When God speaks, LISTEN. (unanticipated part 2)

*This is part of a series I've started on here, "Learning Lessons."  To see the intro to the series, check out My first blog series.

I've been thinking the past few days about one other aspect of When God speaks, LISTEN.  I think it is among the most difficult lessons God has ever taught me, one that I continue to have to be reminded of constantly.

Listen to who He says you are and how He feels about you.

I think it was back in college that I first heard and/or read about how one of the greatest hindrances to joy and a big reason we are susceptible to sin is that we listen to ourselves far more than we talk to ourselves.  And when we are listening, we are often actually listening to regurgitated lies from Satan that we have internalized, but if we instead talk to ourselves we can preach Truth and combat those internalized lies that we believe about God, ourselves, others, etc.

Shame has prevailed for most of my life.  Shame is messy and its causes and effects are often complex, so I hesitate to make the very simplistic statement I am about to make, but I really believe it is true.  Shame (at least for the Christian), at its very core, is a lack of belief in the truth of what God says about us.  The messages of shame scream in my mind that I am worthless, a failure, hopeless, unloveable, etc.  Scripture declares that, because of Christ, none of those things are true.  1 Peter 1 (and a lot of the Bible!) talks about how my life was purchased at the costliest of all prices.  Luke 12 talks about how God will provide for me because I am valuable to Him.  Romans 8 proclaims freedom from condemnation, despite the continual battle within me between my sinful desires and my spiritual desires.  2 Corinthians 5 says I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old is gone and the new is here.  Jeremiah 29 says that God has plans of future and hope for me.  And here's Romans 5:6-8 for you to just read for yourself:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God declares that He sees me, He knows me, He loves me.  He longed so deeply for me to experience His love that He died for me.  He promises to give me everything I need, most of all His constant presence, and that His desire is for my good.  He adopted me, chose me, pursued me, invited me, wooed me, waited for me, welcomed me, washed me clean and set me free.  He calls me daughter, friend, co-heir.  In Isaiah 43 He says, "you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you."  He says that there is purpose for me life, and that I get to be a part of His plans- He will use my humble little life to reveal Himself to many.  I will go through both amazing and terrible things because it will allow me to experience Him more and also better equip me to walk with others in joy and in pain (which will also allow me to experience Him more).  He gave me His Spirit so that I can become more like Him, and experience the supreme joy of worshipping Him and reveling in His glory.  He has prepared a place for me in His presence for all eternity.

He says I'm precious, and honored, and He loves me.........  wow, that blows my mind.

I have to FIGHT to refute the lies of Satan that seek to claim my life, and embrace in my mind and in my heart all of the Truth and every promise that God speaks over me- in Scripture, in prayer, in the words of friends, etc.  And as I think about it, this is where the listening starts.  For me to listen to the point of obedience, I have to first listen as He tells (and shows) me who He is (i.e. in Job 38-41), and as He tells me who I am.


Here are just 2 links to a couple of guys that were influential in me getting this whole "preach to yourself" thing and realize how vital it is:
"Preach to Yourself" by John Piper
“Preach to yourself” by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones