about minimizing the wrong, but about
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Speaker 1: releasing the right to vengeance and trusting that God is just.
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Speaker 1: Romans chapter twelve, verse nineteen says do not take revenge,
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Speaker 1: my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For
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Speaker 1: it is written it is mine to avenge. I will repay,
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Speaker 1: says the Lord. When we choose to forgive, we place
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Speaker 1: our trust in God to handle justice, instead of carrying
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Speaker 1: that burden ourselves. Another example that illustrates the importance of
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Speaker 1: forgiveness is found in the parable of the unmerciful Servant,
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Speaker 1: recorded in Matthew chapter eighteen, verses twenty one to thirty five.
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Speaker 1: Peter asks Jesus, Lord, how many times shall I forgive
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Speaker 1: my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to
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Speaker 1: seven times? Jesus answers, I tell you, not seven times,
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Speaker 1: but seven seven times. He then tells the story of
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Speaker 1: a king who forgave a servant's enormous debt, but that
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Speaker 1: same servant refused to forgive a small debt owed to
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Speaker 1: him by another. The king was outraged and revoked the
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Speaker 1: initial forgiveness, saying, you, wicked servant, I canceled all that
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Speaker 1: debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you
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Speaker 1: have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I
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Speaker 1: had on you. The lesson here is clear. The forgiveness
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Speaker 1: we receive from God is immense and unconditional, and we
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Speaker 1: are called to reflect that same mercy in our relationships.
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Speaker 1: Practicing forgiveness is not something that comes naturally to us.
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Speaker 1: Often we feel we cannot forgive because the pain is
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Speaker 1: too deep, or because we fear that forgiving means allowing
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Speaker 1: the person to hurt us again. However, forgiveness is a decision,
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Speaker 1: not a feeling. It does not mean we must trust
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Speaker 1: again those who hurt us or ignore the pain we feel.
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Speaker 1: It means choosing to obey God, release the weight of resentment,
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Speaker 1: and allow him to heal our hearts. Prayer is an
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Speaker 1: essential tool for achieving forgiveness. If you find it difficult
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Speaker 1: to forgive, begin by asking God to change your heart,
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Speaker 1: acknowledge your inability to forgive, and trust the Holy Spirit
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Speaker 1: to help you through this process. In Ephesians four thirty
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Speaker 1: one thirty two, Paul exhorts us get rid of all bitterness,
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Speaker 1: rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form
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Speaker 1: of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
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Speaker 1: each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. When
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Speaker 1: we choose to forgive, we obey God and free ourselves
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Speaker 1: from a burden that prevents us from hearing his voice.
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Speaker 1: Forgiveness cleanses the heart, bringing peace and spiritual renewal. It
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Speaker 1: is like removing barriers that block our connection with God,
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Speaker 1: allowing His presence to flow freely in our lives. Forgiveness
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Speaker 1: also challenges us to confront our own imperfections. Just as
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Speaker 1: we need to forgive others, we must also accept God's
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Speaker 1: forgiveness for ourselves. Many of us carry guilt and shame
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Speaker 1: for past mistakes, and these feelings prevent us from drawing
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Speaker 1: closer to God. This is what we will discuss in
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Speaker 1: the next habit, how the weight of guilt and shame
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Speaker 1: can distance us from God's voice, and how we can
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Speaker 1: free ourselves to hear him. Clearly, dependence on human opinions
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Speaker 1: is a dangerous habit that can lead us away from
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Speaker 1: divine direction in our journey. It is natural to seek
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Speaker 1: advice and support from others. After all, God uses friends,
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Speaker 1: spiritual leaders, and even family members to guide us at
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Speaker 1: different moments. However, when we place more weight on others
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Speaker 1: opinions than on God's and voice, we risk straying from
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Speaker 1: the path He has prepared for us. In Proverbs three, five, six,
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Speaker 1: scripture teaches us trust in the Lord with all your heart,
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Speaker 1: and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways.
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Speaker 1: Submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.
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Speaker 1: This passage clearly shows that trust in the Lord must
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Speaker 1: be complete. While human advice may seem reasonable or logical,
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Speaker 1: it should never replace the direction that comes from God.
