1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,660 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,250 Speaker 2: He says, God will make a move and then you 3 00:00:06,290 --> 00:00:08,350 Speaker 2: make a move. And he said, God will never move 4 00:00:08,510 --> 00:00:10,410 Speaker 2: out of turn and he will never take your turn. 5 00:00:10,770 --> 00:00:12,430 Speaker 2: So it's yours to discern whose move it is. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Faith Over Fear podcast, where we discuss 7 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 3: powerful truths to quiet anxiety and fear, big and small. 8 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,900 Speaker 3: I'm your host, Jennifer Slattery, and today's conversation came from 9 00:00:27,940 --> 00:00:31,540 Speaker 3: a concern shared by some of you. In episodes, I 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 3: often emphasize God's role in our healing journey, which I 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 3: still view as incredibly important, but I also recognize how 12 00:00:41,409 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 3: this has caused some of you anxiety. especially those of 13 00:00:44,540 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 3: you who feel like you can't hear God, like he 14 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,930 Speaker 3: doesn't speak to you or who feel unable to recognize 15 00:00:51,030 --> 00:00:53,510 Speaker 3: his voice. And first, I want to say I get it. 16 00:00:54,090 --> 00:00:56,030 Speaker 3: I've been there and at times I still land in 17 00:00:56,090 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 3: that place. It totally sucks on so many levels. And 18 00:00:59,660 --> 00:01:04,030 Speaker 3: today I've invited a woman I greatly admire, Susie Larson, 19 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 3: on to discuss that hard, uncomfortable space of longing to 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 3: hear from God, but feeling like we can't or we 21 00:01:12,180 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 3: don't or like maybe we're doing something wrong. Susie, thank 22 00:01:15,740 --> 00:01:18,210 Speaker 3: you so much for joining us. Great to be back 23 00:01:18,230 --> 00:01:21,569 Speaker 3: with you. Thanks for having me. Susie Larson is a 24 00:01:21,690 --> 00:01:25,690 Speaker 3: talk radio host and podcaster with over 17 million downloads, 25 00:01:25,950 --> 00:01:30,410 Speaker 3: national speaker and bestselling author. Through her writing and broadcast ministry, 26 00:01:30,470 --> 00:01:35,100 Speaker 3: she helps people live with greater freedom, faith and courage, 27 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,620 Speaker 3: grounded in biblical truth and God's power to heal, restore 28 00:01:39,980 --> 00:01:44,750 Speaker 3: and redeem. Amen. Susie, I know from having heard you speak, 29 00:01:45,330 --> 00:01:47,150 Speaker 3: and also reading some of your work, I know you 30 00:01:47,170 --> 00:01:50,710 Speaker 3: have a thriving relationship with the Lord and receive a 31 00:01:50,750 --> 00:01:53,350 Speaker 3: great deal of healing and comfort from that. But I wonder, 32 00:01:53,770 --> 00:01:56,350 Speaker 3: has that always been the case? Can you take us 33 00:01:56,570 --> 00:02:00,810 Speaker 3: to a time when you were really desperate for God's answer? 34 00:02:00,830 --> 00:02:02,820 Speaker 3: And you're like, I'm just not sure if I'm getting 35 00:02:02,860 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 3: what I need right now. 36 00:02:03,780 --> 00:02:04,740 Speaker 1: Oh, my. 37 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:06,620 Speaker 2: I told you before the show, it's like I have 38 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:10,250 Speaker 2: to pick one. Like, which story should I pick? Because 39 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:13,030 Speaker 2: I've been there so many times. But what comes to 40 00:02:13,070 --> 00:02:15,690 Speaker 2: me right now is the time. So I was a 41 00:02:15,850 --> 00:02:20,010 Speaker 2: young new mom with three little kids battling Lyme disease. And, 42 00:02:20,030 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 2: you know, I was still new enough in my faith. 43 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 2: I had come to Christ in eighth grade, but I 44 00:02:23,860 --> 00:02:25,980 Speaker 2: was still, I mean, I was just, my faith was 45 00:02:26,020 --> 00:02:29,020 Speaker 2: still just barely being formed as a young adult, young wife, 46 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 2: young mom. So much I didn't know. But what I 47 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,590 Speaker 2: did know is my friends had health and wealth and 48 00:02:35,660 --> 00:02:38,150 Speaker 2: I had neither. And I really didn't know enough to 49 00:02:38,230 --> 00:02:41,310 Speaker 2: know that God's no respecter of persons. Like I wondered, 50 00:02:41,410 --> 00:02:43,910 Speaker 2: am I a have not? Did you lose my address? 51 00:02:44,050 --> 00:02:46,690 Speaker 2: Did you change your mind about me? Did I miss 52 00:02:46,750 --> 00:02:49,209 Speaker 2: a step? Because I mean, I had people say to me, 53 00:02:49,270 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: a loving God would not allow this many hard things 54 00:02:52,010 --> 00:02:54,579 Speaker 2: to happen to one family unless you're hiding sin. They 55 00:02:54,620 --> 00:02:56,990 Speaker 2: said that unless you're hiding sin. So if you want 56 00:02:57,030 --> 00:02:59,450 Speaker 2: all this to go away, you better come clean. And 57 00:02:59,770 --> 00:03:02,070 Speaker 2: I was so broken that I'm like, well, do you 58 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: see something? Cause I, I mean, I'm trying to walk 59 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:07,620 Speaker 2: before the, I mean, I was like, if you see something, 60 00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:10,780 Speaker 2: tell me, you know, but it was devastating to me 61 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 2: to be in that season. We came into our marriage 62 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: with good credit. We just, we had okay jobs for 63 00:03:16,660 --> 00:03:20,059 Speaker 2: young 20 somethings and everything upended. I mean, like I said, 64 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:22,790 Speaker 2: our medical debt was higher than our income. And so 65 00:03:22,810 --> 00:03:25,190 Speaker 2: we had bill collectors calling, which is humiliating. It just 66 00:03:25,230 --> 00:03:27,329 Speaker 2: was like a dry and weary land where there was 67 00:03:27,410 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: no water. And the heavens seemed silent. And I'd come 68 00:03:30,460 --> 00:03:33,620 Speaker 2: into the marriage with a very passionate pursuit of God 69 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:37,890 Speaker 2: every morning in the Word, every morning journaling and and 70 00:03:37,930 --> 00:03:41,180 Speaker 2: hearing little impressions and things from God. And so my 71 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,380 Speaker 2: relationship with him was first and foremost. I mean, if 72 00:03:44,740 --> 00:03:46,860 Speaker 2: people would have defined me, they would have said she 73 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,380 Speaker 2: is a passionate pursuer of God. So to land in 74 00:03:49,420 --> 00:03:52,850 Speaker 2: that season where our finances have dried up, my friends 75 00:03:52,890 --> 00:03:56,339 Speaker 2: were drying up because they were, tired of the chronicity 76 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,090 Speaker 2: of our trials, which I don't blame them. I was 77 00:03:59,130 --> 00:04:00,970 Speaker 2: tired of it. If I could have escaped my story, 78 00:04:01,290 --> 00:04:03,290 Speaker 2: I would have too. But every night I'd beg God 79 00:04:03,330 --> 00:04:05,580 Speaker 2: to heal me every night. And it was like, my 80 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: words would fall, bounce off the ceiling and fall back 81 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:09,100 Speaker 2: down on me. 82 00:04:09,220 --> 00:04:10,740 Speaker 1: And there was just nothing. It was crickets. 83 00:04:11,190 --> 00:04:13,510 Speaker 2: And I couldn't figure it out. I'm like, did I 84 00:04:13,550 --> 00:04:16,310 Speaker 2: miss a step? Is there some hidden sin that I'm 85 00:04:16,410 --> 00:04:19,540 Speaker 2: blind to? And I just prayed again, Lord, if you're 86 00:04:19,940 --> 00:04:23,020 Speaker 2: willing to listen to me, if not for me, for 87 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 2: these little boys who need their mother, would you please 88 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,460 Speaker 2: heal me? And the Lord thundered in my heart, not audibly, 89 00:04:28,580 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: but he thundered. And it was him because it surprised me. 90 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,099 Speaker 2: And it was such brilliant wisdom. 91 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:35,099 Speaker 1: He said, Susie. 92 00:04:35,630 --> 00:04:38,229 Speaker 2: If I healed you, would you praise me? And I said, well, 93 00:04:38,270 --> 00:04:39,770 Speaker 2: till the cows come home, you wouldn't be able to 94 00:04:39,790 --> 00:04:42,270 Speaker 2: shut me up. I mean, I would tell everyone. And 95 00:04:42,290 --> 00:04:43,150 Speaker 2: then he thundered again. 96 00:04:43,230 --> 00:04:43,790 Speaker 1: Why is that? 97 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: Would you praise me because I sent my one and 98 00:04:47,460 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: only son to die for you so that you could 99 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: live forever with me or simply because you got your way? 100 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: And in a moment, Jennifer, my life passed before my 101 00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:00,620 Speaker 2: very eyes. And I realized how transactional my relationship with 102 00:05:00,670 --> 00:05:03,550 Speaker 2: God had been. Like he was a means to an end. 103 00:05:04,130 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: I mean, all I knew was I had so many 104 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:09,300 Speaker 2: needs and he was the solution. As young Christians, that 105 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: is how things start because you don't fully understand unless 106 00:05:12,339 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: you're just completely baptized in his love and then God, 107 00:05:15,180 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: you know, teaches you things way ahead of your time. 108 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:23,140 Speaker 2: But I saw on my best days, it was earning. 109 00:05:23,610 --> 00:05:26,410 Speaker 2: On my worst days, I was hiding. And it was 110 00:05:26,490 --> 00:05:30,029 Speaker 2: filthy rags, just like the scripture says. And instead of 111 00:05:30,510 --> 00:05:33,010 Speaker 2: wanting out of that crisis, I wanted to be right 112 00:05:33,050 --> 00:05:35,460 Speaker 2: with God. I literally rolled out of bed. I tore 113 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,460 Speaker 2: my shirt. I had boxers and a t-shirt. That's what 114 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,220 Speaker 2: my jammies were at the time. I tore my t-shirt 115 00:05:40,260 --> 00:05:44,469 Speaker 2: just in repentance and grief. And I got face down. 116 00:05:44,510 --> 00:05:47,010 Speaker 2: I said, God, if you never heal me, I will 117 00:05:47,089 --> 00:05:51,450 Speaker 2: hate it, but I love you. And you've been my savior. 118 00:05:51,490 --> 00:05:53,390 Speaker 2: You are my Lord. I'm going to follow you on 119 00:05:53,410 --> 00:05:55,750 Speaker 2: your terms, not mine. And the Lord gave me, I 120 00:05:56,180 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: got my journal out and wrote this poem. If it's okay, 121 00:05:58,820 --> 00:06:02,020 Speaker 2: if I share it, because it really was, it was 122 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:04,500 Speaker 2: an equalizing moment and it changed the way that I 123 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:07,030 Speaker 2: walk with God. And it goes, I hope I can remember, 124 00:06:07,050 --> 00:06:09,549 Speaker 2: it goes something like this. I've walked through many storms. 125 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:13,130 Speaker 2: My prayers were filled with tears. The enemy was so big, 126 00:06:13,330 --> 00:06:16,950 Speaker 2: confirming all my fears. To a distant God, I would 127 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: ever cry. Just wanting an answer, always asking why. Yet 128 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,380 Speaker 2: heard I not from him, nor his angels singing. It 129 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,500 Speaker 2: was all that I could do, his robe to keep 130 00:06:26,580 --> 00:06:29,860 Speaker 2: on clinging. Then suddenly one night I beckoned him to be. 131 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 2: So real that I could feel him. He finally spoke 132 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,990 Speaker 2: to me. Said he, my daughter Susie, I love you 133 00:06:36,070 --> 00:06:38,500 Speaker 2: with my life. No more would I ever hurt you 134 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 2: than be the cause of your strife. You see, it's 135 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 2: not my hand that's delivered all this pain, but it's 136 00:06:43,980 --> 00:06:46,220 Speaker 2: true my hand is there to hold yours in the rain. 137 00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:49,420 Speaker 2: It's something how men see me according to their need. 138 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: Instead of praise and faith, they ask and beg and plead. 139 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: I am a God who doesn't change with time nor 140 00:06:55,700 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: change I with the season. I don't have to explain 141 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,140 Speaker 2: myself nor give you detailed reasons. I've given all that 142 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,140 Speaker 2: I could give when I gave to you my son. 143 00:07:04,580 --> 00:07:06,589 Speaker 2: I emptied out myself for you as if you were 144 00:07:06,630 --> 00:07:09,089 Speaker 2: the only one. But what I do, I do for 145 00:07:09,130 --> 00:07:12,730 Speaker 2: you because I want you to grow. It's in faith, praise, 146 00:07:12,790 --> 00:07:16,030 Speaker 2: and trust where you'll find you are strong when demands 147 00:07:16,150 --> 00:07:19,270 Speaker 2: are replaced by a faith-filled praise song. It is there 148 00:07:19,310 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: you'll find peace where there once was strife, and it'll 149 00:07:22,060 --> 00:07:25,060 Speaker 2: be just enough to have me in your life. And 150 00:07:25,510 --> 00:07:28,230 Speaker 2: I can't explain it, but that was this moment of 151 00:07:28,430 --> 00:07:31,550 Speaker 2: reckoning for me because I was pounding on his chest. 152 00:07:31,590 --> 00:07:34,090 Speaker 2: And hear me now, God will take you. If you're lamenting, 153 00:07:34,390 --> 00:07:37,110 Speaker 2: you're crying out, he will take you. Just don't turn 154 00:07:37,170 --> 00:07:40,510 Speaker 2: away from him. Wrestle within the embrace of him. But 155 00:07:40,750 --> 00:07:44,650 Speaker 2: I just was so hurt, so disappointed, and I couldn't understand. 156 00:07:44,770 --> 00:07:47,250 Speaker 2: And when he spoke to my heart like that, it 157 00:07:47,290 --> 00:07:49,770 Speaker 2: was like some of the encounters you see in scripture 158 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: where men go face down. I saw him as the 159 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 2: holy God that he is. the worm that I am. 160 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,660 Speaker 2: And I realized, wow, his mercy is so much greater 161 00:08:00,700 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 2: than I know, his patience, his kindness, and he's up. 162 00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:04,300 Speaker 1: To something good. 163 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: That was a hard moment, but a very important one 164 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: and really changed how I walked. 165 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,020 Speaker 1: With God after that. Wow. 166 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: There's so much I want to, first of all, that poem, 167 00:08:13,540 --> 00:08:15,580 Speaker 3: that was powerful. 168 00:08:15,740 --> 00:08:18,180 Speaker 1: That was beautiful. Holy Spirit, powerful. 169 00:08:18,820 --> 00:08:21,700 Speaker 3: When you begin, I was thinking of a lot of 170 00:08:21,740 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 3: our listeners, they've come from religious abuse. They've come from trauma. 171 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,460 Speaker 3: They have, a lot of them have chronic illness. So 172 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,970 Speaker 3: what you said, I think really resonates. And I hear 173 00:08:35,050 --> 00:08:39,270 Speaker 3: that from people, this idea where sometimes in Christendom, we 174 00:08:39,350 --> 00:08:42,820 Speaker 3: received the message. We don't recognize it's prosperity gospel, but 175 00:08:42,860 --> 00:08:47,130 Speaker 3: we received the message again and again, You're doing something wrong. 176 00:08:47,170 --> 00:08:49,790 Speaker 3: So figure it out so that you can have a 177 00:08:49,850 --> 00:08:51,390 Speaker 3: relationship with Jesus Christ. 178 00:08:51,470 --> 00:08:54,250 Speaker 2: And it's cruel theology. I mean, A plus B does 179 00:08:54,309 --> 00:08:57,260 Speaker 2: not always equal C. And that has so infiltrated the 180 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:00,340 Speaker 2: narrative that what happens when A plus B, when the 181 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 2: formula doesn't work, what happens? 182 00:09:02,059 --> 00:09:02,540 Speaker 1: You know what? 183 00:09:02,820 --> 00:09:06,570 Speaker 2: You're judged for your pain instead of Jesus led with compassion. 184 00:09:06,660 --> 00:09:09,130 Speaker 2: He saw the crowds and led with compassion. And do 185 00:09:09,150 --> 00:09:11,189 Speaker 2: you think some of those people in that crowd maybe 186 00:09:11,250 --> 00:09:12,510 Speaker 2: got themselves into trouble? 187 00:09:12,910 --> 00:09:13,230 Speaker 1: Yes. 188 00:09:13,510 --> 00:09:16,329 Speaker 2: And he's still led with compassion. A good father brings 189 00:09:16,390 --> 00:09:19,380 Speaker 2: correction as well. There's times we need it. But the 190 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,860 Speaker 2: idea of A plus, like you're guaranteed this is the 191 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,579 Speaker 2: formula to a good life. I mean, how many godly 192 00:09:25,620 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 2: parents have prodigal children? I mean, God's the best father 193 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:32,130 Speaker 2: there was, and he's got prodigal children. How many people 194 00:09:32,270 --> 00:09:34,949 Speaker 2: ate right, did right, and still got sick? And so 195 00:09:34,990 --> 00:09:37,470 Speaker 2: when we are in this place where I can control 196 00:09:37,630 --> 00:09:40,890 Speaker 2: my destiny, And if you're suffering, it's your fault is 197 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 2: opposite of what the Lord wants from us and for 198 00:09:44,300 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 2: us in community. 199 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. 200 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,740 Speaker 3: And the other thing, two other things that I thought 201 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 3: of as you were sharing your story and then as 202 00:09:50,380 --> 00:09:53,510 Speaker 3: you were just talking right now, when I hear your story, really, 203 00:09:53,550 --> 00:09:56,390 Speaker 3: those people just did not have emotional capacity. No. 204 00:09:56,390 --> 00:09:57,890 Speaker 1: So it wasn't about you. 205 00:09:57,910 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 3: It was about their discomfort. with their own emotional, spiritual 206 00:10:02,460 --> 00:10:04,939 Speaker 3: bypassing and numbing. I feel like sometimes that can be 207 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:10,179 Speaker 3: helpful to recognize that. And then when you talked about, there's. 208 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:10,610 Speaker 1: So much Susie, wow. 209 00:10:10,870 --> 00:10:14,110 Speaker 3: When you talked about him thundering in your heart and 210 00:10:14,150 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 3: I just got this idea of, I know for some 211 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,620 Speaker 3: of our listeners, they get stuck in this spiral in 212 00:10:19,660 --> 00:10:24,540 Speaker 3: their thoughts. And I think that just complicates being able 213 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 3: to hear from God. And so I love how he 214 00:10:27,820 --> 00:10:29,490 Speaker 3: didn't do it right away. It sounds like he had 215 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,870 Speaker 3: a lot of wrestling. And I think that's important maybe 216 00:10:31,890 --> 00:10:35,110 Speaker 3: for us to discuss as well. But that he found 217 00:10:35,170 --> 00:10:39,090 Speaker 3: a way to break through. That was his work for you. 218 00:10:39,110 --> 00:10:42,530 Speaker 3: And then when I heard you talk about, really, it 219 00:10:42,570 --> 00:10:46,370 Speaker 3: sounds like he flip the switch to relationship. 220 00:10:46,570 --> 00:10:48,390 Speaker 1: Like he's like, yes, I see your needs. 221 00:10:48,410 --> 00:10:50,650 Speaker 3: These are valid and I want to hear them, but 222 00:10:50,670 --> 00:10:53,410 Speaker 3: there's something deeper I need you to connect with. 223 00:10:53,429 --> 00:10:55,290 Speaker 1: Would you say that's accurate? 100%. 224 00:10:55,290 --> 00:10:59,150 Speaker 2: And I would like to back that up with Psalm 103. 225 00:10:59,150 --> 00:11:02,910 Speaker 2: I've prayed through the first five verses for years on 226 00:11:02,950 --> 00:11:03,790 Speaker 2: a regular basis. 227 00:11:03,850 --> 00:11:05,890 Speaker 1: Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord. 228 00:11:06,309 --> 00:11:08,850 Speaker 2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not his benefits. 229 00:11:08,970 --> 00:11:12,510 Speaker 2: He forgives all my sins, heals all my diseases, ransoms 230 00:11:12,580 --> 00:11:15,250 Speaker 2: my life from the pit, crowns me with loving compassion, 231 00:11:15,570 --> 00:11:17,689 Speaker 2: satisfies my desires with good things. 232 00:11:17,710 --> 00:11:19,410 Speaker 1: And my youth is renewed like the Eagles. 233 00:11:19,429 --> 00:11:21,870 Speaker 2: A couple of verses later, it says he revealed his 234 00:11:22,010 --> 00:11:24,170 Speaker 2: deeds to the people of Israel, but his. 235 00:11:24,190 --> 00:11:25,550 Speaker 1: Character to Moses. 236 00:11:25,890 --> 00:11:28,690 Speaker 2: And it's almost like the psalmist is saying they never 237 00:11:28,730 --> 00:11:32,190 Speaker 2: got past transaction, but Moses went from God's hand to 238 00:11:32,250 --> 00:11:32,670 Speaker 2: his heart. 239 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:34,030 Speaker 1: I want to know you God. 240 00:11:34,090 --> 00:11:36,690 Speaker 2: And so the Lord met with Moses face to face 241 00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:38,709 Speaker 2: is with the friend. And it's like the rest of 242 00:11:38,730 --> 00:11:40,770 Speaker 2: the psalm is almost saying, if you want to know 243 00:11:40,820 --> 00:11:43,310 Speaker 2: his heart, keep reading because then it goes on to 244 00:11:43,390 --> 00:11:46,449 Speaker 2: say what God is like, slow to anger, abounding in love. 245 00:11:46,790 --> 00:11:49,510 Speaker 2: He doesn't punish us as our sins deserve. In fact, 246 00:11:49,550 --> 00:11:51,290 Speaker 2: as far as the East is from the West, he 247 00:11:51,330 --> 00:11:53,929 Speaker 2: removes our sins from us. And I think if you 248 00:11:53,950 --> 00:11:57,430 Speaker 2: have a hard time hearing from God, immerse yourself in 249 00:11:57,470 --> 00:11:59,970 Speaker 2: that Psalm and get to know what God is like, 250 00:12:00,410 --> 00:12:03,270 Speaker 2: because they lead the heavens poor for speech. God is 251 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,179 Speaker 2: always speaking. You will go through silent seasons. And I 252 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 2: wrote a book about that. And what do you do 253 00:12:07,780 --> 00:12:10,140 Speaker 2: about that? And if you can't hear what he's saying, 254 00:12:10,179 --> 00:12:13,090 Speaker 2: remember what he has said. Because he said some things 255 00:12:13,190 --> 00:12:15,650 Speaker 2: and the silent seasons, they teach us and train us 256 00:12:15,690 --> 00:12:19,070 Speaker 2: some things. But there are times where it's unnecessarily silent 257 00:12:19,429 --> 00:12:21,910 Speaker 2: because you got too much noise in your life. You're 258 00:12:21,929 --> 00:12:24,790 Speaker 2: listening to too many voices. You're scrolling and eating and 259 00:12:24,830 --> 00:12:27,650 Speaker 2: drinking and all this stuff because you're numbing your pain. 260 00:12:27,690 --> 00:12:29,990 Speaker 2: And I would say when you numb your pain, you're 261 00:12:30,010 --> 00:12:32,530 Speaker 2: also not going to feel your spiritual hunger. And I 262 00:12:32,570 --> 00:12:35,540 Speaker 2: think far too many, Jennifer, feel like God is holding 263 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 2: out on them when really they're holding out on God. 264 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 2: And I don't mean that in a shunning, shaming way. 265 00:12:39,860 --> 00:12:42,410 Speaker 2: I'm saying been there, done that. But I'm saying if 266 00:12:42,460 --> 00:12:44,939 Speaker 2: you clear the playing field a little bit, if you 267 00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 2: maybe quit the indulgences that are numbing you and weakening 268 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 2: you and keep coming back going, I'm drawn near to you, Lord, 269 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: because you said if I draw near, you will draw near. 270 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,900 Speaker 2: You said the heavens speak. You said my sheep hear 271 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,870 Speaker 2: me and they know my voice. I'm camping in your presence. 272 00:13:00,179 --> 00:13:02,390 Speaker 2: I need a word from you and be willing to 273 00:13:02,450 --> 00:13:05,090 Speaker 2: make space and open up the word. And I would 274 00:13:05,130 --> 00:13:08,390 Speaker 2: say spend time in Psalm 103 because when you get 275 00:13:08,450 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 2: to know what God is like, you will discern when 276 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,100 Speaker 2: a voice comes, is that God or is that the 277 00:13:13,140 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: enemy or is that my own flesh? 278 00:13:15,220 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 3: Well, that's some powerful, powerful things to think about. We 279 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,100 Speaker 3: are actually going to take a break to listen to 280 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:22,900 Speaker 3: our sponsors. When we get back, you touched on something 281 00:13:22,940 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 3: important I would like us to discuss, kind of the 282 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:30,589 Speaker 3: balance between we absolutely need scripture, but a lot of 283 00:13:30,620 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 3: people might say that's the only way God speaks to us. 284 00:13:34,929 --> 00:13:37,089 Speaker 3: So I'd like you to address that when we return. 285 00:13:37,590 --> 00:13:46,950 Speaker 1: All right. And we're back. 286 00:13:47,010 --> 00:13:49,730 Speaker 3: So Susie, I'm sure you've heard this before. People like, oh, 287 00:13:50,230 --> 00:13:53,530 Speaker 3: I remember there was one Christian communicator maybe 10 years 288 00:13:53,570 --> 00:13:56,510 Speaker 3: ago that was just slammed because she would share her 289 00:13:56,990 --> 00:14:00,310 Speaker 3: interactive relationship with the Lord a little more publicly. And 290 00:14:00,370 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 3: the narrative that I think muddles everything was that God 291 00:14:07,140 --> 00:14:11,069 Speaker 3: only speaks through scripture. So can you talk about that 292 00:14:11,210 --> 00:14:16,340 Speaker 3: balance between needing to immerse ourselves in scripture like you emphasized, 293 00:14:16,620 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 3: but also being open for maybe more creative interactions? 294 00:14:22,100 --> 00:14:25,060 Speaker 2: Boy, you know, he's the same God yesterday, today and forever. 295 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,979 Speaker 2: And he spoke very creatively in all various sorts of 296 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:31,410 Speaker 2: ways in scripture. And that idea that he only speaks 297 00:14:31,450 --> 00:14:34,190 Speaker 2: in scripture is a theology of thought that I just 298 00:14:34,270 --> 00:14:36,810 Speaker 2: wholeheartedly disagree with. So we'll have to just agree to 299 00:14:36,850 --> 00:14:39,610 Speaker 2: disagree whoever stands on that, you know. If you want 300 00:14:39,630 --> 00:14:41,950 Speaker 2: to live with that, you can. I've seen too much. 301 00:14:42,310 --> 00:14:45,820 Speaker 2: I've heard too much. You'll never, ever convince me that 302 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 2: he doesn't impress upon our hearts. I mean, there have 303 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 2: been times where God has spoken to my heart and said, 304 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,140 Speaker 2: this isn't going to turn out the way you thought. 305 00:14:53,660 --> 00:14:54,739 Speaker 2: I just want you to know I'm with you. I'm 306 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,220 Speaker 2: going to take care of you. And the next day 307 00:14:56,380 --> 00:14:59,090 Speaker 2: it didn't turn out the way I thought. I mean, 308 00:14:59,130 --> 00:15:02,390 Speaker 2: I remember we live in Minnesota and the 35W bridge 309 00:15:02,890 --> 00:15:03,710 Speaker 2: crashed down. 310 00:15:03,750 --> 00:15:04,450 Speaker 1: You know, into the river. 311 00:15:05,210 --> 00:15:07,710 Speaker 2: And I remember hearing a story of two young men 312 00:15:07,750 --> 00:15:10,030 Speaker 2: who were on a worship team heading to the same church, 313 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:13,340 Speaker 2: taking different routes. Both of them were late for worship 314 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,660 Speaker 2: because both of them felt led by the Lord, take 315 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:17,460 Speaker 2: a different route, even though it's going to make you late. 316 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 2: They took a different route, got to church, only to 317 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 2: find out that the bridge had collapsed. There are a 318 00:15:22,180 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 2: gazillion stories of people getting a prompting from the Lord. 319 00:15:25,710 --> 00:15:27,750 Speaker 2: And I feel like, you know, it's like what you 320 00:15:27,770 --> 00:15:29,770 Speaker 2: look for, you'll find. And so, but you know what? 321 00:15:29,790 --> 00:15:31,590 Speaker 2: The word of God is living and active. So if 322 00:15:31,610 --> 00:15:34,460 Speaker 2: you're just looking to the word and Enjoy it because 323 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 2: the word is living and active, but I won't stop 324 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 2: there because the spirit of God is alive in me. 325 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 2: And the scripture says he confides in those who fear him. 326 00:15:42,860 --> 00:15:45,500 Speaker 1: Jeremiah 33 says, call. 327 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,060 Speaker 2: On me and I will answer you and tell you 328 00:15:47,140 --> 00:15:50,380 Speaker 2: great and mighty things that you do not know about the. 329 00:15:50,340 --> 00:15:53,340 Speaker 1: Times to come. I want to say it's Deuteronomy 29, 29. 330 00:15:53,340 --> 00:15:53,910 Speaker 1: I think it is. 331 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 2: It says the secret things belong to the Lord, but 332 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,380 Speaker 2: the things he reveals to us belong to us and 333 00:15:58,420 --> 00:16:01,490 Speaker 2: to our children forever. Like there are treasures to mine. 334 00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:04,860 Speaker 2: of things that God wants to reveal, but we can 335 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 2: take it to an extreme. And I write about that 336 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,210 Speaker 2: in my book where when you have people say, God 337 00:16:09,250 --> 00:16:11,370 Speaker 2: told me, God told me, and they are the authority 338 00:16:11,450 --> 00:16:12,490 Speaker 2: and the corner on. 339 00:16:12,790 --> 00:16:16,430 Speaker 1: God told them. I'm cautious with that. And some are abusers. 340 00:16:16,470 --> 00:16:19,590 Speaker 3: Like some of our listeners have had that abuse told 341 00:16:19,650 --> 00:16:20,090 Speaker 3: that way. 342 00:16:20,470 --> 00:16:20,710 Speaker 1: Yes. 343 00:16:20,870 --> 00:16:23,290 Speaker 2: And there's a story in the book about a friend 344 00:16:23,310 --> 00:16:25,580 Speaker 2: of mine who endured that. And I too have had 345 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 2: people say horrendous things to me as if they're. 346 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:29,260 Speaker 1: Speaking for God. 347 00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 2: But Old Testament, you look at how many times people 348 00:16:33,180 --> 00:16:35,820 Speaker 2: put as surely as the Lord lives, either at the 349 00:16:35,860 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: beginning or the end of their sentence, either before they 350 00:16:39,260 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 2: did something really stupid or after they did something like that, 351 00:16:41,850 --> 00:16:45,010 Speaker 2: as if tacking as surely as the Lord lives endorses 352 00:16:45,170 --> 00:16:48,730 Speaker 2: what they've done somehow. So even in the New Testament, 353 00:16:49,150 --> 00:16:52,609 Speaker 2: you've got Jesus walking with the disciples and he says, 354 00:16:52,630 --> 00:16:54,830 Speaker 2: who do people say that I am? And just my 355 00:16:54,850 --> 00:16:57,430 Speaker 2: little side note, he wasn't insecure or having an identity 356 00:16:57,470 --> 00:16:59,890 Speaker 2: crisis like, am I coming on too strong? Do you 357 00:16:59,910 --> 00:17:03,670 Speaker 2: think people like me? He was using it as a 358 00:17:03,710 --> 00:17:07,690 Speaker 2: teaching moment. And Peter was walking on his heels, staying 359 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,419 Speaker 2: so close. He was walking with the Lord. And he said, 360 00:17:10,460 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 2: you are the Messiah, the son of the living God. 361 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 2: And it so stopped Jesus in his tracks. He turned 362 00:17:15,180 --> 00:17:17,659 Speaker 2: around and said, Peter, you did not come up with 363 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 2: this on your own. The God of heaven has revealed 364 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,939 Speaker 2: this to you. But minutes later, when Jesus starts talking 365 00:17:23,980 --> 00:17:26,610 Speaker 2: about Jerusalem, that he's got to suffer and die. 366 00:17:27,420 --> 00:17:27,869 Speaker 1: Who is it? 367 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,420 Speaker 2: It's Peter that runs ahead, stops him and says, no, 368 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,550 Speaker 2: it'll never be Lord. He says, get behind me, Satan. Well, 369 00:17:33,570 --> 00:17:36,190 Speaker 2: how do you go from a divine revelation to a 370 00:17:36,230 --> 00:17:37,369 Speaker 2: devilish one in moments? 371 00:17:37,750 --> 00:17:38,170 Speaker 1: Well, fear. 372 00:17:38,530 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 2: And so just because maybe you've had some credibility with 373 00:17:41,220 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 2: someone at some point, it doesn't mean they're always right. 374 00:17:44,530 --> 00:17:46,090 Speaker 2: You know, it doesn't mean they're always going to be 375 00:17:46,130 --> 00:17:49,130 Speaker 2: spot on. We have to own our faith. We've got 376 00:17:49,190 --> 00:17:51,670 Speaker 2: to cultivate a life that listens to what the Holy 377 00:17:51,710 --> 00:17:54,369 Speaker 2: Spirit is saying. And sometimes the way he talks is 378 00:17:54,410 --> 00:17:57,830 Speaker 2: an inner wince. If you have Christ in you, you 379 00:17:57,869 --> 00:17:59,710 Speaker 2: should be bothered by your sin. And if you're not, 380 00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:03,350 Speaker 2: I would question if you really did have an experiential 381 00:18:03,490 --> 00:18:06,290 Speaker 2: faith transaction with God where you're like, I'm trusting Jesus. 382 00:18:06,330 --> 00:18:08,209 Speaker 2: Because when you bend the knee to Jesus and you 383 00:18:08,250 --> 00:18:11,470 Speaker 2: trust him, his payment for your sin, his spirit takes 384 00:18:11,530 --> 00:18:13,820 Speaker 2: up residence in your soul. And let's say you watch 385 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,060 Speaker 2: a movie that you've watched a hundred times before and 386 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 2: suddenly you're like, that's not that funny. 