The Wisdom of Listening First

“Listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:6 (MSG)

In Luke 8:8, Jesus told a crowd who was gathered around him, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (NIV). He had something to say—and it was important for them to listen.

The same is true for me. God wants to talk to me—and I need to take time to hear him.

When I hear from God, it proves that you’re in his family. If I don’t have any communication with God, then I don’t have a relationship with him, I just know about him; I don’t really know him. But when I communicate with God—talking to and listening to each other—that proves I have a relationship.

Hearing from God protects me from mistakes, too. When I start listening to God, I find that he warns me about potholes, traps, and bends in the road. I save yourself a lot of time, energy, frustration, and failure when I listen to God and do things his way.

The Message paraphrase of the Bible says, “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track” (Proverbs 3:6). Sometimes he just says one or two words like—“Don’t,” or “No,” or “Watch out.” That’s all he needs to say.

And hearing from God also produces success in life. Not the way the world defines success—by wealth or popularity or prestige. That’s not success. Instead, success is exactly who God made me to be. Success is what results from living in the center of God’s will.

In Psalm 32, God promises, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8 NLT). Notice that God promises to lead me on the best path for my life. What he’s planned for me is different from what he’s planned for everybody else—because he knows that what’s best for someone else isn’t necessarily best for me.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NLT). I need to be sure to take time to listen to the Good Shepherd today.

In summary:

God desires an ongoing, personal relationship with me—and that begins with learning to listen to His voice in all I do. When I take time to hear from Him, it confirms that I belong to His family and protects me from wrong turns, wasted effort, and unnecessary frustration. Proverbs 3:6 reminds me to “listen for God’s voice in everything,” because He alone keeps me on the right path. Hearing His guidance isn’t about achieving worldly success but about living in alignment with His will—becoming who He created me to be. Like a shepherd leading his sheep, God promises to guide, advise, and watch over me, showing me the best pathway for my life when I choose to listen and follow.

Bottom Line:

When I slow down and listen for God’s voice, He keeps me on the right path—protecting, guiding, and aligning me with His perfect will for my life.

My Next steps:

Build intentional listening time into my daily rhythm—quiet space to hear from God before leading, planning, or creating.

I already lead, coach, and influence others from a place of purpose. I should strengthen that influence by deepening my dependence on divine guidance. Begin each day not with what I must do, but with a moment of surrender: “Lord, what are You saying to me today?” Write down what I sense, align my priorities with it, and let my actions flow from that place of peace and clarity. From that stillness, my leadership will gain even greater spiritual authority, authenticity, and impact.

When the Spirit Speaks: Learning to Hear God’s Guidance Daily

“The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said when I was with you.” John 14:26 (CEV)

God gave me the Holy Spirit? He is God’s gift to me, showing me how to live faithfully in this world. God speaks to me through ideas and thoughts and suggestions from the Holy Spirit—and it’s called inspiration.

Jesus said in John 14:26, “The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said when I was with you” (CEV). The Holy Spirit is my teacher. The Bible also calls him my Counselor. He’s like a personal coach. 

His name is the Holy Spirit. I can constantly ask him? "What does he want me to do? What’s the next step? How can I be obedient to God?”

A paraphrase of John 14:26 says the Holy Spirit will “bring to your minds all that I have said to you” (Phillips). The Holy Spirit doesn’t speak in an audible voice. But he doesn’t need to go through your ears when he can go directly to my mind, bringing me whatever I need to know for the next step.

If the Holy Spirit works by bringing something to my mind, then there must be something already there to remind me of. That’s why I need to read the Bible. When I read and study and fill my mind with God’s Word, I am storing up truth. Then the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind at just the right time.

There will be many times when I'm under stress, dealing with a problem, or resisting a temptation—and I won’t have my Bible with me. Even if I have an app on my phone, I might not know where to look for help. But if I've hidden God’s Word in my heart, then the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind.

I don’t have to get something out of the Bible every time I read it. But with regular Bible study and Scripture memorization, I'm storing up truth in my mind that God can use later to speak to me—right when I need it most.

