1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: If you ever wonder how to know God's will, you 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: are going to love this episode Life Audio. This is 3 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: Donna Jones and you are listening to That's just what 4 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: I needed. Hey, friend, if you've ever been in a 5 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, that was just 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: what I needed, you know how life giving that can be, Well, 7 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: that's what this podcast is all about. We're women who 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: want to know, love, and follow God in our real life, 9 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: but sometimes wonder just how to do it. So each 10 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: week we'll talk about what following God looks like in 11 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: the midst of daily demands and crazy cultural chaos. Because 12 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: this isn't just what we need, it's actually exactly what 13 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: we need. Well, welcome to the podcast. I am so 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: glad you're here. And as I mentioned at the top 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: of the show, we're going to talk about how to 16 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: know God's will. Last week, my episode centered around a 17 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: bigger picture how God might be forming our character in 18 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: the middle of our circumstances. But today I have a 19 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: special guest and she's going to help us learn how 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: to figure out God's will for our lives. I'm so 21 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: excited about this interview. This is what you are going 22 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: to want to save and you are going to want 23 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: to share with someone in your life. I can absolutely 24 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: promise you that. Right now, let me tell you a 25 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: little bit about today's guest. Her name is Katrin Hagman. Hello, 26 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: she's sitting here right with me recording together. Katine is 27 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 1: a speaker, she's a podcaster. Her podcast is called Love 28 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: God First. And her husband Mark is the director of 29 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: the Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center, which if you have 30 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: followed me for any time, you know that I love 31 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: to come here and speak and minister all alongside the 32 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: staff here at Canon Beach Christen Conference Center. So Katrine, 33 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much. It is 34 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: so good to be here with you, Donna, and for 35 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: all my listening friends. Katrine has become a friend. So 36 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: you know how that is when you have one friend 37 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: and you have another friend and you think, oh, they 38 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: really should meet each other. Well, that's what this is. 39 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,839 Speaker 1: But even more than that, a couple of days ago, 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: Katrine was telling me that she has been sharing a 41 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: devotion with the women who have come to family Camp 42 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: here at Canon Beach, and the content of her devotion 43 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: so piqued my interest. I knew it had to be 44 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 1: the topic of today's podcast, and essentially it is how 45 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: to discern God's will for your life. So, just to 46 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: kick us off, Katrine, what are some of the things 47 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: that we need to make sure we're doing in order 48 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: to involve God in the decisions that we have. Thank 49 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: you Donna to be here with you. 50 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: Well, I'd say, first of all, we all have to 51 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: make decisions. Our whole life is filled with decisions after decisions. 52 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: It can be small ones, it can be big ones. 53 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: And how much am I involving the Lord in that process? 54 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 2: How much am I inviting me in and saying, Lord, 55 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 2: I want what you have for me more than anything 56 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: that I want? 57 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: Lord, what do you have? 58 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 2: Because He knows more obviously than we do. He has 59 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: our best interest in mind. He has a purpose and 60 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: a plan for us and for all the people who 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: we're going to influence and talk to, and so following 62 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: after what he directs us to do and our decisions 63 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: is so great and wonderful when we do it. But 64 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: learning how is tricky? Yeah, it really is. 65 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: And you would think as a Christian that it would 66 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: be just like ABC, But yes, I don't find it 67 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: that easy sometimes. Now, discern God's will. 68 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: No, because we have habits, we do certain things certain ways, Like, 69 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: for instance, when I make a decision how many of 70 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: us out there? 71 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: We get our pro and cong list, we get our paper, 72 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: we write, draw our line, and we can say, okay, 73 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: what are the good things? 74 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 3: What are the bad? 75 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: Or we go and we ask somebody, what do you think, Well, 76 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: then maybe that's what I'll do. Or we just have 77 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: this process of how we decide things, and we might 78 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: think is this said the will of God or not? 79 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 2: We might even not think that. We might just say, well, 80 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 2: what's the best decision here? And especially for our most 81 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 2: important decisions. We're talking marriage, you know who do I marry? 82 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: Do I go to college? Do I move out of 83 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: state for a job? Do I retire? Do I go 84 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 2: to an assisted living home? You know, all from the 85 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: beginning of our lives all the way through to the end. 86 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 2: Those important decisions especially are so much better when we're 87 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: in the will of God, when we're following with what 88 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: He is directing us to do. That is so true. 89 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: Okay, so let's talk about one thing I love about 90 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,559 Speaker 1: your podcast, by the way, is that you go very 91 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: slowly through the entire Bible and. 92 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not the entire but I'm only in one book. 93 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: I'm in Genesis. I've been in Genesis for two years, Donna. 94 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: Okay, so I say slowly at times, slow right, Okay. 95 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: Here's what's really beautiful about that is that because you've 96 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: been so intentional and really taking just small portions and 97 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: really digging into them, you have found some nuggets that 98 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: the rest of us just would read right over. And 99 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: one of the nuggets that you have found is how 100 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: to discern God's will right there in the book of Genesis. 101 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: So talk to us a little bit about the story 102 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: that first prompted you to figure out like, oh, this 103 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,119 Speaker 1: story gives me some tracks to run on in terms 104 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: of how to figure out God's will from my life, 105 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: and then just start walking us through maybe the first 106 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: couple of things. Yeah, that sounds good. 107 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: And just to clarify when we talk about God's will, 108 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: of course everyone in existence that the Lord his ultimate 109 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: will is for us to be saved and to be 110 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 2: in relationship with him. But the question then is like, 111 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: not just that, Okay, now that I'm saved, Now, what's 112 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 2: God's will? And that is kind of what we're getting into, 113 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 2: is in Genesis twenty four with Isaac and Rebecca, the 114 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 2: story of Abraham sending his servant up five hundred miles 115 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 2: north to Haran to find a wife for his son Isaac, 116 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 2: and that whole backdrop has such a beautiful bunch of 117 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 2: application for decisions, not just for a spouse, which of 118 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 2: course that's there, but any kind of important decision that 119 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: we're making, so it can be applied in multiple places. 120 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 2: But that chapter is filled with these fabulous things that 121 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 2: this servant and Abraham both do. And you can just 122 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 2: watch this process of how to make decisions according to 123 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 2: the Lord's will and how to follow where God is 124 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: leading in certain decisions too. 125 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: It's exciting. Okay, so walk us through the first thing 126 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: that Abraham or Isaac or his servant do in order 127 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: to discern God's will. 128 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 2: Well, the first thing that happens in the first four 129 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 2: verses of chapter twenty four is Abraham calls his servant 130 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: and he's like, okay, come on, come on over here, 131 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 2: I need to talk to you. This is a trusted, 132 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 2: loyal servant who has been with them a long time. 133 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: This is a guy who knows Abraham has seen the 134 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: Lord work in their family for a long period of time. 135 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: You just know it's his most trusted servant. So he 136 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 2: has this conversation. He says, go and find a wife 137 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: for Isaac, up with my relatives, and you just think, okay, well, 138 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: well what does that of Why would he do that? 139 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: Why can't he just go down the street. Well, going 140 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: down the street is all the Canaanites, and we don't 141 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: want that kind of a why for the son of Abraham. 142 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: That would be really lousy. 143 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: So the first thing that I notice about that is 144 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: not to take shortcuts when we're making decisions. Because if 145 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: that servant just goes down the road and says, oh, 146 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: I found somebody for you, and here she is, they're 147 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: going to be totally unequally yoked. She's not going to 148 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: be a person of faith. It's going to be a 149 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: train wreck. And we're talking about Isaac, who is the 150 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: son who's going to be the descendant for the whole 151 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 2: covenant fulfillment. I mean, this is an important marriage, right, 152 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 2: So don't take shortcuts. Come to integrity. And that is 153 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: what the servant does. He says, yes, I'll do this, 154 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: I won't go down the street. He doesn't say that 155 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: literalist my paraphrase. But I won't go to the Canite village. 156 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: I'll go up to Haran, five hundred miles north, and 157 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: I'll find a wife there. Okay, that is an incredible insight. 158 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: I would have never seen that. Don't take shortcuts. And 159 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: you know, until you just said it was five hundred miles. Okay, 160 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 2: that took weeks. Right, Well, it's kind of interesting. So 161 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: Abraham gave the servant kind of the equivalent of like 162 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 2: the fancy fast car, because he's like, go take some camels. 163 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: And the ancient world, the camels were the fast cars. 164 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: Okay. 165 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: They could make it up every day, sixty to seventy 166 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 2: five miles. Oh seriously, yeah, they could get there about 167 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: a week and a half. Okay, gosh, I'm not only 168 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 2: learning how to discern will of God. I'm learning about 169 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 2: cammel trivia. The camels are an important part of this 170 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 2: whole here. The camels are important. 