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The Ways God Can Speak To Us · Deep Dive into Joy

0:23
This is Deep Dive into Joy and I'm your host
0:27
Gina Rickner. Hey joy listeners, it's your host
0:30
Gina Rickner. Welcome back to deep dive into
0:34
joy. I'm so glad to have you guys here with us
0:36
today. This is the podcast where we talk about
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our testimonies, deep faith, purpose, health
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and wellness, and just what it means to live
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with God and joy. Before we get started, I wanna
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guys for supporting the podcast. Okay, so welcome
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back to the podcast guys. Have you ever wondered
3:56
is that God or is that just my own thoughts or
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maybe you heard people say God told me or I wish
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I could hear God like that. Today, we are talking
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about how God speaks to us, the different ways
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he does what the Bible actually says and how
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we can learn to recognize his voice with clarity
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and peace, not confusion and pressure. God is
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not silent. The question is often whether we
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have learned how to listen and kind of for being
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silent or if we're being allowed. Before we head
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into the deep dive into joy podcast on this topic,
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I want to welcome back Bobby Johnson to the podcast.
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Hi, Bobby, I want to welcome you back to the
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podcast. Thank you for being here today. Thanks
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for having me. OK, so on this topic, I think
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it's very important for us to start realizing
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that if we can't hear God, then maybe we are
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too distracted. So we need to first take the
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time to be still in His presence. In that quiet
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place, you will find rest for your soul and redirection
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for your life. When you are worn out and in need
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of supernatural strength, you will find it in
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Him. Hearing with our ears and hearing God and
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our spirits are two different things. Sometimes
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we're so desperate for direction that we aren't
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still enough to hear God's whispered directions
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to us. Instead of talking to God, listen for
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him by sitting in silence and asking him to speak
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to your spirit. God's voice is sometimes best
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heard in silence. Bobbi, do you have any direction
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for my listeners here? Well, I was looking through
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scripture, so there are numerous scriptures that
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refer to hearing from God. A couple that I pulled
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out would be Isaiah 30, 21 says, your own ears
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will hear him. right behind you a voice will
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say this is the way you should go whether to
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the left or to the right and in Psalm 86 verse
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11 it says teach me your ways oh Lord that I
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may live according to your truth and I like this
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verse from Psalm 86 because I think a lot like
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in the Psalms it conveys reaching out to God
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when we are in need so my first thought looking
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at that was is that the only time we want to
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hear from him though it makes sense that we want
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to hear his voice we want to have guidance from
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him but isn't it true that it's typically when
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you don't know what to do yeah you know that
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it's not necessarily wanting his guidance all
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the time regardless of what we're going through
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and I mean, I want His guidance, yes, when I'm
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uncertain or not sure of next steps, but what
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about at all times? So, taking a step back, I
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believe God desires more from us, with us, that
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our relationship with Him would, you know, just
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not be about receiving information, that it be
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just that kind of relationship, but more of relationship
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development with Him, where You know, we simply
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just have an open heart and a willingness to
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listen to him. And God does speak in many ways.
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You know, he speaks through his word, through
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our moments with him in prayer, by the Holy Spirit's
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leading. But again, it's really about a partnership,
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I think, with him. It's that ongoing conversation,
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just being in his presence in relationship. That
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we stay engaged With him by and then by living
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out spiritual disciplines. So when we talk about
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spiritual disciplines You know things like spending
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time in his word. He said really diving into
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it understanding it meditating on his word and
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Really taking his word inward in our lives examining
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ourselves in light of it our lives against the
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truth of his word prayer and fasting Other spiritual
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disciplines like solitude stillness like you're
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saying resting And then also worship and communion
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it with people, you know, God gives us our church
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families and often times we've talked about that
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God can speak through those small groups and
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doing life together with people and The reality
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is I think when we dedicate ourselves to these
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In doing that, we're cultivating our hearts to
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hear from him. We're preparing ourselves to hear
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from him. And we're prioritizing our time with
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him and being in his presence, which then in
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turn leads to discernment of his guidance and
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wisdom. So it all kind of works together. Yeah,
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I think. So I like having you on because you
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go more in depth for me and I love hearing what
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you have to say. I love you having me on because
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I love diving into this stuff. So from the very
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beginning, God is revealed as a God who speaks.
