Have you ever listened to the whispers of your conscience, those thoughts that permeate your mind?
God often chooses to speak through the gentle whispers of our conscience, guiding us towards paths of righteousness.
In the interaction of God’s guidance and human choice, there comes a moment where the gentle nudges turn into persistent unmistakable pokes.
How many times must we be nudged?
How many opportunities must we receive before we answer the call to repentance?
Despite these persistent pokes, we often continue along our own way, unresponsive to God’s nudges.
How many times must God softly knock on your heart’s door before you finally open it and welcome Him in?
This is the story of King Ahab
1Kings 22:1-28
Ahab became king over Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all the kings before him. God has been poking himself into Ahab’s life, time after time, giving him many opportunities to repent. Ahab is not wanting nor willing to listen.
He choose to listen to the pagan prophets, who worship the idol of Baal, that told him to go to battle instead of listening to the anointed prophet of God to refrain from battle.
God had given Ahab one last chance to repent, he refused to listen and was killed in a battle that God told him not to go and fight.
Reflecting on the onset of my family dispute, when problems began to gradually emerge.
Despite all of us being believers in God, one could not recognize this fact by observing our family from the outside looking in
The tale of one such family, where amidst the storm of disagreement
the presence of God was not among us
God had given us many gentle nudges and pokes
None of us listened
Satan muddled our thoughts, preventing us from hearing God’s voice
When we don’t listen to God, our hearts become more and more calloused
The consequences of our sins- a once cherished family now divided.
As we confront the consequences, of ignoring God’s gentle nudges and pokes, unlike King Ahab did
Let us renew our commitment to nurturing our relationship with the Lord and rededicate ourselves to seeking God’s presence, knowing that they are the keys to unlocking the depths of His guidance and grace in our lives.
Psalm 85:8
“I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly.”
Proverbs 8:32-33
“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.”
Satan is cunning in his exploitation of family division, often targeting the most vulnerable members to sow seeds of strife and chaos with unresolved conflicts and communication breakdowns
Feeding us negative thoughts and encouraging us to focus on our own grievances rather than seeking reconciliation
Satan seizes this opportunity to further destroy a loving family unit
It is crucial for families to recognize Satan’s tactics and resist his attempts to sow division
In the midst of conflicting advice and opinions from worldly influences and non-believers, it’s important to remain steadfast in our faith. Staying aligned with God’s word despite contrary influences
Recognize that disconnecting ourselves from family members only serves to widen the division between us and God. When we shut the doors on communication and understanding, we inadvertently allow the seeds of strife to take root, distancing ourselves from the love and grace that God calls us to embody.
May our hearts remain open, our ears attuned, and our spirits responsive, as we continue to journey forward in the assurance that God’s voice, though gentle pokes and nudges, is always there to lead us home
John 10:27
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Join me on my journey paved by God’s guidance – I invite you to join me and find inspiration in the remarkable ways God moves in our lives (echosofmyfootsteps.com)