171 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: We'll see that. Okay, that's amazing. Okay, So don't take shortcuts. Okay. 172 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: So now I'm gonna ask you a personal question. How 173 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: do we or maybe even how do you? How have 174 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: you seen in your life that you've taken a shortcut? Oh? 175 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 2: I have a great example of that. And this is 176 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 2: not an important life shattering decision, okay, but it's one 177 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 2: that I go to all the time, like, Okay, I 178 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 2: will I will never forget this, And this is I 179 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: took a shortcut and I made a decision out of fear. 180 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: Okay. 181 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 2: So those are two things I do not want to do, 182 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 2: and Abraham doesn't do it. He's making a decision out 183 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: of faith. 184 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: In this story. 185 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 2: Well, my family, we've homeschooled for many years. My kids 186 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: now are all grown and adults, but we homeschooled. And 187 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: this one year was the year where we were getting 188 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 2: close to my son's chemistry high school year, and I 189 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 2: knew that I was going to have to teach chemistry, 190 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 2: which I was morally terrified of. And so this other 191 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: parent said, well, why don't you come with us and 192 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: have your son go with this retired chemistry teacher. She'll 193 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 2: be great, And so I said yes. I didn't even 194 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 2: ask my son. I didn't ask, I didn't do anything. 195 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 2: I just said, yes, we're doing it because I was 196 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 2: so scared of teaching chemistry. And so what happened It 197 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: was a nightmare. 198 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 1: The whole year. 199 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: The environment was horrible, there were lots of cats, the 200 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 2: house was a mess where this retired teacher was working. 201 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 2: My son would come out sneezing and just miserable every time. 202 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 2: And then the chemistry teacher had all of these family 203 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 2: crises going on, and so she was always behind on 204 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: her grading and the lessons were a little shallow, and 205 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 2: so my son really struggled the whole year in chemistry. 206 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 2: And this is the sad thing. We had to stand 207 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 2: that for nine months because that's the school year, and 208 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 2: we had committed and we had paid, and so it 209 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: was nine months of this grueling decision that I had made. 210 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 2: I took that shortcut. I didn't want to learn chemistry, 211 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 2: and I'd suffered for it, and my son did too. 212 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 2: It was horrible decision. 213 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 1: Okay, you know what I love about that is that 214 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: is a really simple decision. As a decision like that, 215 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 1: a lot of us wouldn't even think to like pray 216 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 1: about or maybe just you know, think through a little 217 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: bit more of the implications or get more information. And 218 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: yet you're saying like even sometimes simple decisions like don't 219 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: just rush in before you really think about things, pray 220 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: about things, consider all the implications of that. That is 221 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 1: so good. Okay, So I'm loving this. So we're going 222 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: to take a quick pause, and when we come back, 223 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: you are going to share some more nuggets of wisdom 224 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: about how we can figure out God's will for our lives. Okay, 225 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: so step number one, don't take shortcuts. So what else 226 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: do we need to know about discerning God's will for 227 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: our lives. Well, we just mentioned not to make important 228 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: decisions out of fear, so that's another really important one, 229 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: and so that is something. What are my motives for 230 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: my decisions is just to go before the Lord and 231 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: submit that to him. I think that Abraham did that. 232 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: He wanted whatever wife God would pay for Isaac. It 233 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 1: wasn't well, Lord, that'll well consider your option, but we're 234 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: going to have some other wives that we also are 235 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: considering too. No, it was Lord, you have the perfect 236 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: plan and you know the person, and so we're trusting you. 237 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: So that trust element really is an important part of 238 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: walking through this process with the Lord. That's trusting him. Okay, 239 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: I want to piggyback on what you're saying right there, 240 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: because that is in my own life. That is something 241 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: I actually ask myself when I'm making decisions. Am i 242 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: making this decision out of fear? Is there any level 243 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 1: of fear? Because I have to be honest with you. 244 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: I think fear drives a lot of women, yes, and 245 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: sometimes without even knowing it. And I have never made 246 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: a good decision when I have made it out of fear. True, 247 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: I've never have. And that's why I've learned from mistakes 248 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: actually to ask myself, is there fear involved in this? 249 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: Because then I can get really honest