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Speaker 1: When we rely exclusively on human opinions, we filter what
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Speaker 1: God wants to say to us and may end up
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Speaker 1: choosing a path different from the one he has planned.
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Speaker 1: A biblical example that illustrates the danger of depending more
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Speaker 1: on people than on God is the story of King Saul.
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Speaker 1: In First Samuel fifteen, Saul receives a clear command from
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Speaker 1: God through the prophet Samuel, to completely destroy the Amalekites
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Speaker 1: and spare nothing. This was a direct instruction from God,
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Speaker 1: but Saul chose to follow the command partially. He spared
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Speaker 1: the best livestock and even king a gag justifying his
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Speaker 1: disobedience as an attempt to please the people. When Samuel
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Speaker 1: confronted Saul about his disobedience in verse twenty four, Saul admitted,
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Speaker 1: I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions.
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Speaker 1: I was afraid of the men, and so I gave
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Speaker 1: in to them. Saul's mistake was prioritizing people's approval over
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Speaker 1: obedience to God. He feared displeasing the people and compromised
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Speaker 1: his faithfulness to the Lord. This decision costs Saul not
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Speaker 1: only God's presence, but also the throne of Israel. This
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Speaker 1: account teaches us that seeking to please people at the
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Speaker 1: expense of obeying God can have serious consequences for our
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Speaker 1: spiritual life and the plans He has for us. Another
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Speaker 1: important point about depend on human opinions is that it
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Speaker 1: can manifest subtly. We don't always realize we are placing
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Speaker 1: people's voices above God's voice. This happens when we seek
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Speaker 1: advice before praying, give more weight to criticism or praise
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Speaker 1: than to scripture, or let the fear of being judged
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Speaker 1: stop us from obeying God's commands. Jesus addressed this issue
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Speaker 1: during his ministry. In John twelve forty two forty three,
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Speaker 1: we see an example of religious leaders who believed in
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Speaker 1: Jesus but would not confess their faith out of fear
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Speaker 1: of other's opinions. The text says, yet at the same time, many,
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Speaker 1: even among the leaders, believed in him, but because of
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Speaker 1: the Pharisees, they would not openly acknowledge their faith, for
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Speaker 1: fear they would be put out of the synagogue, for
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Speaker 1: they loved human praise more than praise from God. These
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Speaker 1: leaders knew the truth, but allowed their desire to please
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Speaker 1: others to distance them from a full life in God.
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Speaker 1: Prioritizing God's voice requires intentionality in moments of decision. The
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Speaker 1: first action of a heart that trusts the Lord should
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Speaker 1: be to seek his guidance in prayer. The Bible is
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Speaker 1: filled with promises that God will guide us if we
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Speaker 1: approach him with a sincere heart. James one five says,
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Speaker 1: if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,
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Speaker 1: who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it
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Speaker 1: will be given to you. God does not withhold direction
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Speaker 1: from those who seek it with faith and submission. A
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Speaker 1: powerful example of someone who prioritized God's voice above human
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Speaker 1: opinions is the apostle Peter. In Acts five twenty eight
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Speaker 1: to twenty nine. Peter and the other apostles face threats
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Speaker 1: from the Sanhedrin for preaching in Jesus name. The religious
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Speaker 1: leaders said, we gave you strict order not to teach
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Speaker 1: in this name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your
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Speaker 1: teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this
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Speaker 1: man's blood. But Peter responded firmly, we must obey God
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Speaker 1: rather than human beings. This declaration exemplifies how we should
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Speaker 1: act when under pressure to please others. Peter knew that
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Speaker 1: following God's voice was more important than yielding to the
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Speaker 1: authorities trying to silence him. His courage and obedience to
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Speaker 1: God had an eternal impact as the Gospel continued to
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Speaker 1: be proclaimed despite the opposition. It is important to remember
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Speaker 1: that listening to advice is wise, but such advice must
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Speaker 1: always be tested against the word of God and the
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Speaker 1: guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Proverbs eleven fourteen, we
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Speaker 1: read for lack of guidance, a nation falls, but victory
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Speaker 1: is won through many advisers. God can use people to
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Speaker 1: guide us, but the final word always belongs to Him.