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And it wasn't just for the past. He still speaks
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now. Genesis one through three. And God said,
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let there be light. And there was light creation
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itself came into being through his voice. And
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Hebrews tells us in one, one through two. In
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the past, God spoke to our ancestors through
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the prophets. but in these last days he has spoken
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to us by his son. Bobby, can you read John 10
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27 for us? Sure. And again, I'm reading from
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the New Living Translation. It says this, my
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sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they
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follow me. I love those verse. So notice here,
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Jesus doesn't just say any sheep. He says his
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sheep hear his voice. Hearing God is not a spiritual
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elite thing. It's part of a relationship with
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him So the primary way God speaks his word God
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will never speak to you in a way that contradicts
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scripture so Bobby can you speak on this for
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us because I think it's important to know and
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Have the discernment of just realizing it's coming
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from God and not seen Absolutely, and this is
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an area. I was glad to actually respond to this
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because It gave me an opportunity to really dig
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into this and find some guidance myself on this,
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right? And I think the first thing that you said
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is super important that God will not speak or
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lead us in any way that is counter to his word.
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That would make him a liar and he is not a liar.
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So it is easy, I think though, for us in our
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humanity to become confused. Or to get up in
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our head and we make it over complicated right
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right for sure and so the first John Chapter
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4 verse 1 tells us that we're to test it You
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know if we're not sure we're to test it and so
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that's really good advice But maybe we don't
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really know like how to test to discern and I
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found In my research I found a really great message
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from pastor Rick Warren who I believe did the
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purpose field life mm -hmm and he gave seven
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ways to test for you to be able to discern when
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you believe you're getting a word like or an
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idea like is this from God or is He put it this
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way this from God Is this the enemy? Is this
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the burrito I ate last night? It's kind of funny.
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I thought that was funny. I need to share that.
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That's wisdom right there. But anyhow, he started
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out in his message by sharing from scripture
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in Matthew chapter 16 verses 15 moving forward.
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When Jesus asked Peter, who do you say I am?
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And Peter declares that he was Jesus is the Messiah
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and Jesus tells Peter in verse 17 that he is
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blessed because God the Father revealed it to
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him that that knowledge didn't come from him
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himself that it was revealed to him by by God
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but then just a few moments later in verse in
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chapter 16 verses 21 through 22 Jesus predicts
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his death and Peter says no way like that's not
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going to happen That won't happen And what does
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Jesus say to him get behind me safe? Yeah? You're
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seeing things from a human's point of view So
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in that in that play out there we see Jesus Discerning
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you know for us and for Peter that when he declares
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him as the Messiah that that was from God but
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when when Peter fell back into his humanity and
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Maybe well intentioned, but he was like no this
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can't happen to you That's why Jesus said that
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to him like so he's differentiating there, so
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it was hard then and it's hard for us now to
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know if what we're thinking or what we want to
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do is God or if it is it and so Pastor Rick Warren
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gave these seven tests. So I is a little bit
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lengthy, but I know I want to hear that I gotta
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share these I think these are great and I would
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encourage you for the listeners to to dive deeper
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into this and Look at more of what his message
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is on this But the first one he makes this very
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clear these seven tests that he shares First
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of all, they're all scripturally based. We don't
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have time Today right to dive real deep into
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all of them But they all they are all scripturally
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based that he says that if you can test whatever
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it is you're testing Against these it needs to
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meet everyone I can't meet some of them and be
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like kind of good enough. No, it has to he stressed
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all of them Yeah, just like you can't apply some
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scriptures to your life and not all of them The
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first one is doesn't agree with the Bible which
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we already talked about That's to your point.
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God's Word is eternal. He cannot lie and if it
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contradicts his word it is not the plan for your
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life Second one does this make me more like Christ?