387 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:18,619 Speaker 1: That's the Lord. 388 00:18:18,820 --> 00:18:21,500 Speaker 2: Your tastes change or you feel this little inner wince 389 00:18:21,660 --> 00:18:24,300 Speaker 2: and that's course correction. That's the Lord speaking to you. 390 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 2: It's not always with words, but it's impressions and it's 391 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,590 Speaker 2: a knowing. I'm walking in a different way now. I 392 00:18:30,619 --> 00:18:32,950 Speaker 2: think it's just like one of the greatest privileges of 393 00:18:33,030 --> 00:18:35,929 Speaker 2: our life. If you're the only one talking in the 394 00:18:35,990 --> 00:18:38,430 Speaker 2: conversation with you and God, you're missing the best parts 395 00:18:38,470 --> 00:18:39,270 Speaker 2: of the conversation. 396 00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I actually feel really strongly right now that some 397 00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 3: people listening have not taken that step. And so I 398 00:18:47,619 --> 00:18:50,699 Speaker 3: believe God speaks to everybody, all humanity. He's always drawing us. 399 00:18:51,220 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 3: But there is a special ability to hear, to communicate 400 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,209 Speaker 3: with the Holy Spirit when we've chosen to align our 401 00:18:58,250 --> 00:19:01,090 Speaker 3: lives with him. So would you mind for those right 402 00:19:01,150 --> 00:19:04,510 Speaker 3: now who are like, I've never actually taken that step, 403 00:19:05,150 --> 00:19:07,530 Speaker 3: but I'm wanting what I hear Susie has. 404 00:19:07,570 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: Would you mind presenting that? 405 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 3: The way to salvation and intimacy with God for those listeners. Great. 406 00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:17,070 Speaker 2: I'd love to do that. The thing is, you can't 407 00:19:17,130 --> 00:19:19,830 Speaker 2: jump high enough to save yourself. So love came down 408 00:19:19,890 --> 00:19:22,470 Speaker 2: to set you free. When you hear someone say, I 409 00:19:22,609 --> 00:19:24,109 Speaker 2: think I'll be in heaven. I try to live a 410 00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:26,790 Speaker 2: good life. They don't know what they're talking about. And 411 00:19:26,890 --> 00:19:29,420 Speaker 2: they mean well, but they don't know because you have 412 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,459 Speaker 2: to have had a sinless life. Because eternity, heaven is 413 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,580 Speaker 2: a pure, spotless place for pure and spotless people. The 414 00:19:37,740 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 2: only person who walked this earth in a pure and 415 00:19:40,340 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 2: spotless way is the Lamb of God. 416 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:43,110 Speaker 1: It's Jesus himself. 417 00:19:43,609 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 2: And the Bible says, for God so loved the world 418 00:19:46,490 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 2: that he gave his one and only begotten son that 419 00:19:49,020 --> 00:19:51,820 Speaker 2: whoever would believe in him will not perish, but have 420 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,340 Speaker 2: everlasting life. So you have to get to a point 421 00:19:54,380 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: where you go, I'm a sinner. 422 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:58,179 Speaker 1: I need a savior. 423 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 2: Some people break it down like this, A, B, and C. A, 424 00:20:01,020 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: I acknowledge I'm a sinner. B, I believe that the 425 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,260 Speaker 2: Lord Jesus came, he lived and he died and he 426 00:20:07,340 --> 00:20:09,619 Speaker 2: rose again. He died on the cross for my sins 427 00:20:09,740 --> 00:20:12,850 Speaker 2: and was resurrected on the third day. And C, I 428 00:20:12,910 --> 00:20:16,469 Speaker 2: confess him as Lord. I mean, really, and it's not 429 00:20:16,510 --> 00:20:18,929 Speaker 2: a formulaic prayer because you can check the box and 430 00:20:18,970 --> 00:20:21,730 Speaker 2: not have anything happen if you don't mean it. You 431 00:20:21,850 --> 00:20:24,450 Speaker 2: literally have to come to a place of sincerity to say, 432 00:20:25,050 --> 00:20:27,709 Speaker 2: not only do I want my eternity secure, I want 433 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:29,690 Speaker 2: to know that if I die tomorrow, I wake up 434 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 2: and I see Jesus face to face, I want to 435 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 2: walk in his presence as I live here on earth. 436 00:20:35,290 --> 00:20:36,700 Speaker 2: I mean, one of my guests said, I don't remember 437 00:20:36,740 --> 00:20:38,350 Speaker 2: which one, but they said, if you can imagine a 438 00:20:38,390 --> 00:20:41,570 Speaker 2: heaven without Jesus, you're probably not going to be there. Because, 439 00:20:41,890 --> 00:20:44,810 Speaker 2: I mean, Jesus is everything. The Father is everything. The 440 00:20:44,869 --> 00:20:48,670 Speaker 2: Spirit is everything. And another analogy, picture this huge chasm. 441 00:20:49,730 --> 00:20:52,609 Speaker 2: On this side of the chasm, you're a spiritual orphan. 442 00:20:53,290 --> 00:20:56,450 Speaker 2: In your eternity, if you reject what Jesus did for 443 00:20:56,510 --> 00:20:59,410 Speaker 2: your sin, there will be hell to pay. there will 444 00:20:59,450 --> 00:21:01,590 Speaker 2: be a day of account where you face God because 445 00:21:01,950 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: the cure came. You had a terminal illness and the 446 00:21:05,340 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 2: cure came to earth and you can opt out to say, nope, 447 00:21:08,660 --> 00:21:09,300 Speaker 2: I don't want that. 448 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:09,980 Speaker 1: I reject it. 449 00:21:10,060 --> 00:21:13,460 Speaker 2: In which case there will be a judgment day when 450 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 2: there will be health to pay. And then you will 451 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 2: live eternally separated from God. And you picture this chasm. 452 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,380 Speaker 2: When you trust Jesus, he literally, the scripture says, transfers 453 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,310 Speaker 2: you out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom 454 00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:26,620 Speaker 2: of his dear son. And suddenly you, You go from 455 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,790 Speaker 2: spiritual orphan to spiritual heir. You're grafted into the family. 456 00:21:31,130 --> 00:21:34,270 Speaker 2: You're grafted into the royal family. You become a citizen 457 00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:38,109 Speaker 2: of heaven, a citizen of the kingdom. And no one 458 00:21:38,150 --> 00:21:41,030 Speaker 2: can snatch you out of God's hands. No one can 459 00:21:41,130 --> 00:21:43,850 Speaker 2: gossip enough about you to make God change his mind 460 00:21:44,170 --> 00:21:46,270 Speaker 2: about you. You get a place at the table of 461 00:21:46,330 --> 00:21:50,580 Speaker 2: grace because of grace. And so another passage, Ephesians 2, 8, 9, 462 00:21:50,580 --> 00:21:54,540 Speaker 2: for by grace, you've been saved. through faith, not of yourself. 463 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,340 Speaker 2: It's a gift of God, not a result of works 464 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 2: or anything you do. So no one can brag about 465 00:22:00,260 --> 00:22:03,260 Speaker 2: being saved. If you ever see someone who's prideful because 466 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,469 Speaker 2: their eternity is secure, I would question if their eternity 467 00:22:06,510 --> 00:22:10,150 Speaker 2: is secure because we're beggars, we were orphans and we 468 00:22:10,210 --> 00:22:12,530 Speaker 2: trusted Jesus and he put us at the royal table. 469 00:22:13,070 --> 00:22:14,850 Speaker 2: And there are gonna be days you forget who you are. 470 00:22:15,369 --> 00:22:17,350 Speaker 2: There's gonna be days you act in ways that are 471 00:22:17,369 --> 00:22:20,410 Speaker 2: beneath you. And thank God he doesn't yank you from 472 00:22:20,430 --> 00:22:21,450 Speaker 2: your place at the table. 473 00:22:21,930 --> 00:22:24,450 Speaker 1: When you have air amnesia, he just course corrects. 474 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 2: He just brings you back to himself and he leads 475 00:22:27,500 --> 00:22:30,859 Speaker 2: you with love and purpose and power. This will, if 476 00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:34,820 Speaker 2: you're hearing this, do not neglect the voice of the 477 00:22:34,859 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 2: Lord speaking to you because today is the day of salvation. 