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Speaker 1: To prioriti God's voice, it is necessary to develop intimacy
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Speaker 1: with him. This means setting aside time for prayer, reading
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Speaker 1: the Bible, and meditating. The more we know God and
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Speaker 1: engage in a relationship with him, the more we recognize
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Speaker 1: his voice amidst the many opinions around us. In John
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Speaker 1: ten twenty seven, Jesus says, my sheep listen to my voice.
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Speaker 1: I know them, and they follow me. This relationship enables
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Speaker 1: us to discern God's will even when it differs from
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Speaker 1: what others expect of us. It is also essential to
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Speaker 1: learn how to deal with the fear of rejection or judgment.
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Speaker 1: Often dependence on human opinions stems from a desire to
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Speaker 1: be accepted or avoid conflict. However, our identity and security
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Speaker 1: must be grounded in God, not in the approval of others.
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Speaker 1: In Galatians one ten, Paul writes, am I now trying
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Speaker 1: to win the approval of human beings or of God?
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Speaker 1: Or am I trying to please people? If I were
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Speaker 1: still trying to please people, I would not be a
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Speaker 1: servant of Christ. When we place God's opinion above all else,
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Speaker 1: we experience a freedom that comes from knowing we are
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Speaker 1: following the right path. This freedom allows us to move
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Speaker 1: forward with confidence even if we face criticism or opposition. However,
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Speaker 1: this does not mean the journey will be easy. In
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Speaker 1: many cases, following God's voice will lead us to challenges,
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Speaker 1: and this is where the fear of unexpected responses can arise.
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Speaker 1: This brings us to the next habit we must address,
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Speaker 1: overcoming the fear that God may ask us to do
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Speaker 1: something difficult or outside our comfort zone. The fourth negative
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Speaker 1: habit is the weight of guilt and shame. Guilt and
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Speaker 1: shame are burdens many of us carry, often without realizing
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Speaker 1: how much they impact our fellowship with God. These feelings
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Speaker 1: make us believe we are un worthy of approaching Him,
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Speaker 1: that our failures make us incapable of hearing his voice.
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Speaker 1: This is one of the greatest lies the enemy uses
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Speaker 1: to keep us trapped far from God's love and grace. However,
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Speaker 1: the Bible provides a powerful truth. In Romans eight one,
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Speaker 1: we read therefore there is now no condemnation for those
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Speaker 1: who are in Christ Jesus. This declaration is a cornerstone
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Speaker 1: for understanding that guilt and shame do not come from God.
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Speaker 1: If we are in Christ, we are justified, forgiven, and
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Speaker 1: reconciled with the Father. But why then do we still
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Speaker 1: feel this burden. Often it is because we do not
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Speaker 1: fully comprehend the scope of God's forgiveness, or because we
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Speaker 1: allow our past failures to define our identity. Guilt blocks
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Speaker 1: our spiritual hearing because it creates a wall of separation.
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Speaker 1: In Genesis three, we see the first manifestation of this
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Speaker 1: when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit.
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Speaker 1: They immediately felt shame and tried to hide. In verse ten,
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Speaker 1: Adam said, I heard you in the garden, and I
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Speaker 1: was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. Shame
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Speaker 1: drove them away from God, causing them to flee his
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Speaker 1: presence instead of seeking his mercy. This narrative reflects what
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Speaker 1: many of us experience when we sin. Our natural tendency
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Speaker 1: is to hide or avoid God's presence, believing He is
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Speaker 1: angry with us or that we are no longer worthy
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Speaker 1: of fellowship with him. However, what God did with Adam
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Speaker 1: and Eve is revealing. Despite their disobedience, God took the
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Speaker 1: initiative to seek them, calling out to them and even
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Speaker 1: providing clothes to cover their nakedness. This shows us that
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Speaker 1: God is a father who seeks to restore, not condemn.