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Jesus is the standard That's it if we let any
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other thought in and it doesn't jive with who
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Jesus was and is Then that's not from God right
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the third one Is does my church family confirm
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it? so again when we talk about spiritual disciplines
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and Being in community and the importance of
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as we've talked about those small groups and
15:26
those people who are We're leaning into You're
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not meant to do this alone we know that we are
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meant to be in relationship and God does manifest
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his wisdom through his church so Does my church
15:45
family confirm it if there's something that you're
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thinking about and he puts it this way There's
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something you're thinking about and you don't
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even want to bring it up To those people that
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you're doing life with who are other believers
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that you know, we're gonna hold you accountable.
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That's a red flag You know so having those godly
16:04
religion relationships in place that you can
16:08
come and bounce things off of people Again, we've
16:12
talked about having an accountability partner.
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I have one love it. I love pastor angel She does
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not hesitate to speak truth. Yeah into my life.
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It may not always be definitely Yeah, but it's
16:25
a reality check Fourth one is it consistent with
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how God has shaped me and what he's talking about
16:34
there and again he goes into much more depth,
16:36
but He's talking about, you know, God creates
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each of us with our gifts, with our heart, with
16:43
our abilities, our personality, our experiences,
16:46
all those things he's using for his purpose in
16:49
our lives. That shape that he gives us determines
16:56
our purpose. If what we're thinking about or
17:00
what we think God is calling us to do is not
17:04
consistent with that, then... It's likely not
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of him. Number five, does it concern my responsibility?
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And I love this one. It's not for us to try to
17:21
figure out other people's lives. Are we supposed
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to be in relationship with them? Yes. Can we
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be part of that community that can speak truth
17:31
and accountability into someone else's life when
17:34
asked? Yes. but There are times where people
17:39
will say things like And maybe you've heard this
17:43
God told me that you are to I don't know film
17:49
of life First of all does God work through all
17:53
of us yes, but if God wants to speak a word into
17:55
somebody's life He can do it without you or me
18:00
yeah And so we can't presume that God is speaking
18:05
to you about someone else and he actually in
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that message he does a deep dive in this and
18:15
he does give some clarification but he said the
18:20
overall message in that is be careful if that
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is something that you are sensing that you need
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to tell somebody It's just you need to be careful
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and be in prayer and and just be cautious enough.
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Yeah The sixth one is the question is is it convicting?
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rather than condemning So he draws a distinction
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between conviction and condemnation What does
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scripture tell us romans 8 1? Therefore in christ
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there is no what no condemnation? God Will convict
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us he will his Holy Spirit will nudge us in the
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areas that we need to change in And he does it
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lovingly while still maintaining Recognition
19:14
of our value of how much he loves us and he sees
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us when When there is condemnation in what we're
19:22
sensing that you're not good enough You're a
19:25
mess You're their shame attached to it That's
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not of God right revelations 12 10 says Calls
19:36
the enemy accuser of believers So that's a pretty
19:40
good indication if what you're experiencing or
19:43
what your thoughts are about something It's it's
19:47
good to know whether or not and recognize whether
19:49
they're convicting or they're condemning Because
19:53
if they are condemning that is not of God Towards
19:56
you God wants to steer you in the right direction,
19:59
but he's not going to condemn you because Jesus
20:01
took that already Hit his he only And this was
20:10
interesting he noted conviction only lasts as
20:13
long as it takes you to repent So if it continues
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to linger you've repented of it, and it keeps
20:20
coming back That's That's fallen into that condemnation.
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Okay a good Quick check. I like that one and
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then number seven. Do I sense God's peace about
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it? Act on what you hear. So again God is not
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going to lead us To something through something
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that he ultimately doesn't give us peace in It
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just he is peace if he's in it you will experience
20:55
peace at the end of the day. Right. So so those
20:59
were the seven things that he that he recommended.