In Summary:

God has given me the Holy Spirit as a personal teacher, counselor, and guide to help me live faithfully and make wise decisions. Jesus promised that the Spirit would teach me and remind me of His words, speaking to my mind through thoughts and insights rather than an audible voice. But for the Holy Spirit to remind me of God’s truth, I first need to fill my mind with Scripture. By regularly reading, studying, and memorizing God’s Word, I store up truth that the Spirit can bring to mind in moments of stress, temptation, or decision. The Holy Spirit uses what’s already in my heart to guide me, comfort me, and keep me aligned with God’s will.

Bottom Line:

Stay filled with God’s Word so the Holy Spirit can guide me when I need it most. The Spirit speaks by reminding me of truth already in my heart—so the more Scripture I store within, the more clearly I'll hear His direction and walk in wisdom.

The Number One Way God Speaks to You

“Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CEV)

The number one way God speaks is through his Word.

A lot of people wish God would just write in the sky what he wants them to do. But God isn’t going to write in the sky what he’s already written in his Book!

Everything I need to know God and live a life of purpose and meaning is found in his Word. If I'm not opening the Bible and reading the Bible, then God isn’t talking to me very much—and I miss out.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live” (CEV).

God gave us the Bible for four reasons: to teach us, to help us, to correct us, and to show us how to live. Notice it says “everything” and “all of it.” Everything in the Bible is God’s Word, and all of it is useful. That means it’s 100 percent reliable and 100 percent practical. I can use it for every part of my life, for the rest of my life.

Some parts of the Bible are hard to understand. Some parts I’ll have to study more than others. But it’s all there for a reason: to help me.

This is why a consistent quiet time—where I spend time with God and study the Bible every day—is so important. I can simply sit down every day for 10 minutes and give God my attention and focus. I read the Bible and listen to him speak. I talk to him in prayer. I get to know him and let him teach me, help me, correct me, and show me how to live through his Word.

Why is it so important? Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path” (GNT).

The Bible is like a flashlight for life. It’s not a high intensity beam that’s going to show me the next three years of my life. Instead, it’s going to give me enough light for my next step, and then I trust God for the rest.

That’s called walking by faith. And I learn to do it by studying God’s Word, doing what it says, and taking it one day at a time. 

In Summary:

God primarily speaks through His Word, which contains everything needed to know Him and live with purpose. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, helping, correcting, and guiding me in how to live. The Bible is 100% reliable and practical for every part of life, even when parts are challenging to understand. Spending daily time with God through Scripture and prayer allows Him to speak, shape, and strengthen me. His Word serves as a lamp that lights the next step, not the entire path—teaching me to walk by faith, one step at a time, trusting His guidance each day.

Bottom Line:

If I want to hear from God and walk in His purpose, stay in His Word daily. Scripture is His voice, my guide, and the steady light for each next step—teaching me to trust Him one day at a time.

Leading from a Place of Peace

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

It’s increasingly difficult to stay focused on true things. The Bible says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).

This requires a mental shift. It means I might have to build new, better habits.

My mind is bombarded with lies every single day. Advertisements and social media tell me that if I don't think, dress, or act a certain way, I don't matter. When I was growing up, I was often told that if I'm not good at academics or athletics, I don't matter. This world is full of lies, and I’ve believed many of them. But they're just not true. And not only that, but they can lead to stress and unrest in your life.

The only way to counter those lies is to fill my mind with the truth. And the truth is, God loves me. I matter to him. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

To be set free means to have a breakthrough—and I need to have a breakthrough! One of the most powerful ways to get there is by spending time in God’s Word every day. That’s where real transformation begins.

If I think you can’t do that, just consider how many hours I'm spending on social media, watching TV, or listening to the news. How am I going to have a healthy mind if I'm filling it with lies instead of truth?

Not everything I hear is true. Not everything I read is true. Not everything I tell myself is even true. I've got to get into the Bible every day, because God always speaks what is true. I can trust what he says about me and the promises he’s made to me in his Word.

What happens when I keep your mind on true things?

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

I'd like to have my heart and mind at rest. That's a breakthrough everyone needs: less stress and more rest. Get started on a breakthrough today by getting into God’s Word.

In summary:

Staying focused on truth in today’s world takes intentional effort and a renewed mindset. Philippians 4:8 calls me to fix my thoughts on what is true, right, pure, and praiseworthy—but that means replacing the daily lies I hear from media, culture, and even my own thoughts with God’s truth. The Bible reminds us that we matter deeply to God, and only His Word can free me from the stress and unrest that come from believing falsehoods. Real breakthrough and lasting peace come when I consistently fill my mind with Scripture rather than noise, allowing God’s truth to renew my thinking and bring rest to my heart.