about, Okay, what's 250 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 1: driving me? What are my insecurities? Where am I not 251 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: trusting the Lord? And then that's where my eyes and 252 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: my heart can be open to see better you know 253 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: what God wants me to do. So I love that 254 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: you said that. I think that's really important. Yeah. 255 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, And we see Abraham do that because there's this 256 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: one moment where the service says, well, what if this 257 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 2: potential wife won't come back with me, shall I take 258 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 2: Isaac up there? And Abraham says, no, don't you do that. 259 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 2: He says, the God of Heaven who took me from 260 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: my father's house, he will go before you. So the 261 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 2: faith that Abraham doesn't just have but is declaring, he's 262 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 2: declaring it into the situation and saying God is faithful, 263 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 2: He's going to show himself strong and we're going to 264 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 2: trust that. And so that element of faith that's totally 265 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: different than making a decision out of fear completely. 266 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: Wow. Okay. And you know what that reminds me of 267 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: when in James when it says, if anyone lacks wisdom, 268 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: let him ask of God, who gives to Almond generous 269 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: slam without finding fault, and it will be given to him, 270 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: but don't let him doubt. And that's almost declaring like, Okay, God, 271 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: you said if anybody lacks wisdom that you give it 272 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: if you ask, And so I'm declaring You're going to 273 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: show me the right decision. You're going to show me 274 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: the right path. Yeah, okay, I love that. Okay, so good, 275 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: So keep going. 276 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 2: Well, another thing we see with Abraham is he's in 277 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 2: the will of God. And this is really what we're 278 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 2: talking about today's We know he's in the will of 279 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 2: God because he has a whole backstory which we don't 280 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 2: have time to get into, of course, of leaving the 281 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: Herb of the Caldies, following God to the Promised Land, 282 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 2: you know, all the things with Isaac, all of that. 283 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: So that's happened, and he's staying in the will of God, 284 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: and he knows that God wants him in that promised land. 285 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: That's why Isaac should not leave to go get a wife. 286 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: That's why he's sending a servant. That's one of the reasons. 287 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: But here's the thing is, how do I know if 288 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: I'm in the will of God? You know, many people 289 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: ask that and they're wondering, like, am I in the 290 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: will of God? Is this God's will for me? And 291 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: I have a few questions that I think are really 292 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: helpful to help each of us, just ask ourselves and say, okay, 293 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: let me just take a moment and assess, because it's 294 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: a lot easier when we just stop and pull back 295 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: and just ask ourselves. Look, let's take a moment. Can 296 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: we do that? Oh my gosh, I'm like, like, what 297 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: are they? What are they? 298 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 3: Yes? 299 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: Yes, all right. 300 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 2: So the first thing is we don't want to break 301 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 2: any of the moral codes the Lord has set up. 302 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: So I have to ask myself, am I living in 303 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: a moral manner? Am I honest with my finances? I 304 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 2: don't want to steal or lie or cheat? So just 305 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 2: checking my integrity levels, am I doing that in all 306 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: of my aspects of my life, because I'm not going 307 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 2: to be in the will of God if I'm trying 308 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 2: to cheat myself to get there, or cheat the Lord, 309 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 2: or cheat anybody. That's a good one to really a examine. 310 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 2: Let me just tell you the story that's nothing to 311 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: its integrity. So this is what happened when our kids 312 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: were really little, and our youngest had just literally just 313 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: turned two, and we went to Disneyland and I looked 314 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 2: at JP and I'm like, okay, should we just say 315 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 2: that they're under two because their birthday was like a 316 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: week ago. And JP looks at me, and I think 317 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 2: the difference in price was, like I want to say, 318 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: like fifty dollars or something like that. And he looks 319 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 2: at me and he goes, is the price tag of 320 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: your integratory fifty dollars? And I'm like, oh what, And 321 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 2: I go what are you talking about? He goes, well, 322 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 2: that's the difference in the child's price and the under 323 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 2: two price or however you know. 324 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: However it went. I can't remember the exact ages, but 325 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: let's just say, is your integrity fifty dollars? And I 326 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: was like, oh, oh, okuch. I think my integrity is 327 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: worth more than fifty bucks. Yeah, but do you know 328 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: that I have never forgotten that because what it was 329 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: for me is a reality check that all of us 330 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: think of ourselves as integrist people, but there are little 331 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: areas of our lives that we can kind of quote 332 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: unquote fudge on and actually they're not integrists. So it's 333 