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Speaker 1: An even more powerful example of how God responds to
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Speaker 1: our guilt and sharp shame is found in the parable
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Speaker 1: of the prodigal Son, told in Luke fifteen. The youngest
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Speaker 1: son demanded his inheritance, left his father's house and squandered
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Speaker 1: everything in reckless living. After losing everything, he found himself
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Speaker 1: in a state of great need, tending pigs and longing
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Speaker 1: to eat their food. It was in this moment of
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Speaker 1: misery that he reflected on his situation and decided to
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Speaker 1: return home, but with a mindset of shame. In verse nineteen,
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Speaker 1: he planned to say to his father, I am no
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Speaker 1: longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like
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Speaker 1: one of your hired servants. The prodigal son believed his
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Speaker 1: unworthiness would prevent him from being accepted as a son again. However,
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Speaker 1: the father's reaction in the parable is one of the
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Speaker 1: most beautiful representations of God's heart. In verse twenty, we
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Speaker 1: read but while he was still a long way off,
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Speaker 1: his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.
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Speaker 1: He ran to his son, threw his arms around him,
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Speaker 1: and kissed him. The father not only accepted him, but
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Speaker 1: fully restored him, ordering the best robe, a ring, and
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Speaker 1: sandals to be brought symbols of honor, authority, and sonship.
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Speaker 1: This parable shows us that God does not expect us
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Speaker 1: to return to him carrying the weight of shame on
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Speaker 1: the contrary, he welcomes us with open arms and restores
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Speaker 1: us to our position as his children. This unconditional love
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Speaker 1: should lead us to abandon the weight of guilt and shame,
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Speaker 1: understanding that no sin is too great to be forgiven.
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Speaker 1: To overcome guilt, it is essential to recognize that God's
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Speaker 1: forgiveness does not depend on our merits, but on Christ's
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Speaker 1: work on the cross. In verse John one nine, it
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Speaker 1: is written, if we confess our sins, he is faithful
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Speaker 1: and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
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Speaker 1: us from all unrighteousness. This promise assures us that when
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Speaker 1: we sincerely confess our failures, God not only forgives us,
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Speaker 1: but also purifies us, removing every stain of guilt. Confessing
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Speaker 1: our sins is more than a ritualistic act. It is
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Speaker 1: an act of faith and humility. By confessing, we acknowledge
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Speaker 1: our dependence on God and creates space for him to
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Speaker 1: restore us. In Psalm thirty two, David expresses the joy
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Speaker 1: of being forgiven, stating in verses one and two, Blessed
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Speaker 1: is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
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Speaker 1: Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not
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Speaker 1: count against them, and in whose spirit is no deceit. Additionally,
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Speaker 1: it is essential to remember that shame is often a
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Speaker 1: weapon used by the enemy to distance us from God.
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Speaker 1: In Revelation twelve ten, Satan is described as the accuser
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Speaker 1: of our brothers and sisters. He constantly reminds us of
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Speaker 1: our mistakes. But we must combat these accusations with the
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Speaker 1: truth of God's word. In Second Corinthians five seventeen, we read, therefore,
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Speaker 1: if any one is in Christ, the new creation has come,
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Speaker 1: the old has gone, the new is here. Renewal in
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Speaker 1: Christ means we are no longer defined by our mistakes,
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Speaker 1: but by the grace we have received. This understanding frees
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Speaker 1: us from guilt and enables us to hear God's voice
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Speaker 1: more clearly. When we recognize that we are forgiven and loved,
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Speaker 1: our hearts open to communion with the Father, and his
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Speaker 1: voice becomes more audible in our lives. For those struggling
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Speaker 1: with shame from the past, a practical step is to
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Speaker 1: memorize and declare God's promises of forgiveness and restoration. Remember
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Speaker 1: verses like Isaiah one eighteen, where God says, though your
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Speaker 1: sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
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Speaker 1: Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
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Speaker 1: These words reveal the transformative power of divine forgiveness. Another
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Speaker 1: important practice is embracing our identity as children of God.