Bottom Line:

Keep my mind anchored in God’s truth every day. When I choose to focus on what’s true and life-giving instead of the noise and lies around me, my thoughts, emotions, and perspective align with God’s peace—and that’s where real transformation and strength begin.

I need to start each day in Scripture and prayer — not for information, but transformation. Let God’s Word shape my thoughts before the world does.

Persistent Prayer Reveals My Priorities

“These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:32-33 (NLT)

God is wanting and waiting to answer my prayers. So when I pray for something more than once, it’s not because I need to convince God to do it. Instead, my persistent prayers let God know what's really important to me.

In other words, praying persistently tests my priorities. If it's not worth praying about repeatedly, then it isn't a priority.

What is most important to me is whatever I worry about most. Worry tells me what's important in my life. If I worry about it, it's important to me. If I don't worry about it, then either I've entrusted it to God, or it's not that important.

Every time I start to worry, I should stop and turn the worry into a prayer. If I prayed about everything I worried about, I'd have a lot less to worry about. Worry won't change anything. But prayer can!

Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, "These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:32-33 NLT).

When my priorities are right, God's answer is “yes.” He'll give me all I need if my first concern is to live for his kingdom. Often, "I'm waiting on God to answer this prayer." Am I waiting on God, or is he waiting on me? Maybe he wants to test my desires and priorities. He wants to know what’s most important to me before he gives me an answer.

The Bible promises, "The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right" (Psalm 84:11 NLT).

When I'm living for Jesus—when I'm giving him my attention and stay connected to him—then he is ready to give me what my heart desires.

God won’t hold back any of his goodness!

In summary:

Prayer is less about convincing God and more about revealing my priorities. Persistent prayer shows what matters most, while worry highlights the areas I need to entrust to Him. Instead of letting anxiety dominate, I can turn every worry into prayer, knowing God already understands my needs. Jesus teaches that when I seek God’s kingdom first and live righteously, He promises to provide everything I need. Often it’s not about waiting on God, but Him waiting on me to align my desires with His will. When I live for Him and stay connected, He holds nothing good back from me. If it's not worth praying about repeatedly, then it isn't a priority.

Bottom line:

When I make seeking God and His Kingdom my first priority, He promises to meet all my needs—so turn worries into prayers and trust His provision.

My next wisest step:

I need to be sure I'm aligning my Priorities for Kingdom Impact. If my foundation (time, energy, focus) is aligned with my highest calling then my influence for others grows naturally, and everything else (content, coaching, tools) flows with greater authority and authenticity.

How to Give God Your Attention

"My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help. He will keep me from any traps." Psalm 25:15 (NCV)

The Bible says God is always thinking about you. But how often do I pause to think about him? He’s not distant—he’s near, waiting for my attention, not because he needs it, but because he loves me.

God wants my attention! But how do I give it to him? One way is to pray about something over and over.

God had a particular affection for King David, and one reason is because David gave God his attention all the time. David said, "My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help. He will keep me from any traps" (Psalm 25:15 NCV). That means David was persistent in prayer. 

Like King David, I face unexpected traps every day. God is the only one who knows them in advance, and persistent prayer is the best way to show that I'm trusting him to keep me safe.

When I'm going up a mountain road, it’s always helpful to be able to anticipate what’s ahead. But if I'm stuck behind a slow truck and can't see around the curve ahead, it can be really frustrating. At that moment, how helpful would a helicopter be to give me the “all clear” to pass?

God is like that helicopter. He can see what I can't see. He can see the traps I'm going to have this week, this month, and this year. If I will give him my attention and focus, he’ll go ahead of me and show me how to navigate those traps.

The Bible says, "Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" (Psalm 105:4 ESV). How often should I seek God? Continually. Prayer is not something to be checked off a list. It is an ongoing conversation.

Be persistent in my prayer. Keep seeking God for his direction and help. Don’t stop talking to him! He loves my attention, and he is ready and waiting to answer my prayers.

In summary:

God is always thinking about me and longs for my attention, not because He needs it but because He loves me. Like King David, who persistently prayed and kept his eyes on the Lord for help, I’m called to continually seek God’s guidance and protection from life’s traps. Just as a helicopter sees the road ahead when I can’t, God sees what’s coming in my life and knows how to guide me safely through it. Persistent prayer is how I show trust in Him, keeping my focus on His presence and strength every day. Prayer isn’t a task to complete—it’s an ongoing conversation that keeps me close to the One who leads me forward.