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: worth it to kind of just to examine ourselves. So 334 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: I love that you said that. 335 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's so good, And I just think I always 336 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 2: want the blessing of God more than that little fifty 337 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 2: dollars savings or some other little thing that I might get. 338 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: I always think, what is the price tag? What is 339 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 2: it I'm giving up to get this little thing. I 340 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 2: totally want the blessing of the Lord, and that will 341 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 2: come when we walk in obedience and integrity. That's the 342 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 2: first thing. So secondly, practicing biblical wisdom some examples of 343 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 2: doing that. When I practice biblical wisdom, I'm lining myself 344 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 2: up with what the Word of God says about various 345 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 2: items like do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. If 346 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 2: I'm thinking, well, is it God's will for me to 347 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 2: marry this person, well, is the person a Christian. If 348 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 2: they're not, then that's a pretty easy yes or no. 349 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 2: Because if I'm a Christian, I'm trying to walk with 350 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 2: God in my life, I definitely want to be yoked 351 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 2: equally in my faith. I have to be or is 352 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 2: a partner in business. It doesn't just have to be marriage. 353 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 2: It can be anything where I'm yoked together with someone. 354 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 2: So things like that, and then another one, don't make 355 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 2: money your most important priority. There's a good biblical wisdom. 356 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: Jesus said that in Matthew six. Don't ignore troubled relationships 357 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 2: instead of going out and serving and doing all these 358 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 2: wonderful things for Jesus. If I'm ignoring my troubled relationships, 359 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 2: that's not practicing biblical wisdom. So in places where I 360 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 2: can practice the things that Jesus commands, I better do that. 361 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 2: And I'm going to be in the will of God. 362 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 2: With my relationships are open. There's no unforgiveness, you know, 363 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 2: things like that that I'm dealing with. Those things so good, 364 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 2: so good. And then last I would say to just 365 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 2: ask ourselves, have I done the last thing that the 366 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 2: Lord told us to do? Because he's not going to 367 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 2: move us on and move us forward to something else 368 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: unless we've done the thing previous. I think about Jonah. 369 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 2: My Jonah is a primary biblical example. I mean, he 370 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 2: was like, no, I know what you want, I'm not 371 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 2: doing it. 372 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: He left. 373 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 2: God had to do the whole fish whale thing, and 374 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: so we don't want that. We let's just do it. 375 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 2: Let's just do the last thing the Lord showed us 376 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 2: to do. So am I being faithful in that? Those 377 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 2: are some good questions to ask to just make sure 378 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 2: am I in the will of God right now? 379 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: Okay, So let's just say somebody's listening right now and 380 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: they're like, ooh, I don't know if I'm doing the 381 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 1: last thing God told me to do, or they're thinking, okay, yeah, 382 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 1: the last decision I made, I made it out of fear. 383 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: I have to admit I made it out of fear. 384 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: And maybe they don't even see the ramifications of that yet, 385 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: but they do know I made that decision out of fear. 386 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: Or there's like some things that you've even said, like, oh, okay, 387 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: I have some relationships that aren't right that I haven't 388 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: tried to make right. And here I am trying to 389 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: figure out the will of God. Now I've got these 390 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: things that I'm aware of. Okay, so what should that 391 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: person do? 392 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 2: Hold on first Before I answer that, I just have 393 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 2: to say that completely just happened to me. I was 394 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 2: at this convention and it was this beautiful moment, the 395 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: speaker saying, Okay. 396 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: Let's just surrender everything to Jesus and we're going to confess, 397 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: you know, repent. So I'm up there, Lord, I just 398 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: surrender everything. I'm confessing. 399 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 2: If there's any ministry you want me to step out of, 400 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 2: anything you want me, I'm just giving it to you now. 401 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 2: And then I just felt in my heart the Holy 402 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 2: Spirit say I want you to work on your family relationships. 403 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: And I was like, what, No, No, I don't want 404 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: to do that. 405 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 2: That's really hard and that has nothing I do with ministry. 406 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: Why would I want to do that? 407 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 2: And then it happened again, and then he's again and 408 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 2: I want you to talk about it on your podcast too, 409 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 2: and I'm like. 410 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: What, No, I don't know how to do that. You 411 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:27,640 Speaker 1: want me to talk about it? 412 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 2: So it was very convicting, but it was a thing 413 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 2: that he told me to do, so I had to 414 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 2: be faithful to go okay before anything else comes or 415 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 2: goes any other ministry thing. I'd better start dealing with 416 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 2: my family relationships and make sure my conflict is healthy, 417 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 2: make sure I'm being honest, make sure I'm communicating. And 418 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 2: so that's what I've been working on, Donna. 