478 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: I spoke at a retreat years ago and I got 479 00:22:40,060 --> 00:22:42,590 Speaker 2: a letter two weeks later and these women wrote me 480 00:22:42,619 --> 00:22:44,410 Speaker 2: this letter who said that it was like an aunt 481 00:22:44,490 --> 00:22:46,870 Speaker 2: and a sister and a friend had prayed this girl 482 00:22:46,910 --> 00:22:49,149 Speaker 2: into this retreat. She kind of went kicking and screaming. 483 00:22:49,810 --> 00:22:51,910 Speaker 2: but her heart was moved by the messages. At the end, 484 00:22:51,970 --> 00:22:55,369 Speaker 2: I presented the gospel. She sincerely gave her life to 485 00:22:55,410 --> 00:22:58,150 Speaker 2: the Lord. Two weeks later was killed in a car accident. 486 00:22:58,810 --> 00:23:01,210 Speaker 2: You don't know how many days you have left. 487 00:23:01,550 --> 00:23:02,030 Speaker 1: And you know what? 488 00:23:02,410 --> 00:23:04,869 Speaker 2: Jesus could come at any time. And he wants a 489 00:23:05,070 --> 00:23:08,489 Speaker 2: bride living, expectant and ready for his return. If you 490 00:23:08,510 --> 00:23:11,169 Speaker 2: receive him today, the spirit of God, literally there will 491 00:23:11,210 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 2: be a supernatural transaction. You're moved into the kingdom. His 492 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,540 Speaker 2: spirit takes up residence in your soul. Then I would say, 493 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,570 Speaker 2: start reading the Bible ferociously. Get into a Bible-believing church. 494 00:23:22,270 --> 00:23:25,030 Speaker 2: Activate your prayer life and bend an ear and listen 495 00:23:25,050 --> 00:23:28,510 Speaker 2: for his voice and just cultivate intimacy with God. Your 496 00:23:28,530 --> 00:23:31,750 Speaker 2: Christianity isn't a bunch of committees and a bunch of activity. 497 00:23:32,250 --> 00:23:35,540 Speaker 2: Your Christianity is living loved, living in intimacy with God, 498 00:23:35,580 --> 00:23:37,790 Speaker 2: and then just doing the things he tells you to do. 499 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:40,380 Speaker 2: And the thing is, when you receive him, you will 500 00:23:40,420 --> 00:23:42,980 Speaker 2: have purpose. You got breath in your lungs, there's purpose 501 00:23:43,020 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 2: in your steps until he returns. And it'll change everything 502 00:23:46,060 --> 00:23:48,699 Speaker 2: for you. You suddenly, it's almost like a civilian who 503 00:23:48,740 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 2: joins the armed forces. Well, now if someone comes against 504 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 2: that person, they come against all the armed forces. They 505 00:23:54,619 --> 00:23:57,650 Speaker 2: got the weight of the armed forces in their defense. 506 00:23:58,130 --> 00:24:00,889 Speaker 2: It's that and better because you're a citizen of the 507 00:24:00,930 --> 00:24:04,210 Speaker 2: heavenly kingdom. So I pray with all my heart. Let's 508 00:24:04,230 --> 00:24:07,090 Speaker 2: just pray right now. If you're ready, let's pray. Dear Jesus, 509 00:24:07,109 --> 00:24:12,889 Speaker 2: I am a sinner and I need a savior. I confess, 510 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:14,460 Speaker 2: I believe. 511 00:24:15,060 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: That you were Lord. 512 00:24:16,220 --> 00:24:19,220 Speaker 2: I believe that you came to earth and lived a 513 00:24:19,270 --> 00:24:22,129 Speaker 2: sinless life and you died a brutal death on the 514 00:24:22,170 --> 00:24:25,689 Speaker 2: cross for my sin. I believe that your death on 515 00:24:25,710 --> 00:24:29,450 Speaker 2: the cross paid for my sin, but then you rose again. 516 00:24:29,470 --> 00:24:33,669 Speaker 2: And the Bible said, you made a public spectacle of 517 00:24:33,690 --> 00:24:37,030 Speaker 2: the powers that oppose me. You rose again so that 518 00:24:37,090 --> 00:24:40,210 Speaker 2: I could be free. So I acknowledge that I'm a sinner. 519 00:24:40,530 --> 00:24:42,949 Speaker 2: I believe that you are Lord and I confess you 520 00:24:43,030 --> 00:24:45,970 Speaker 2: as my Lord. Come into my life. Be my Lord 521 00:24:46,030 --> 00:24:49,710 Speaker 2: and Savior. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me of 522 00:24:50,030 --> 00:24:51,109 Speaker 2: all unrighteousness. 523 00:24:51,650 --> 00:24:52,430 Speaker 1: Heal my soul. 524 00:24:52,530 --> 00:24:54,869 Speaker 2: Make me whole and fill me with your Holy Spirit. 525 00:24:55,670 --> 00:24:58,470 Speaker 2: Thank you, Lord, that I'm saved. I am an heir 526 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:01,380 Speaker 2: and I will walk in your presence as I live 527 00:25:01,420 --> 00:25:03,900 Speaker 2: here on earth. I will live expectant for your return. 528 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 2: And when I see you face to face, I will 529 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 2: be like you, for I will see you as you are. 530 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: My eternity is secure in Jesus name. Amen. 531 00:25:13,900 --> 00:25:16,810 Speaker 3: Amen. Well, we need to take another break, which is 532 00:25:16,890 --> 00:25:21,270 Speaker 3: actually perfect timing for listeners. You can reflect on what 533 00:25:21,450 --> 00:25:24,550 Speaker 3: Susie said and really sit in. If you said that 534 00:25:24,609 --> 00:25:26,730 Speaker 3: prayer with her right now, I encourage you to reach 535 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 3: out to me through my website, through social media, reach 536 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,860 Speaker 3: out to somebody that can walk beside you in that. 537 00:25:33,980 --> 00:25:37,460 Speaker 3: When we return, Susie, I want to circle back to 538 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:42,150 Speaker 3: that wrestling season when you weren't hearing God, because I'm 539 00:25:42,290 --> 00:25:47,630 Speaker 3: interested to know what God does, his work in our 540 00:25:47,790 --> 00:25:50,690 Speaker 3: soul to kind of remove the barriers that make it 541 00:25:50,730 --> 00:25:52,470 Speaker 3: hard to hear him. So we'll be back in just 542 00:25:52,510 --> 00:25:52,770 Speaker 3: a minute. 543 00:26:00,490 --> 00:26:00,990 Speaker 1: We're back. 544 00:26:01,530 --> 00:26:04,629 Speaker 3: And as you were talking about the wrestling before, and 545 00:26:04,890 --> 00:26:07,860 Speaker 3: what I perceived from that as a season of where 546 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,220 Speaker 3: you didn't, whether you heard him or didn't know if 547 00:26:10,260 --> 00:26:12,940 Speaker 3: you heard him or not, So I'm wondering, what does 548 00:26:12,980 --> 00:26:18,050 Speaker 3: God do in our souls through that wrestling to maybe 549 00:26:18,530 --> 00:26:21,610 Speaker 3: remove barriers we don't know that are hindering our ability 550 00:26:21,650 --> 00:26:25,470 Speaker 3: to hear him? You know, when you walk through these 551 00:26:25,530 --> 00:26:28,050 Speaker 3: silent seasons, I think I would do the work to 552 00:26:28,150 --> 00:26:32,650 Speaker 3: make sure there's nothing that you're doing to hinder your 553 00:26:32,690 --> 00:26:35,670 Speaker 3: own ability to hear him. And don't hear me say 554 00:26:35,730 --> 00:26:37,990 Speaker 3: that like your suffering is your fault or your silent 555 00:26:38,010 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 3: season is your fault. But in Psalm 139, it says, 556 00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 3: Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me 557 00:26:43,100 --> 00:26:45,419 Speaker 3: and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me 558 00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 3: that offends you and lead me in your everlasting way. 559 00:26:48,340 --> 00:26:50,400 Speaker 3: I've heard so many stories of people saying they thought 560 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 3: they were in a dark night of the soul where, 561 00:26:53,180 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 3: you know, God wasn't speaking. But when they prayed that prayer, 562 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,330 Speaker 3: the Lord showed them you're holding bitterness against so-and-so. You 563 00:26:59,369 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 3: need to forgive so-and-so. Or I've asked you to obey 564 00:27:02,790 --> 00:27:05,310 Speaker 3: me a month ago and you've been ignoring me. 565 00:27:05,430 --> 00:27:05,950 Speaker 1: There's a book. 566 00:27:06,090 --> 00:27:09,260 Speaker 2: It's called Christ the Healer. And it's a hundred years old, 567 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 2: but it's still, I've read a lot of books on healing. 568 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: To me, it's the most biblical book I've ever read 569 00:27:13,260 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: of making a biblical case to believe for miraculous healing. 