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Speaker 1: In Romans eight fifteen, Paul writes, the spirit you received
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Speaker 1: does not make you slaves so that you live in
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Speaker 1: fear again. Rather, the spirit you received brought about your
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Speaker 1: adoption to sonship, and by him we cry abba Father.
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Speaker 1: As children, we have direct access to God, regardless of
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Speaker 1: our past failures. The weight of guilt and shame is
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Speaker 1: not something we are meant to carry. Jesus already bore
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Speaker 1: that weight on the cross so we could live free
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Speaker 1: and reconciled with God. However, to experience this freedom, we
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Speaker 1: must reject the enemy's lies and embrace the truth of
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Speaker 1: God's word. This truth empowers us to hear the Father's
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Speaker 1: voice with clarity and intimacy. Still, the journey to clearly
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Speaker 1: hearing God does not end here. Often, a lack of
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Speaker 1: connection with God is tied to neglecting his word. In
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Speaker 1: the next habit, we will explore how neglecting scripture hinders
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Speaker 1: us from hearing God's direction, and how we can renew
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Speaker 1: our commitment to reading the Bible to hear his voice
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Speaker 1: more deeply. The Bible is the clearest and most direct
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Speaker 1: way God communicates with us. It is the living Word,
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Speaker 1: full of wisdom, guidance, and comfort, as well as exhortation
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Speaker 1: and truth. When we neglect its reading, we become spiritually deaf,
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Speaker 1: unable to discern God's voice in our lives. In Psalm
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Speaker 1: one of nineteen one O O five, the psalmist declares,
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Speaker 1: your word is a lamp for my feet, a light
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Speaker 1: on my path. This verse reminds us that God's word
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Speaker 1: is essential to guide us, especially in times of uncertainty
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Speaker 1: or spiritual darkness. The lack of focus on scripture is
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Speaker 1: one of the most common habits that hinders spiritual clarity.
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Speaker 1: Without the guidance of the Bible, we become vulnerable to
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Speaker 1: spiritual lies, false doctrines, and deceptions that lead us away
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Speaker 1: from God. Jesus warned about this in John eight thirty
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Speaker 1: two when he said, then you will know the truth,
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Speaker 1: and the truth will set you free. The truth that
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Speaker 1: sets us free is found in God's word, but if
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Speaker 1: we do not know it, we cannot live or apply it.
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Speaker 1: The danger of ignoring God's word is illustrated throughout the Bible.
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Speaker 1: In Hoseiah four to six, God laments, my people are
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Speaker 1: destroyed from lack of knowledge. This missing knowledge is not
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Speaker 1: human wisdom, but the knowledge of God's will revealed in
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Speaker 1: his word. When we do not seek this knowledge, we
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Speaker 1: risk making decisions based on emotions, human advice, or fleeting circumstances,
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Speaker 1: instead of grounding our choices in the unchanging truth of scripture.
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Speaker 1: Jesus provided a powerful example of how so indispensable God's
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Speaker 1: word is in resisting temptation and living according to the
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Speaker 1: Father's will. In Matthew four, we read about the time
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Speaker 1: Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to
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Speaker 1: be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days
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Speaker 1: and nights, he was physically vulnerable and the tempter approached him.
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Speaker 1: In verse three, the devil said, if you are the
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Speaker 1: son of God, tell these stones to become bred. Jesus
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Speaker 1: replied in verse four, it is written man shall not
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Speaker 1: live on bread alone, but on every word that comes
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Speaker 1: from the mouth of God. This response was taken directly
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Speaker 1: from Deuteronomy eight three, showing that Jesus had God's word
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Speaker 1: deeply rooted in his heart, he not only knew the scriptures,
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Speaker 1: but used them as a spiritual weapon to defeat temptation.