419 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 3: Okay, Gosh, I just love that you are so real. Yeah, 420 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 3: because all of us are like, hello, that's real life. Yeah, 421 00:20:58,480 --> 00:20:59,360 Speaker 3: that's real life. 422 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: And you know the Lord Gosh, when he convicts us, 423 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: it's only for our good, right, I mean, it's not 424 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: something that we have to be afraid of. It's not 425 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: like he's nit picking our life apart and to make 426 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: our life a drag. It's like, no, I want to 427 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: be able to bless you, but you've got to do 428 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: what I'm asking you to do in order to get 429 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: that blessing and to get that wisdom for where I 430 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: want you to go next. So that's such a great example. 431 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, there really is a healing work that the Lord 432 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 2: can do when we obey him, like he's I could 433 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: feel in my own heart the healing that's happening in 434 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 2: me through my family relationships right now because I'm being obedient. 435 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 2: And so you got to be brave and take Jesus's 436 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 2: hand and go. So for those ladies and gentlemen that 437 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 2: are listening, I would say, just do that last thing 438 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 2: the Lord told you to do. Now for those who 439 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 2: feel like, Okay, I'm on Plan B, I've completely not 440 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 2: done that. I have made it my own decisions. I 441 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 2: haven't consulted the Lord at all. Now what Well, the 442 00:21:55,760 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 2: great news, the fabulous news, is that the Lord can 443 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 2: completely redeem and restore, and that we are only each 444 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 2: of us a few personal decisions away from being right 445 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 2: in the center of God's will again. He's ready to 446 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 2: correct us. He's ready to move us right back on 447 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 2: the first plan, right on Plan A. There's no Plan B. 448 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 2: He's ready to redeem and restore. So it's just the 449 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 2: process of from now if I can repent and confess 450 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: where I'm at and moving forward. Okay, Lord, now I'm 451 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 2: going to submit. Now, I'm going to surrender my agenda, 452 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 2: my will so that I can have yours. Gosh, so good, 453 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 2: so good, Okay, keep going, walk us through the next step. Well, 454 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 2: I'm going to jump down because I have several more. 455 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 2: But there's one that's really important that I think if 456 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: we don't get to any of the other ones. This 457 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 2: is the one that's really I think important. It's fast 458 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 2: forwarding a little bit in the story. The servant gets 459 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 2: there with his camels and he prays this beautiful prayer 460 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 2: where he says, Lord, the person who comes out who 461 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:00,160 Speaker 2: is willing to give me water at this well and 462 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 2: feed my camels? Could that be the person? Could that 463 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 2: be the person I need to bring back with me? 464 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 2: And so as he's praying, now this woman comes out 465 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 2: and he gets up and he just immediately puts his 466 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 2: plan into action. 467 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: It's so cool. 468 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 2: And then she gives him water, and not only that, 469 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 2: she offers to water these camels. And Donna, do you 470 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 2: know how much water camels drink? I do not, which 471 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 2: you're gonna tell us. That's like a thirty gallons per 472 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,479 Speaker 2: camel if they're really really thirsty from a long trip. 473 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: Wow, So this is a lot. She's she's really going 474 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: about them beyond here and the servants a ten camels. 475 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 1: That's three hundred gallons of water that she has to 476 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: go down to the well, get it in her jar 477 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: and go dump in the trough. 478 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 2: I mean, I was doing the math. It's like a 479 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 2: good sixty times what It's huge. And so this is 480 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 2: why this is such an important thing for the servant 481 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 2: to ask for a person to do this. This is 482 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 2: not a good circumstance, like, oh, this is would be 483 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 2: really great. If this is a good circumstance, this is 484 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 2: a sign that the servant is asking for. And there's 485 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 2: a difference between those two things. And here's why that's important, 486 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 2: because if I am guided by just good circumstances, that 487 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 2: is not reliable, because if we're following the will of God, 488 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 2: many times the enemy will bring things that are roadblocks 489 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 2: and obstacles even though we're in the will of God. 490 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 2: Think about Paul shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, attacked by robbers? Was 491 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: he in the will of God? 492 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 1: Absolutely he was. 493 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 2: But did he have good circumstances all the time? 494 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: No he didn't. 495 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 2: So for us to trust circumstances only not a good idea. 496 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 2: And in fact, I would say that's a little bit 497 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 2: like divination, like actually rolling the dice. Well, if my 498 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 2: house sells, it's probably God's will that I'm going to move. Well, no, 499 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 2: that's a circumstance. You can't base your life on circumstances. 