570 00:27:17,220 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 2: But in there, he talks about walking with God is 571 00:27:19,380 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 2: like a chess game. He says, God will make a 572 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 2: move and then you make a move. And he said, 573 00:27:24,180 --> 00:27:26,220 Speaker 2: God will never move out of turn and he will 574 00:27:26,260 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 2: never take your turn. So it's yours to discern whose 575 00:27:28,820 --> 00:27:31,460 Speaker 2: move it is. And I love that so much because 576 00:27:31,500 --> 00:27:35,109 Speaker 2: there's times when the silence is, God's waiting for you 577 00:27:35,140 --> 00:27:36,850 Speaker 2: to do the very last thing he told you to do. 578 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,820 Speaker 2: And so for me, I like to really search out, 579 00:27:39,940 --> 00:27:42,060 Speaker 2: is there anything that I am missing? And there are 580 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 2: times where you, like even Paul said, my conscience is clear, 581 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,180 Speaker 2: but it doesn't mean I'm innocent. You know, David said, 582 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:50,060 Speaker 2: cleanse me from presumptuous sins. Show me the things that 583 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 2: I cannot see. So I'll start there. And if there's 584 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 2: nothing the Lord is showing me, then I pick up 585 00:27:56,140 --> 00:27:58,510 Speaker 2: old journals and I pick up the word. And I 586 00:27:58,550 --> 00:28:01,270 Speaker 2: just remember what he's told me. I think journaling is 587 00:28:01,330 --> 00:28:05,070 Speaker 2: so important, especially writing down the promises that God has 588 00:28:05,109 --> 00:28:08,070 Speaker 2: highlighted for you. And I just sit with those things. 589 00:28:08,210 --> 00:28:11,750 Speaker 2: I've been through some pretty significant silent seasons. 590 00:28:12,310 --> 00:28:13,130 Speaker 1: And I'll wrap with this. 591 00:28:13,830 --> 00:28:15,969 Speaker 2: In Streams in the Desert, there's a story, and I'm 592 00:28:16,010 --> 00:28:17,890 Speaker 2: paraphrasing it because it's been a little while since I've 593 00:28:17,950 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 2: read it, but I love it so much. There's a 594 00:28:20,910 --> 00:28:22,899 Speaker 2: woman who had a dream. And in the dream, there 595 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,100 Speaker 2: were three women kneeling before Jesus. And in the dream, 596 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,500 Speaker 2: the woman who's having the dream is standing with an angel. 597 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,640 Speaker 2: And the angel says to her, watch what Jesus does 598 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 2: with these women and tell me what you see. And 599 00:28:34,260 --> 00:28:36,700 Speaker 2: the first one, he goes up, they're all kneeling down 600 00:28:36,740 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 2: and he rustles her hair and he holds her face 601 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 2: and he speaks tenderly to her. The next one, he 602 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,380 Speaker 2: doesn't do that, but he kind of just pats her 603 00:28:43,420 --> 00:28:45,790 Speaker 2: on the head. The third one, he looks away and 604 00:28:45,830 --> 00:28:48,350 Speaker 2: walks away. And the woman says, well, the first one 605 00:28:48,410 --> 00:28:50,750 Speaker 2: is all in believer and he's so proud of her 606 00:28:50,790 --> 00:28:53,250 Speaker 2: and he's affirming the way that she lives for him. 607 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:55,230 Speaker 2: The second one is kind of one foot in and 608 00:28:55,310 --> 00:28:57,490 Speaker 2: one foot out. And third one is squandering her calling. 609 00:28:58,110 --> 00:29:00,030 Speaker 2: And he says, you couldn't be more wrong. He said, 610 00:29:00,050 --> 00:29:01,930 Speaker 2: the first one is a brand new believer and is 611 00:29:02,470 --> 00:29:06,330 Speaker 2: very dependent on on outward signs of affirmation and confirmation. 612 00:29:06,770 --> 00:29:09,850 Speaker 2: The second one is maturing in her faith and God 613 00:29:09,910 --> 00:29:13,810 Speaker 2: is teaching her and training her to obey even when 614 00:29:14,270 --> 00:29:17,650 Speaker 2: she doesn't sense or see or feel a confirmation. And 615 00:29:17,690 --> 00:29:20,190 Speaker 2: the third one is being raised up for greatness and 616 00:29:20,350 --> 00:29:22,930 Speaker 2: basically being weaned off all of the need. And that's 617 00:29:22,970 --> 00:29:24,969 Speaker 2: that we can live forever that way, but there are 618 00:29:25,050 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 2: seasons where you go, I'm putting a flag in the ground. 619 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,930 Speaker 2: I'm gonna stand on the promises even if they don't 620 00:29:29,990 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: feel true. And that just put fire in my belly 621 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,460 Speaker 2: just because I thought, I've been through those seasons. 622 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 1: So that helped me a lot. 623 00:29:37,900 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 2: So I first would search my own heart and say, Lord, 624 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:42,940 Speaker 2: show me if there's any on-ramp I have given the 625 00:29:43,020 --> 00:29:47,060 Speaker 2: enemy to block my capacity to hear you, any disobedience, 626 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:51,700 Speaker 2: anything in my life. And if there's nothing there, then 627 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:55,170 Speaker 2: I do the James 4.7, submit to God, resist the devil, 628 00:29:55,330 --> 00:29:57,530 Speaker 2: and he will flee. And submit to God is a 629 00:29:57,570 --> 00:30:00,490 Speaker 2: military term. It means get back in rank. So Okay, 630 00:30:01,210 --> 00:30:03,490 Speaker 2: I haven't sensed anything that I'm out of rank. And 631 00:30:03,510 --> 00:30:05,390 Speaker 2: so I'm in rank. So I'm going to use the 632 00:30:05,410 --> 00:30:07,150 Speaker 2: authority you've given me. And I'm going to tell that devil, 633 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 2: get out of here. You don't get to interfere with 634 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 2: my time with God. And I take that authority. And 635 00:30:12,980 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 2: then if I'm still not hearing anything, I put on 636 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,700 Speaker 2: worship music. I read through my old journals. I read scripture. 637 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 2: And I know this too shall pass. And when you 638 00:30:21,020 --> 00:30:25,180 Speaker 2: stay the course in those seasons, what I have experienced 639 00:30:25,340 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 2: is when the season passes, there's just a wave of refreshing. 640 00:30:28,420 --> 00:30:31,380 Speaker 2: where suddenly the word leaps off the page and you 641 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 2: understand that you've been in a training time. So that's 642 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,930 Speaker 2: just been my experience in those tough seasons. 643 00:30:37,330 --> 00:30:37,530 Speaker 1: Yeah. 644 00:30:37,890 --> 00:30:40,570 Speaker 3: I think also, and we gotta wrap this up, but 645 00:30:40,670 --> 00:30:45,130 Speaker 3: I wonder if sometimes comparison can get in the way. 646 00:30:45,190 --> 00:30:47,090 Speaker 3: Like I'll share for me a lot of times how 647 00:30:47,130 --> 00:30:50,470 Speaker 3: God will speak. I will just get an intense emotion. 648 00:30:50,890 --> 00:30:54,580 Speaker 3: Like usually it'll be like deep, deep compassion that just 649 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:57,340 Speaker 3: comes out of nowhere. And there's like a knowing of 650 00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 3: somebody else's pain. 651 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: I guess. Wow. That's not audible. Like there's no words there. 652 00:31:02,140 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: I don't need words. 653 00:31:03,460 --> 00:31:08,450 Speaker 3: So talk to me about comparison, like, okay, well, maybe 654 00:31:08,570 --> 00:31:10,290 Speaker 3: Susie got a visual here. 655 00:31:10,390 --> 00:31:12,650 Speaker 1: I didn't get a visual. So I must be a 656 00:31:12,690 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: lesser Christian. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, dear. 657 00:31:16,980 --> 00:31:19,300 Speaker 2: I love that you asked this because that, you know, 658 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:22,460 Speaker 2: Scripture says when you compare, you're just not wise. And 659 00:31:22,500 --> 00:31:24,860 Speaker 2: I think it was Oswald Chambers who said, let God 660 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 2: be as original with others. 661 00:31:26,220 --> 00:31:26,940 Speaker 1: As he is with you. 662 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,350 Speaker 2: I love that he speaks to you through that emotion 663 00:31:30,380 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 2: because Jesus led with compassion. That's what moved him when 664 00:31:33,580 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 2: he saw the crowds. And quite honestly, there's times that's 665 00:31:36,460 --> 00:31:38,480 Speaker 2: how God speaks to me where I'll have a supernatural 666 00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 2: love for someone. 