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And I love those. And I thought, man, I hate
21:05
to take this. I'm giving him due credit. He's
21:07
great. His his works are great. And I just thought
21:11
that was a wonderful way for us to to answer
21:15
that question. Yeah, I think that's a question
21:17
that we all have. Yeah. And I need to write those
21:20
down. So it's good stuff out there So through
21:25
my own personal journey there have been many
21:27
times that God has spoken to me especially when
21:30
I went through my cancer journey, but I Heard
21:33
him say many times to share my story to share
21:35
what God did for me that week To the nurse that
21:39
was with me or to pray before my surgeries Something
21:44
as simple as you know helping the woman woman
21:48
at the door during one of my radiation appointments
21:51
During all those moments, we are also shining
21:54
the light of Jesus and letting others see Jesus
21:56
through us. So my healing was my testimony to
22:00
the world, healing not only physically but spiritually
22:03
as well. So I've been fully set free from bondage
22:08
that was holding me down, ties and curses that
22:11
wouldn't let me move forward with Jesus. Just
22:15
most recently during my women's retreat that
22:19
we went to in January was one of the clearest
22:24
times I have heard him speak I was driving myself
22:27
to the place where we were staying and there's
22:31
times just when I'm driving or wherever I just
22:34
like to say Lord please speak to me and as I
22:38
drove there I was there was a sign like a billboard
22:44
on the side of the road and It had a verse on
22:47
it from the book of John and I thought to myself.
22:49
Well, that's lovely to see alongside the road
22:51
For everyone to read it. I just thought that
22:54
was really cool And then I looked out my window
22:57
and I saw an eagle flying across the river and
23:00
not many times I mean, I think I might have saw
23:03
an eagle in my life. Maybe once out of The whole
23:06
time I've been alive. I always thought it was
23:08
really cool But it was clear as day that day
23:12
and I I know it was an eagle for sure But it
23:16
instantly took me to the verse in Isaiah 41 10
23:18
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their
23:21
strength They will soar on wings like eagles.
23:24
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk
23:26
and not be faint Okay, so here's where the story
23:31
gets interesting and why I know it was God talking
23:33
to me So once I arrived to the place we stayed,
23:37
they had multiple scriptures written throughout
23:39
the house and the walls. It was like just this
23:41
decorative print on the walls. And in the main
23:47
big living room area, this same verse and a picture
23:52
of an eagle was hanging on the wall. And I...
23:56
I kind of lost it. I just couldn't believe. I
23:59
looked up and saw that. I was like, wow. So I
24:02
definitely shared that with the ladies that were
24:05
there that evening. I thought that was really
24:07
cool. But I don't know. After something like
24:11
that, you could deny God isn't real. It just
24:13
gives me goosebumps. He is definitely real, for
24:17
sure. And this was a powerful verse, powerful
24:22
picture of God's strength lifting us up. when
24:25
ours runs out. Waiting, trusting, and rising
24:29
above exhaustion instead of being crushed by
24:31
it. That totally aligned with the way I have
24:35
been feeling lately, worried about my diagnosis
24:37
and everything I've been through. The PTSD is
24:41
real after having cancer and you're a survivor,
24:43
that's for sure. You definitely have the fear
24:49
that creeps back in and then my body's still
24:53
trying to recover from it all. So Keeping up
24:55
with work and family and a home. It just becomes
24:58
exhausting at times, especially with moms and
25:01
I Think he was just telling me to trust him He
25:04
has given me the strength to make it through
25:06
each day and to hope in him and my race isn't
25:09
finished yet Bobby do you have any stories that
25:13
you can share with us when you knew exactly when
25:15
God was speaking to you? Well, I I had give this
25:19
some thought and in prayer and you know, I've
25:22
had times of my life when God's voice was clear
25:26
in fact. I've had a couple just a couple times
25:28
my life where it was it was literally audible
25:31
I mean I could hear it that does not happen for
25:35
me All the time like I said in in all of my life.
25:39
It's only happened a couple times and Really
25:44
so many times to share when he's spoken through
25:47
his word in the stillness of his presence But
25:50
one story that stuck out to me was a couple years
25:53
ago after recognizing God's call on my life had
25:58
been going through a lot of difficulties in our
26:00
family and without getting the details it was
26:03
it was pretty rough and it was just I can remember
26:07
it was just one thing after another and really
26:09
really hard stuff and I just felt so overwhelmed
26:14
I felt so burdened and and I believed at the
26:21
time that I was struggling and I was really beating
26:23
myself up talk about condemnation like really
26:27
beating myself up like that my faith that I was
26:31
struggling in my faith and which then led to
26:36
thoughts like you know you can't do this I mean
26:38
look around you and what's going on how are you
26:41
ever gonna fulfill a call to ministry you know
26:44
how things are such a mess in your family how
26:47
can how do you ever expect to be a pastor to
26:51
help people. You know, this was a constant thing
26:54
that would go through my mind. And so one morning,
26:57
I remember I got up and made my coffee and one
27:00
of my most favorite things to do when the weather's
27:02
nice. I'm so grateful the weather's nice today.
27:05
I don't know what it'll be like when when they
27:06
hear this, but today at recording, it's beautiful.
27:09
But I love going out my back porch and having
27:12
coffee in the morning and meeting the birds and
27:14
the whole thing. So I went out. Made my coffee
27:18
went out in the back porch open up my Bible and
27:21
before I read I prayed I asked God to lead me
27:25
I just You know just needed a word I needed renewed
27:31
I felt in my faith And I wanted this struggle
27:35
to be taken from me I didn't want to feel like
27:38
this and that morning he led me to the tail end
27:42
of Colossians chapter 1 verses 24 through 29
27:47
and it said this from Paul Paul said I am glad
27:52
when I suffer for you in my body for I am participating
27:56
in the sufferings of Christ that continue for
27:59
his body the church God has given me the responsibility
28:03
of serving his church by proclaiming his entire
28:08
message to you this message was kept secret for
28:11
centuries and generations past but now It has
28:15
been revealed to God's people. For God wanted
28:18
them to know that the riches and glory of Christ
28:21
are for you Gentiles too. And this is the secret.
28:26
Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance
28:30
of sharing his glory. So we tell others about
28:33
Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone
28:36
with all the wisdom God has given us. We want
28:43
to present them to God perfect in their relationship
28:46
to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so
28:50
hard depending on Christ's mighty power that
28:53
works in me and I remember reading that and sitting
28:57
there and it was just like God used it like a
29:00
two -by -four and smacked me right right in the
29:03
face and I literally had to sit there in Silence
29:07
because it hit me immediately what he was saying
29:11
to me And in that moment God revealed to me that
29:15
I was not struggling in my faith. I was suffering
29:20
and the things that I was experiencing were very
29:24
difficult and Because I was having a hard time
29:29
in them didn't mean that my faith was struggling
29:31
but I was suffering and that suffering even though
29:37
it's hard is okay because My experiences were
29:42
allowing me as a believer to share in Christ's
29:46
suffering which God was using to mold me and
29:51
shape me for his service and In the equipping
29:55
we do struggle but not in the way that I thought
29:58
I was Right. So even Paul says so that's why
30:02
I work and struggle so hard. It's not the same
30:05
struggle that like I it's it's like Yeah, you're
30:09
white knuckle in it because you have to be reminded
30:13
that you've got this not because of yourself,
30:17
but because what does he say? Christ lives in
30:20
you. That's it. And because of that, we can have
30:24
assurance that we are where we need to be because
30:28
you are sharing this with him. You are walking
30:32
this with him. And God gives us wisdom through
30:35
our experiences that he in turn uses. For his
30:38
purpose and and I needed in that moment to recognize
30:43
that there was purpose in my pain That I was
30:47
suffering and it was okay and that I can do what
30:52
he's called me to do because of the power of
30:54
his power at work in me and I will never forget
30:59
that I marked my Bible all up in that and so
31:03
whenever It came to this part. That was what
31:07
God Laid on my heart because I think it's just
31:11
so easy to lose sight of that and and again that
31:14
goes back to What I just said about you know
31:17
pastor Rick Warren and and testing and discerning
31:19
that you know that wasn't that wasn't God Telling
31:24
me those things God made his calling very clear
31:27
to me That was and I don't want to give the enemy
31:31
any credit because he doesn't deserve any no,
31:33
but that is Him trying to dissuade you from what?
31:42
God has called you to do And he's really good
31:45
at it. Yeah, and so That was that was a time
31:50
that God. I mean clearly spoke to me through
31:53
his word and Made it you know just Made it made
31:59
a huge difference because it was it I was in
32:02
a bad way You know really beat myself up I don't
32:07
think my faith has ever been stronger than when
32:10
I went through my cancer diagnosis. The deepest,
32:15
darkest, most suffering I walked through in my
32:17
entire life, that was when my faith was the strongest.