500 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 2: So this servant is not doing that. He has this sign. 501 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 2: This's miraculous going against common sense sign that I bet 502 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 2: he was praying about while he journeyed those five hundred 503 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 2: miles north, because he didn't just come up with that 504 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 2: in the moment. I think he asked the Lord, Lord, 505 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 2: what is it that I should be asking? What kind 506 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 2: of prayer should I be so that I can anticipate 507 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 2: where you're leading? And so that's for us. We can 508 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 2: do the same thing, Lord, I want to sign. I 509 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 2: don't just want to jump at a circumstance. I'm not 510 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 2: going to be like a fatalistic person who's just like 511 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 2: blown to and fro based on circumstances. I'm going to 512 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 2: ask for a sign. It's going to be something that's 513 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 2: miraculous that you can do. 514 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: Lord. 515 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 2: It's not just going to be like, oh, just some 516 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 2: little fun circumstance. It's going to be something that I 517 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 2: can really test to see if it's the Lord's will 518 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 2: for me to do something? 519 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: Okay, Boy, That brings up the whole host of things, 520 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: because how do you know that it's what you're asking for? 521 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: Is okay to ask for? Because see, sometimes I want 522 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: to say, Lord, show me a sign, show me something, 523 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,359 Speaker 1: But then I don't want to put God in a box. 524 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: I don't want to, so I don't know, like is 525 00:25:58,920 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 1: that okay? 526 00:25:59,680 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 3: Like? 527 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 1: And then even if I asked that, then what sign 528 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 1: should I ask for? I mean, that's really well, that 529 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: would say ask the Lord, say what do you think 530 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,959 Speaker 1: I should be praying about and asking about? Lord? Let 531 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: me give you an example. 532 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 2: So in our life, we obviously are down with the 533 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 2: Cannabis Conference Center now, and that whole process of getting 534 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 2: down here was such a faith story. But there was 535 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 2: one well there were more than one, but one particular 536 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: thing that we were really wondering about is how are 537 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 2: our children going to do moving from Washington State down 538 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 2: to Oregon. They're going to leave their entire life, all 539 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 2: of our families, up, their friends, everything that we do 540 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:35,959 Speaker 2: up there, obviously, and they're going to leave. And one 541 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 2: of our sons, what, he was a sophomore in high school, 542 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 2: so it's a pivotal time, right, And so we said, Lord, 543 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 2: we will not leave unless our children's hearts are a yes, 544 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: one hundred percent yes, and that is going to be 545 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 2: a work of the Lord. That's not common sense for 546 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 2: children to be like, oh, sure we can move to 547 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 2: another state. That's not common sense. It would take a 548 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,919 Speaker 2: miraculous work of the Lord in their heart. So we 549 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 2: prayed that and for that, and then we watched and 550 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 2: what ended up happening was during the course of the 551 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 2: interview process, my husband's mother died and we had a 552 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 2: memorial service, and all the cousins and all the family 553 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 2: members of course, came for the memorial and the cousins 554 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 2: that were our kid's age, who had moved and who 555 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 2: had experienced this whole state to state transition, said, do 556 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:24,199 Speaker 2: you know what, the best things in our lives have 557 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 2: happened because we moved. We are a closer family, and 558 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 2: God grew us because of the moves that we've done. 559 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 2: So you can have faith that the Lord's going to 560 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 2: do the same thing in your life. And our kids' hearts, 561 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 2: Donna were changed without us saying a word, not one word. 562 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 2: The Lord did that miraculous thing, and our children's hearts 563 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 2: and we moved down. It was amazing. Wow. 564 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: That is such a beautiful story. But it's also a 565 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: really practical story because we tend to think, you know, 566 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: give me a sign, and we think of like Gideon 567 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: the fleece that's wet, But this you're talking about real life. 568 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: You're talking about how of our children's heart to be 569 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 1: aligned with this move if this is the will of God. 570 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, I'm not talking about turning the sun blue 571 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 2: or something. Yeah, we don't do those weird, strange things. 