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Speaker 1: Later in Matthew four seven, when the devil I challenged
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Speaker 1: him again by saying, if you are the son of God,
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Speaker 1: throw yourself down, Jesus responded, it is also written, do
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Speaker 1: not put the Lord your God to the test. Once again,
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Speaker 1: he turned to scripture, quoting Deuteronomy six sixteen. This example
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Speaker 1: of Jesus in the wilderness teaches us two fundamental lessons. First,
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Speaker 1: God's word is our defense against the enemy's lies and attacks. Second,
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Speaker 1: to use it effectively, we must know it deeply. Jesus
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Speaker 1: did not have a Torus scroll in his hands at
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Speaker 1: that moment, he had memorized and internalized the word. This
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Speaker 1: reenforces the importance of meditating on and studying the Bible regularly,
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Speaker 1: so that it is in our hearts and minds when
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Speaker 1: we need it most. However, creating a consistent habit of
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Speaker 1: Bible reading can be challenging. Often, fatigue, lack of time,
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Speaker 1: or even familiarity with certain passages prevent us from diving
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Speaker 1: deeply into the scriptures. To overcome this, it's important to
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Speaker 1: approach Bible reading with a willing heart and an open mind,
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Speaker 1: recognizing that every word written there has something to teach us.
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Speaker 1: Inseegre Timothy three sixteen to seventeen, Paul writes, all scripture
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Speaker 1: is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
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Speaker 1: and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God
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Speaker 1: may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. One practical
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Speaker 1: way to develop the habit of Bible reading is to
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Speaker 1: establish a daily reading plan. This could include starting with
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Speaker 1: a gospel such as John or with Psalms, which offer
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Speaker 1: a blend of praise, supplication, and wisdom. Another approach is
33:47
Speaker 1: to choose a specific theme you'd like to explore, such
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Speaker 1: as faith, grace, or forgiveness, and seek related passages. Additionally,
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Speaker 1: it is essential to pray before reading, asking the Holy
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Speaker 1: Spirit to illuminate your understanding. In John fourteen twenty six,
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Speaker 1: Jesus promises, but the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the
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Speaker 1: Father will send in my name, will teach you all
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Speaker 1: things and will remind you of everything I have said
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Speaker 1: to you. Bible reading should not be seen as an obligation,
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Speaker 1: but as a privilege. It is a moment when God
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Speaker 1: speaks directly to us, revealing his heart and his will.
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Speaker 1: When we immerse ourselves in scripture, we discover who God is,
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Speaker 1: who we are in Christ, and what our life's purpose is.
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Speaker 1: This connection transforms our relationship with God and equips us
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Speaker 1: to live in a way that glorifies his name. Neglecting
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Speaker 1: the Bible is like trying to navigate a stormy sea
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Speaker 1: without a map or compass. We might make progress for
34:50
Speaker 1: a while, but soon will lose our way. In Matthew
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Speaker 1: seven twenty four twenty seven, Jesus compares the person who
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Speaker 1: hears and practices his words to a wise man who
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Speaker 1: built his house on the rock. When the rains, winds,
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Speaker 1: and torrents came, the house remains standing, But the one
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Speaker 1: who hears and does not practice is like a foolish
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Speaker 1: man who built his house on sand. A lack of
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Speaker 1: focus on scripture leaves us vulnerable, unable to withstand life storms.
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Speaker 1: The Word of God is living and active. In Hebrews
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Speaker 1: four twelve, we read for the Word of God is
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Speaker 1: alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword. It
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Speaker 1: penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
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Speaker 1: It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. This
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Speaker 1: transformative power is only accessible if we dedicate time to listening,
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Speaker 1: to studying, and applying the Word in our lives. When
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Speaker 1: we prioritize Bible reading, our lives begin to reflect God's character.