32:22
I don't know. That's a blessing. As hard as that
32:27
had to have been for you and that difficult journey.
32:32
We come to the end of ourselves in those things.
32:36
So true. God's voice is often still and quiet.
32:42
He's not always going to shout. And it comes
32:45
from the moment when Elijah encounters God, not
32:48
in the dramatic signs, but in gentleness. First
32:52
Kings 1912. After the fire came a gentle whisper.
32:58
God's voice is often gentle, not forceful. It's
33:01
often quiet, not chaotic, and his voice is often
33:05
heard in stillness, not noise. This fits beautifully
33:09
with discernment, prayer, and seasons of waiting,
33:14
especially when life feels loud and overwhelming.
33:17
The enemy shouts, the world overwhelms, but God
33:20
gently leads. The Bible shows God speaking in
33:24
multiple ways. through wise counsel. Bobby, can
33:28
you read Proverbs 20, 18 for us? Sure. Again,
33:33
for the New Living Translation, it says, Plans
33:36
succeed through good counsel. Don't go to war
33:39
without wise advice. And another way is through
33:44
creation. So Psalms 19, 1, the heavens declare
33:48
the glory of God. Creation reminds us who He
33:51
is even when words fall. Bobby, what are some
33:55
ways that we can discern God's voice? I think
34:01
just again going back to those spiritual disciplines
34:06
and testing what it is that God has or whatever,
34:11
you know We're thinking about or what we think
34:14
we should do our decision and testing against
34:17
those things that pastor Rick Warren shared Those
34:21
discernment can be tough and discernment is a
34:24
gift of the Holy Spirit So again praying and
34:27
asking the Lord for discernment and we can't
34:31
forget to do that Because that is that is a gift
34:34
and given by the Holy Spirit so I think it's
34:38
just a matter of staying connected and and and
34:43
being disciplined in those things prayer being
34:47
in the word and then again all those things,
34:51
those, those tests. I mean, that's realized what
34:54
Pastor Rick Warren is saying. Those are based
34:58
in scripture, ways that we are. Scripture does
35:01
tell us to test it against and he gives us some
35:05
great tools there, questions to ask. So if you
35:10
feel God has been silent, hear this. Silence
35:13
does not mean absence. Waiting does not mean
35:16
abandonment. Sometimes God is speaking through
35:19
trust, endurance, and faith before clarity ever
35:22
comes. James tells us, if any of you lacks wisdom,
35:26
let him ask God, and it will be given. James
35:30
1 .5. God wants to be known by you more than
35:33
you want to hear him. Stay rooted in scripture,
35:37
stay surrendered in prayer, stay attentive, not
35:40
anxious. God speaks, and he knows exactly how
35:44
to reach his children. Bobby, is there anything
35:46
you want to share with the audience before we
35:48
go today? Well, there was one other testimony
35:51
I wanted to share that I thought of when I was
35:55
preparing my notes for today. And it was, I would
36:01
say it was about a year and a half ago. And again,
36:06
tumultuous times, particularly regarding our
36:10
grandkids and what was going on with them and
36:13
in that immediate sphere. there and We I had
36:21
been woken up actually in the middle of the night
36:23
with a phone call that was Very troublesome and
36:27
again without sharing specifics. I mean it was
36:30
it was pretty rough and indicative of I'll say
36:38
turmoil and a lot of just bad stuff going on
36:43
Okay, and Here we were two and a half hours away
36:49
grandkids were there and it was just really What
36:56
do you do, you know in those moments, you know,
36:57
it's like in the middle of the night and People
37:00
that we dearly loved We're just in a bad way
37:05
and we felt helpless and powerless but we know
37:12
that God is in control of all things, so got
37:16
up, the phone call was ended, I got up, spent
37:19
time in prayer, and was able to fall back asleep,
37:24
and in the morning, I got up and straight to
37:27
his word, asking God, and again, God came through
37:32
in his word, and led me actually to the book
37:35
of Habakkuk in the Old Testament. And I just
37:40
I just want to read this because when I read
37:42
it I would I almost It just it never ceases to
37:48
amaze me just how spot -on and how he guides
37:50
you to these things and it's like Habakkuk is
37:54
not one of those books that is a go -to for me.
37:56
Yeah So I get up and this is what it says. This
37:59
is the message that the Prophet Habakkuk received
38:02
in a vision Habakkuk's complaint, this is what
38:05
he says to God, The wicked far outnumber the
38:34
righteous, so that justice has become perverted.
38:37
And this was the Lord's reply, starting in verse
38:39
5. The Lord replied, Look around at the nations.
38:43
Look and be amazed. For I am doing something
38:47
in your own day, something you wouldn't believe
38:50
even if someone told you about it. I am raising
38:54
up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people.
38:57
They will march across the world and conquer
39:00
other lands. they are notorious for their cruelty
39:02
and do whatever they like. And I did not know
39:10
what was going to happen down the road. Right.
39:14
I just knew in the moment that I read that and
39:18
I felt like, I mean, it was that was written.
39:23
I could look at my Bible with, you know, my notes
39:27
of when that was written. centuries ago and yet
39:33
God used that word and spoke to me that morning
39:35
and and and not only conveyed his truth but shared
39:40
out loud what I felt in my own heart like I am
39:45
tired of this I'm tired of seeing this go down
39:49
Lord why how long are we gonna have to deal with
39:53
this you know And so he not only spoke his truth
40:00
in saying, oh, I'm doing a thing. You don't see
40:05
it, and you're not going to see it for a while,
40:07
but I'm doing something. In other words, know
40:11
your place, sit tight, trust in me, and I'm working
40:14
it out. And he did. And it's still a work in
40:18
progress, but it is so much better and so much
40:22
more beautiful. Then I could have ever imagined.
40:26
Yeah in that moment because all I could see was
40:30
the dysfunction. Mm -hmm, right and Because I
40:34
didn't know how to fix it. I didn't think I was
40:36
gonna get fixed. Yeah That's how it usually goes.
40:39
You know, God reminded me That look I've I've
40:43
got this and I'm doing a thing so And I remember
40:48
my husband and I talking that morning and saying
40:50
look we Backing things up to the main thing.
40:54
I always say that come back the main thing like
40:56
we're committed to doing what we have to do that
41:00
God calls us to do and If we have to do that
41:02
for the rest of our lives, so that's what we're
41:04
gonna do our job is to trust to him and Everyone
41:11
was kept safe. It was it was a huge bump in the
41:15
road but here we are fast forward almost two
41:18
years later and things are significantly better.
41:23
Not perfect, but way better than I ever could
41:27
imagine in that moment. So I love how God speaks
41:33
through his word like that. It's such a beautiful
41:36
thing. That's why it's so important to stay in
41:38
his word. It is. And you know, I would just encourage
41:41
anybody who has questions about hearing God's
41:45
voice. You know seeking his guidance wondering
41:48
if they're discerning properly You know to just
41:52
go back to that relationship with Jesus Keeps
41:56
the main thing the main thing you ask God to
41:59
reveal And that's another thing like asking God
42:02
to reveal anything that's an obstacle. Is there
42:04
any sin in my life? We know that when there's
42:07
sin in our life. We are we We can't be in full
42:11
community, you know with God that it's a barrier
42:14
You know asking god show me like is there anything
42:16
that I need to repent of doing that and moving
42:19
forward? You know Don't let anything be a wedge
42:23
between your relationship with him and and continue
42:27
with those spiritual disciplines because god
42:29
will He will speak and sometimes it is silent
42:34
It is just us being still and knowing his presence
42:41
Maybe that's what we need to know in that moment.
42:45
Yeah, and so it's just it's a matter of trust
42:49
and faith I Want to thank Bobby again for joining
42:54
us this season I hope you all found this helpful
42:57
and educational for your walk with Christ and
42:59
how to grow deeper with him If you can please
43:01
share the podcast on your socials with a friend
43:03
or family. I greatly appreciate it You can also
43:06
leave a review on Spotify and Apple podcast You
43:10
can hit the follow button on any platform. This
43:12
will update you when new episodes are released
43:14
If you'd like to be a guest on the podcast You
43:17
can reach out to me on socials or email me at
43:20
GM Rickner calm as always go out and find the
43:24
joy today. Bye friends