Bottom line:

God longs for my consistent attention, and through persistent prayer and trust in His guidance, He will keep me from traps I can’t see.

My Next Wisest Step:

Build a daily rhythm of intentional, persistent prayer—short check-ins throughout my day, not just long sessions. This aligns with my desire to grow spiritually while also equipping me as a leader and coach. As I practice this rhythm, I'll model attentiveness to God for others and create content (stories, lessons, insights) that naturally flow into my leadership and coaching work.

👉 A practical starting point: Schedule three “attention moments” tomorrow (morning + midday + midevening). Pause, look up, pray briefly, and ask God for direction. Later, note what clarity or peace I sensed—this can become both my personal growth and material for interaction with others.

Daily Prayer-Attention Framework

1. Morning Focus (Start of Day – 2 minutes)

Pause before checking your phone or email.

Pray: “Lord, my eyes are on You today. Guide my steps and help me notice Your presence.”

Scripture Prompt: Psalm 25:15 – “My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help. He will keep me from any traps.”

2. Midday Reset (Middle of Day – 1-2 minutes)

Step away from tasks for a moment.

Pray: “Lord, help me not to miss Your wisdom in what’s ahead. Show me where to slow down, and where to move forward.”

Action: Release any frustration or worry from the morning—reset your attention on God.

3. Evening Reflection (End of Day – 3-5 minutes)

Review the day: Where did I see God guide me? Where did I forget to look to Him?

Pray: “Lord, thank You for today. I trust You with what I couldn’t control. Prepare me for tomorrow.”

Note: Write one sentence of gratitude or a lesson learned.

How to Pray for Others

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

Many people know the Golden Rule, but they may not realize it's connected to prayer: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12 NIV).

That may not sound like it has anything to do with prayer—but it does. When someone asks me to pray for them, and I think, What exactly do I pray? I don’t even know where to start!

Here’s what I can do: Pray for other people the same way you’d like them to pray for me. Would I like to have safety and security and success in my life? Of course. Then pray for safety, security, and success in other people's lives. Would I like God’s financial blessing? Yes. Then pray for the financial blessing of God in other people's lives. Would I like to have a healthy body? Sure. Then pray for other people’s health. Would I like to make better use of my time? We all would! Then pray for others to use their time wisely.

God is my loving Father. The way he treats me as his beloved child is the way he expects me to treat everyone else. Whatever I want God to do for me, pray that same thing for other people.

Learning to pray like this makes me more like Jesus because it makes me more unselfish.

Job 42:10 says, "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before" (NIV).

Job was one of the wealthiest men in the world, and one day, he literally lost it all. His children were killed. His business collapsed. His crops were burned. He lost his home. He got a terrible disease. He was miserable. 

The book of Job doesn't say, "When Job prayed for himself, God heard him." Instead, God says that Job is ready for his blessing when Job begins to pray for his friends.

God is looking for me to be unselfish. When I begin to pray for other people's breakthrough, I'm going to see God provide for my breakthrough, as well.

In summary:

The Golden Rule not only guides how we treat others but also how we pray for them. When I’m unsure what to pray, I can simply pray for others the very things I would want for myself—health, provision, protection, wisdom, or success. This unselfish approach reflects God’s heart and helps me grow to be more like Jesus. Job’s story reminds me that his restoration didn’t come when he prayed for himself but when he prayed for his friends. In the same way, God blesses me as I shift my prayers from self-focused to others-focused. When I pray for their breakthrough, I open the door for God to bring about my own

Bottom line:

Prayer isn’t just about asking for myself—it’s about practicing the Golden Rule by praying for others the way I'd want them to pray for me. When I focus on others’ needs in prayer, God not only grows my heart to be more like Jesus but also positions me for my own breakthrough.

My Next Wisest step:

Begin weaving this principle into both my personal walk and my working and interacting with others. Practically, I could:

Personally: Start a simple daily rhythm of praying for others’ breakthroughs in the areas I also desire (growth, health, provision, purpose).

Publicly/Professionally: Share this lesson as a model of servant leadership, showing others how focusing on others first unlocks growth for themselves.