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Speaker 1: We start to see the world through the eyes of faith,
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Speaker 1: make decisions aligned with His will, and develop spiritual discernment
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Speaker 1: that helps us recognize his voice amid distractions. However, this
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Speaker 1: journey requires commitment and perseverance. Yet, even with Bible reading
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Speaker 1: and knowledge of the Word, there is another challenge that
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Speaker 1: often prevents us from clearly hearing God's voice, the fear
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Speaker 1: of his answers. This is what we'll address in the
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Speaker 1: next habit, exploring how to overcome the fear that God
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Speaker 1: might ask us to do something difficult or beyond our
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Speaker 1: comfort zone. The sixth and final negative habit is the
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Speaker 1: fear of unexpected answers. The fear of unexpected answers often
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Speaker 1: keeps us from hearing God's voice clearly. Many times, when
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Speaker 1: we pray, we hope God will confirm what we've already
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Speaker 1: planned or guide us within our comfort zone. However, we
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Speaker 1: fear that He might ask us to do something difficult, challenging,
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Speaker 1: or entirely different from what we imagine. This fear makes
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Speaker 1: us hesitate to sincerely seek his will and prevents us
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Speaker 1: from experiencing God's full purpose for our lives. The root
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Speaker 1: of this fear lies in our struggle to fully trust
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Speaker 1: God's character and his plans. In Jeremiah twenty nine eleven,
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Speaker 1: God declares, for I know the plans I have for you,
37:17
Speaker 1: declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to
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Speaker 1: harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
37:24
Speaker 1: This verse assures us that God's plans are always for
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Speaker 1: our good, but often our limited vision and desire for
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Speaker 1: control lead us to doubt this. The fear of unexpected
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Speaker 1: answers can distance us from God's voice because it creates
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Speaker 1: a barrier in our relationship with him. This fear causes
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Speaker 1: us to avoid sincere prayers, especially those in which we
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Speaker 1: ask for his will to be done. We are apprehensive
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Speaker 1: that He might call us to something too big that
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Speaker 1: demands sacrifices, or that takes us to places or situations
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Speaker 1: we don't understand. However, true faith requies requires us to
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Speaker 1: completely surrender our lives to God, trusting that he is good,
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Speaker 1: and that his intentions for us are always loving. A
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Speaker 1: profound biblical example of overcoming fear in the face of
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Speaker 1: an unexpected answer is found in Abraham's story. In Genesis
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Speaker 1: twenty two, God asks Abraham to do something that at
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Speaker 1: first glance seems impossible to accept, sacrifice his son Isaac.
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Speaker 1: In verse two, God says, take your son, your only son,
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Speaker 1: whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Mariah.
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Speaker 1: Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain.
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Speaker 1: I will show you. Isaac was the child of the promise,
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Speaker 1: the one God had given to Abraham and Sarah in
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Speaker 1: their old age, fulfilling a long awaited promise. Through Isaac,
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Speaker 1: God had promised to make Abraham the father of a
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Speaker 1: great nation. Even so, Abraham obeyed without hesitation. In verse
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Speaker 1: three we see his immediate reaction. Early the next morning,
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Speaker 1: Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with
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Speaker 1: him two of his servants and his son Isaac. There
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Speaker 1: is no record of questioning or arguing. Abraham trusted in
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Speaker 1: God's character. This confidence is even more clearly revealed in
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Speaker 1: verse five, when Abraham says to his servants, stay here
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Speaker 1: with the donkey. While I and the boy go over there.
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Speaker 1: We it will worship, and then we will come back
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Speaker 1: to you. Abraham's faith was so great that he believed
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Speaker 1: God would provide somehow. In verse eight, when Isaac asks
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Speaker 1: about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham answers, God himself
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Speaker 1: will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son.
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Speaker 1: At the crucial moment, as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac,
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Speaker 1: God intervened. In verse twelve, The Angel of the Lord said,
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Speaker 1: do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not
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Speaker 1: do anything to him. Now. I know that you fear
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Speaker 1: God because you have not withh held from me your son,
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Speaker 1: your only son. God then provided a ram for the sacrifice,
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Speaker 1: affirming that he never intended to take Isaac, but to
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Speaker 1: test Abraham's faith. This story teaches us that God will
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Speaker 1: never ask something of us without a greater purpose. He
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Speaker 1: does not seek to harm us, but to shape us
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Speaker 1: and teach us to trust him completely. Fear of unexpected
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Speaker 1: outcomes can make us hesitate to obey God, but faith
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Speaker 1: enables us to overcome that fear, knowing that He is
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Speaker 1: faithful and will always provide what we need. Facing fear
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Speaker 1: with faith is a process that requires practice and a
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Speaker 1: deep understanding of God's character. In two Timothy one point seven,
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Speaker 1: Paul writes, for the spirit God gave us does not
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Speaker 1: make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self discipline.