572 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,959 Speaker 2: I'm not talking about strange sign. We're talking about things 573 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: that we can hold before the Lord that we maybe 574 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 2: don't even tell anyone else. That's another thing in that 575 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 2: whole process of our move. Eight years before my husband 576 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 2: even applied to the job, the Lord had spoken in 577 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,959 Speaker 2: my quiet time, Mark will lead the conference center. And 578 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 2: we told one set of family members, not even our families, 579 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 2: some other people that were actually our friends. Anyway, one 580 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 2: family knew and that was it, and we didn't tell 581 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 2: anyone in the whole process. And that was also a sign. 582 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,719 Speaker 2: We're like, Lord, if this is you, if this is 583 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 2: your moving us down, and if this is your will, 584 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 2: you're going to fulfill that prophetic word that you gave 585 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 2: to Catherine. You're going to fulfill that. If you don't, 586 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 2: then we'll know that's not you. So that was another 587 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 2: thing we did, so putting those things out there and 588 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 2: being like, Okay, God, I'm going to trust you that 589 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 2: this is the prose of actually being a Christian in 590 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 2: a relationship, Like with a relationship you talked to somebody like, 591 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 2: are you sure about this? 592 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:06,719 Speaker 1: What do you think about this? You know, what do 593 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 1: you think? I want? What you want? 594 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 3: You know? 595 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 2: And having these conversations. It takes faith, It takes patience, 596 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 2: It takes practice to train my heart to hear and 597 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 2: to sense the Holy Spirit, and then to step out 598 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 2: in little ways and faith to get that faith muscle 599 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 2: stronger so that in those important decisions and the big decisions, 600 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 2: I'm ready, gosh so good. And something you just said 601 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 2: really struck me like a conversation with the Lord, where 602 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 2: you say, is this what you want? I want what 603 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 2: you want? Lord? 604 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: And just you know, because we're in a relationship, and 605 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: just that that honesty and that vulnerability is naturally where 606 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: it starts. You know, what is it that you want? God? 607 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 1: Because I want what you got want. Okay, as we're 608 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: winding up here, is there any last nugget of wisdom 609 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: that you would want someone to now? 610 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 2: I think that the one thing that the servant did 611 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 2: at the very end of the story that was really 612 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 2: precious is that after Okay, well, there's two things, actually 613 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 2: two things I'll mention One is that he waited to watch. 614 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 2: He watched that circumstance get fulfilled the prayer that he 615 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 2: had prayed, and Rebecca did what he had asked. But 616 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 2: he didn't just jump to a conclusion and say you're 617 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 2: the woman for my master's son. He didn't say anything. 618 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: He watched, he waited, and then he asked her a question. 619 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 2: So he confirmed. So there's I would say that would 620 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 2: be another step too, is just confirming Lord? 621 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: Is this you? 622 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 2: Is this your will? Asking questions? It's not testing. The 623 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 2: Lord is testing the circumstances. Test to see what is 624 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 2: going on here. 625 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: Lord. 626 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 2: Okay, So that one thing I would leave your listeners with. 627 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 2: And then the last thing, the very last thing is 628 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 2: it's so beautiful. The servant at the end thanked the Lord. 629 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 2: He just had this moment where he said, praise God, 630 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: He's so faithful, He's so good. He's led me to you. 631 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 2: This is totally of the Lord. And so having that 632 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 2: moment where I'm recognizing God's faithfulness and I now have 633 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 2: a test story that I can share. Look how God 634 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 2: led me in this area of my life. Look at 635 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: the guidance that He is able to give when I 636 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 2: submit to him and when I want his will oh 637 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 2: so so so good. We are going to put all 638 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 2: of these points in the show notes, and well even. 639 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: Put the points you didn't get, oh right in the 640 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: show notes, So everybody check that out. And Catherine, this 641 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: has been such a joy to have you on the podcast. 642 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: It is blessed me and I know it has been 643 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,880 Speaker 1: just what our listeners needed. Thank you, it's so good 644 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: to be here with you. Well, wasn't that a great conversation? 645 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 1: I know you loved it as much as I did. 646 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: And let me ask you a favor. Subscribe to this podcast. 647 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: You do not want to miss a single episode. And 648 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 1: this episode, I know, is one that you're going to 649 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: want to share. So think of someone, think of a friend, 650 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: think of a family member, and just hit the share 651 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: button because this is something we all wonder, how do 652 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 1: I know the will of God? And there's somebody in 653 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: your life that is asking that question and this podcast 654 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 1: might be just what they need. And hey, if we 655 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: don't follow each other on social media, let's do that 656 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: right now. On Instagram, I'm met Donna A. Jones. On Facebook, 657 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: I'm met Donna John's Secret author. Or check out my 658 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: website Donna Jones dot org, where you will find lots 659 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: of free resources, and as always, my friend, I can't 660 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: wait to see you next time, for that's just what 661 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: I needed.