667 00:31:39,100 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: I don't hear any words or any direction, just a deep, 668 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: deep love. 669 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:45,750 Speaker 2: And then I do the next thing I sense that 670 00:31:45,770 --> 00:31:48,930 Speaker 2: he wants me to do. And so I think we've 671 00:31:48,950 --> 00:31:51,670 Speaker 2: got so much to just learn to live like deeply 672 00:31:51,710 --> 00:31:53,650 Speaker 2: loved children of God. We have to learn to live 673 00:31:53,730 --> 00:31:56,430 Speaker 2: loved and trust that he's going to speak to us 674 00:31:56,490 --> 00:32:00,170 Speaker 2: in a way that we understand. And start to love 675 00:32:00,210 --> 00:32:02,950 Speaker 2: your story and love your relationship with him and love 676 00:32:02,970 --> 00:32:05,450 Speaker 2: the way he communicates to you because he knows what 677 00:32:05,510 --> 00:32:08,550 Speaker 2: you need to hear. He knows how you need to hear. 678 00:32:08,570 --> 00:32:12,750 Speaker 2: And he's that meticulous and that miraculous. But when we 679 00:32:12,790 --> 00:32:14,970 Speaker 2: look to the left or right, we're setting ourselves up 680 00:32:15,010 --> 00:32:18,610 Speaker 2: for discontentment and for deception and discouragement. 681 00:32:18,650 --> 00:32:19,650 Speaker 1: All the disses, you know? 682 00:32:20,390 --> 00:32:23,260 Speaker 2: So refrain from that as best you can and enjoy 683 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:25,980 Speaker 2: the Lord. And one quick last thing I'll say about 684 00:32:26,020 --> 00:32:29,350 Speaker 2: this is, um, A.W. Tozer, he's one of my favorite 685 00:32:29,510 --> 00:32:31,730 Speaker 2: dead guys. There's a few of those guys that I love. 686 00:32:31,780 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 2: But he wondered, if God is no respecter of persons, 687 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,420 Speaker 2: why do some people go on to do amazing things 688 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 2: in the kingdom and others not so much? So he 689 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 2: studied biblical history and world history up to the point 690 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,510 Speaker 2: in his life. And what he learned is the differences 691 00:32:47,570 --> 00:32:49,670 Speaker 2: could not have been more stark. You know, one was black, 692 00:32:49,770 --> 00:32:52,930 Speaker 2: one was white, one was rich, one was poor, educated, uneducated. 693 00:32:52,970 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 2: There was all these differences in the sampling of people 694 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 2: that he just looked into their lives. But he said 695 00:32:58,260 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 2: there was one common denominator in all of their lives 696 00:33:01,660 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 2: of these people who went on and did amazing things 697 00:33:03,660 --> 00:33:07,270 Speaker 2: for God. And he called it spiritual receptivity. He said 698 00:33:07,330 --> 00:33:10,010 Speaker 2: they oriented their life towards God to such a degree 699 00:33:10,110 --> 00:33:13,230 Speaker 2: that they made listening for his voice the most important 700 00:33:13,290 --> 00:33:17,470 Speaker 2: thing about them. And when he spoke, they did something 701 00:33:17,550 --> 00:33:20,110 Speaker 2: about it. He said, spiritual receptivity. 702 00:33:20,750 --> 00:33:21,570 Speaker 1: That is the thing. 703 00:33:21,670 --> 00:33:24,330 Speaker 2: And I couldn't love that more. And that's why to me, 704 00:33:24,380 --> 00:33:26,760 Speaker 2: it always goes back to intimacy with God. It's not 705 00:33:26,820 --> 00:33:29,719 Speaker 2: what you do. It's who he is and who you 706 00:33:29,860 --> 00:33:32,980 Speaker 2: are with him. And from that place, then you live loved. 707 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,380 Speaker 2: You live out of the overflow. You're not living to 708 00:33:35,420 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 2: prove anything. 709 00:33:37,010 --> 00:33:37,370 Speaker 1: I love that. 710 00:33:37,390 --> 00:33:41,270 Speaker 3: And I especially love that you emphasized learning to live loved. 711 00:33:41,310 --> 00:33:45,050 Speaker 3: And that's one thing your content does consistently. You don't 712 00:33:45,130 --> 00:33:48,280 Speaker 3: shy away from the struggles, from the trauma, the difficulties. 713 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 3: And I want to tell listeners about your latest book, 714 00:33:52,300 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 3: More Than You Can Imagine, What God Does When You 715 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:59,540 Speaker 3: Trust Him. Susie Larson invites readers to deepen their faith, 716 00:33:59,820 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 3: strengthen their trust, and live with greater confidence in God's promises. 717 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:09,140 Speaker 3: Through personal stories, biblical truth, prayers, and reflection questions, she 718 00:34:09,219 --> 00:34:12,620 Speaker 3: explores what it means to build an inner life anchored 719 00:34:12,660 --> 00:34:16,120 Speaker 3: in God's goodness, faithfulness, and love, drawing from her own 720 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:21,250 Speaker 3: health journey family experiences, and stories of everyday believers. She 721 00:34:21,370 --> 00:34:24,830 Speaker 3: offers hope for those facing fear, hardship, and uncertainty. She 722 00:34:24,910 --> 00:34:29,410 Speaker 3: explores God's healing presence, his power to restore broken stories, 723 00:34:29,890 --> 00:34:34,210 Speaker 3: and his invitation to live with courage and trust, blending testimony, scripture, 724 00:34:34,250 --> 00:34:38,300 Speaker 3: and practical application. The book encourages readers towards spiritual renewal 725 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,719 Speaker 3: and a deeper, more vibrant walk with God. And I 726 00:34:41,860 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 3: want to close with this. I really want listeners to 727 00:34:44,980 --> 00:34:46,940 Speaker 3: to hear this. I want to circle back to your 728 00:34:46,980 --> 00:34:52,770 Speaker 3: original story when you were wrestling and broken and discouraged 729 00:34:52,830 --> 00:34:54,880 Speaker 3: and feeling disconnected from God. 730 00:34:54,890 --> 00:34:58,279 Speaker 1: How many, so that was how many decades ago? Three 731 00:34:58,320 --> 00:34:59,240 Speaker 1: decades ago. Okay. 732 00:34:59,610 --> 00:35:04,500 Speaker 3: Three decades of pushing through, of wrestling authentically, of pursuing God, 733 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 3: even when it was hard and maybe felt like it 734 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 3: wasn't working. And now, back to how I introduced you 735 00:35:10,180 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 3: on the show, you are doing mighty work for God's kingdom. 736 00:35:13,580 --> 00:35:15,570 Speaker 1: Not just because of your numbers, actually, Susie. 737 00:35:16,030 --> 00:35:20,989 Speaker 3: It's more because you are authentically showing what it looks 738 00:35:21,070 --> 00:35:25,549 Speaker 3: like to walk out faith, living loved and living authentic 739 00:35:25,730 --> 00:35:26,590 Speaker 3: in our struggle. 740 00:35:26,610 --> 00:35:26,810 Speaker 1: Amen. 741 00:35:28,150 --> 00:35:31,550 Speaker 3: I believe you are breaking shame for a lot of 742 00:35:31,590 --> 00:35:34,129 Speaker 3: people and, and while God is using you to break 743 00:35:34,190 --> 00:35:37,339 Speaker 3: shame and to pave the way for exactly what, what 744 00:35:37,380 --> 00:35:40,759 Speaker 3: your book is intending to do, bring freedom to others. 745 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,860 Speaker 3: And so I thank you very much for sharing. I 746 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:46,460 Speaker 3: know it's a busy season for you for sharing your 747 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:48,980 Speaker 3: time with my listeners. I hope they hear that you 748 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:52,040 Speaker 3: by the Holy, well, let me rephrase it. God brought 749 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:56,830 Speaker 3: you here for them. so that they can experience increased 750 00:35:56,969 --> 00:35:58,649 Speaker 3: intimacy with him. So I thank you for that. 751 00:35:59,250 --> 00:35:59,570 Speaker 1: Honored. 752 00:35:59,989 --> 00:36:02,930 Speaker 2: And that one person, if you said yes to Jesus, 753 00:36:02,969 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 2: let Jennifer know, because it's the most important decision you'll 754 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,739 Speaker 2: ever make and the most expensive miracle that God paid for. 755 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:13,379 Speaker 2: And you're worth it to him. So thank you so 756 00:36:13,420 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 2: much for having me today. 757 00:36:14,500 --> 00:36:16,740 Speaker 1: It's an honor to be with you. Amen. 758 00:36:17,210 --> 00:36:20,049 Speaker 3: To my listeners, thank you for listening. I hope this 759 00:36:20,150 --> 00:36:23,790 Speaker 3: conversation encouraged you. If you haven't already done so, I 760 00:36:23,830 --> 00:36:26,529 Speaker 3: encourage you to subscribe to this podcast. Then you won't 761 00:36:26,570 --> 00:36:29,089 Speaker 3: miss a single episode. Make sure to rate it and 762 00:36:29,270 --> 00:36:32,049 Speaker 3: review it. That encourages me and it also helps others 763 00:36:32,090 --> 00:36:35,160 Speaker 3: to find our content. Until next time, may you live 764 00:36:35,219 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 3: as one who truly has been set free.