40:53
Speaker 1: This verse reminds us that fear does not come from God.
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Speaker 1: He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit,
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Speaker 1: which equips us to face the unknown with confidence. Another
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Speaker 1: example of overcoming the fear of unexpected outcomes is found
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Speaker 1: in the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In
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Speaker 1: Luke On, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells
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Speaker 1: her that she will give birth to the Son of God.
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Speaker 1: In verse thirty eight, Mary responds, I am the Lord's servant.
41:24
Speaker 1: May your word to me be fulfilled. Despite the magnitude
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Speaker 1: of the calling, which undoubtedly brought challenges and uncertainties, Mary
41:32
Speaker 1: trusted God completely and submitted to his will. To overcome
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Speaker 1: the fear that God might ask something difficult of us,
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Speaker 1: we need to cultivate an intimate relationship with him. The
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Speaker 1: more we know God, the more we trust his character.
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Speaker 1: He is good, faithful, loving, and always has our best
41:50
Speaker 1: interests in mind. This trust allows us to say, as
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Speaker 1: Jesus said in the garden of gathsemone in Luke twenty
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Speaker 1: two forty two, Father, if you are willing take this
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Speaker 1: cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done.
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Speaker 1: We also need to remember that God will never give
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Speaker 1: us something we cannot bear with his help. In First
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Speaker 1: Corinthians ten thirteen, Paul writes, no temptation has overtaken you
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Speaker 1: except what is common to mankind, and God is faithful.
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Speaker 1: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you
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Speaker 1: can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also
42:29
Speaker 1: provide a way out so that you can endure it.
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Speaker 1: Facing fear with faith also means learning to rest in
42:35
Speaker 1: God's promises. When he calls us to something challenging, he
42:40
Speaker 1: also provides the spiritual and emotional resources to obey. In
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Speaker 1: Philippians four thirteen, Paul declares, I can do all this
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Speaker 1: through Him who gives me strength. This strength comes from
42:52
Speaker 1: our connection to God, enabling us to face even the
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Speaker 1: most daunting challenges. The fear of unexpected outcomes can be
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Speaker 1: over come when we remember that God not only calls us,
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Speaker 1: but also walks with us. He does not leave us
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Speaker 1: to face the unknown alone. In Isaiah forty one ten,
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Speaker 1: God encourages us. So do not fear, for I am
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Speaker 1: with you. Do not be dismayed, For I am your God.
43:19
Speaker 1: I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold
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Speaker 1: you with my righteous right hand. When we face our
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Speaker 1: fears with faith, we experience the depth of God's love
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Speaker 1: and care. He guides us every step of the way
43:33
Speaker 1: and helps us grow spiritually. By letting go of the
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Speaker 1: habit of fearing unexpected outcomes, we become more receptive to
43:41
Speaker 1: God's voice in our lives. This process is a continuous
43:45
Speaker 1: journey of trusting Him and allowing His will to manifest
43:49
Speaker 1: in us. We have reached the end of this journey
43:52
Speaker 1: through the six habits that may be preventing you from
43:55
Speaker 1: clearly hearing God's voice. I hope this content has touched
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Speaker 1: your heart and inspired you to let go of these
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Speaker 1: obstacles that limit your communion with Him. Remember, God desires
44:07
Speaker 1: to speak to you, guide you, and fill your life
44:11
Speaker 1: with purpose and peace. It is up to us to
44:13
Speaker 1: tune our spiritual ears and prioritize His presence above all else.
44:18
Speaker 1: If this video made a difference in your life, don't
44:21
Speaker 1: keep this message to yourself. Share it with someone you
44:25
Speaker 1: believe needs to hear it too, and of course don't
44:28
Speaker 1: forget to subscribe to the channel and activate notifications so
44:32
Speaker 1: you don't miss any content. Leave your like and in
44:35
Speaker 1: the comments tell me which habit challenged you the most.
44:39
Speaker 1: Let's walk together in this spiritual transformation. Thank you so
44:43
Speaker 1: much for being here. May God bless you and see
44:46
Speaker 1: you in the next video.