God’s Voice or My Desires? How to Know the Difference
Here's a question I hear often: "How do I know if I'm hearing God's voice or just listening to my own desires?"
It's a legitimate question, and the fact that you're asking it shows you care about getting it right. There is a real difference between what God is calling you to do and what you want to do, and often, those two things are in direct conflict.
Let me be blunt: God's calling rarely feels comfortable.
We live in a culture that celebrates following your dreams and pursuing your passions. "Listen to your heart," they tell us. "Do what makes you happy." "Follow your bliss." There is nothing wrong with joy or fulfillment. But here's what nobody tells you: God's calling on your life might ask you to do something that feels completely wrong by the world's standards.
Tasting God’s Word, Not Just Checking Boxes
Yup, I've been guilty of it. I sit down with my Bible and reading plan, determined to knock out my chapters for the day. I glance at the clock, calculate how much time I have, and speed-read through the passages like I'm cramming for a test. Check, check, check. Done. Box ticked. Gold star earned. But when I close my Bible, I can't remember a single thing I just read.
Sound familiar?
There's a surge of Bible reading happening right now. Millions of people are starting 2026 with the intention of reading Scripture more faithfully. Bible sales rose 11% in 2025, with more than 18 million Bibles sold. Weekly Bible reading is at its highest level in 15 years. This is wonderful news! But I'm concerned that maybe we've turned Bible reading into another item on our to-do list instead of what it truly is: an invitation to encounter the Living God.
Unveiling Our True Selves to God
In Exodus 34, we encounter a unique story about Moses. When he came down from Mount Sinai after speaking with God and getting the second set of tablets bearing the Ten Commandments, his face shone radiantly. This divine glow was a physical sign of his close communion with the Almighty. However, it frightened the Israelites, so Moses covered his face with a veil among the people.
And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. - Exodus 34:35
Harmony in Unresolved Melodies
Ah, the sweet sound of a resolved chord, a musical sigh of contentment that brings a smile to our faces. I'm with you on that one! There's something deeply satisfying about a piece of music that ends on the perfect note, giving us a sense of completion. However, it’s becoming quite the trend to end a musical piece on an unresolved note. It drives me crazy! I feel like we’re in the middle of the song, and then suddenly, we’re on to the next song. Huh? What just happened?
What’s Going On Beneath the Surface?
Hey there, friends! Today, I've got a story to tell you, and it all started when the shower and internet went out simultaneously in our house. Yep, last week, our cosy home experienced a weird, isolated power outage. We had lights and electricity in most of the house, but the power shower (popular in the UK) and the outlet our router was plugged into went dead. Things were very interesting for several moments as Jason was using the shower and I was using the internet when they both suddenly quit. No fun!