How to Know When God is Speaking to You

If you're a parent, you know how frustrating it is when your kids don't listen, right? You keep repeating yourself and it seems no one is paying any attention. I think that is how God feels about me sometimes when I run from one thing to another and don't bother to tune in to that still small voice, or worse yet, ignore it. 

God is still speaking to us today. 

So we know that God spoke to people back in the days of the Bible. But God still speaks to his children today. He wants to be in relationship with you and me and what does a good relationship require? Communication. Regular. A relationship can only grow based on the amount of regular and healthy communication. 

God speaks to Each of us Uniquely. 

As I recently explained to my youngest son, God speaks to each of us uniquely. He speaks in ways only we will understand. It doesn't matter whether someone else understands, what matters is that you know when God is speaking to you PERSONALLY .

Personal Story 
This happened a few years ago but first, a little background. Over the years, being a pretty decent dancer myself, I have dated several men who were also good dancers but none of them turned out to be marriage material.

So there was this one guy I had been dancing with on Friday nights who is a really good dancer. I felt like I was in heaven when we danced together. One Friday night, we danced to a particular song and those few minutes were exceptionally memorable.

That weekend, the same song played on the radio, and I started dancing around my condo like Liza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". All of the sudden, the building smoke alarm system goes off chirp chirp chirping and snapped me right out of my reverie. It was quite the rude awakening, you might say.

I knew what it meant immediately. "Stop thinking about that guy. You know where it will lead if you go down that path again. Danger, danger." The message was LOUD and CLEAR. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but I knew that the message was to protect me from making the same mistake again. Where our thoughts go, eventually, we go. 

Now you might laugh it off and say it was just a coincidence, but I know when God speaks to me. And there are no coincidences with Him. If you could have been there and heard that alarm go off while dreamy thoughts danced in your head, it would have scared you smack into obedience too.

Slow Down and Make Time  

A relationship with God is quite similar to any human relationship. A good one requires slowing down and making time to talk to one another and to listen to the other person. Think of Jesus as your invisible friend. 

The problem is many of us are in way too much of a hurry to slow down and listen for God's voice. We are so preoccupied with our plans and our agendas, we care little for what God's plans and agendas for us may be. I have learned that God's plans are MUCH BETTER than my plans. 

God is still speaking to you, too. The best way I can describe it is a strong sense or prompting in your inner spirit. It is easy to dismiss and disregard, but God is trying to guide you and protect you. Start paying attention to that "still small voice". It's almost like a faint whisper sometimes. It's a sensing of someone speaking inaudibly. Practice slowing down and really listening and you will soon recognize how God is speaking to you. 

For Reflection 
Ever have something like this happen to you? What was the message? Did you listen or ignore it and what happened then? God is still speaking to us today and He will use any method to get our attention, even smoke alarms. The question is will we listen and obey, or will we not.

If you'd like to read more about how to hear from God, get a copy of my first book, "The Power of Faith" and read about all the ways God speaks. 

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Stay tuned for more on how to hear from God and 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Make Wise Decisions

Every day we have hundreds of decisions to make. Most of them are small, like what to have for dinner or what color shoes to wear to work. However some decisions are major such as a career decision,  a home purchase, or a relationship decision. These are times we need wisdom, knowledge, and God's guidance.

In some situations such as business decisions, good decision-making is a learned mental skill. Professional football coaches get really good at making decisions in the heat of the moment with limited information. They are mentally trained at making multiple quick decisions. They evaluate the facts, combine it with their experience and execute a decision. Done.

Making Personal Decisions 

These are often more difficult to make because the heart and the mind are both involved. We are torn between conflicting values and it takes quiet time alone with God to get clear on what is most important to us. We want to do the right thing but often we are unclear as to what that is. This is where God and Scripture come in.

Use the Word of God
When I am unsure of a decision, I go straight to the word of God.  It helps me to step outside my emotions and take an objective look at the situation. As a long-time student of the Bible, I am familiar with the principles and ideas in most of the books. A good place to start is the book of Proverbs. There is much wisdom in this book regarding the major facets of life including relationships, finances, child-rearing, lending, and communication to name a few. Write down all the verses pertaining to the issue you are facing, pray about it, and you will get clarity on what to do.

Reverse Your Process 
Many people, however, have this process reversed.  Instead of asking and seeking God's will regarding their decision first, they often make the decision and then, when things don't work out, they talk to God about it. This is not the way it works, folks. God wants the best path for us, but we must make the diligent effort to determine what that is, trusting that God ultimately knows better than we do. He sees the future and we only see with limited vision, often colored by rose-colored glasses or past-experiences. 

God wants the Best for You. 

Don't be afraid to seek his advice and guidance while you are talking to your friends. God is faithful to answer our prayers and guide us in the right path. Let peace be the umpire of your decisions. Where there is no peace, there is no green light. Don't settle for less than God's best. Ask yourself "Is this the best thing for me?" and then listen to that still small voice. 

For Reflection
What decision is keeping you up at nights? God wants us to make good decisions, not ones we will regret. Did you know God promises to guide and direct our steps? All we have to do is ASK. "If anyone of you lacks wisdom, ask God, for he gives it freely and without reproach." (James 1:5). We are not alone in our decision-making. We have a supernatural force that wants to help us make good decisions. 

If this post has encouraged you, do leave a comment and share this post with your friends. Many people would love to know how to make better decisions. My book, "Take Back Your Life: 5 Keys to reclaiming your Personal Power." , will give you practical advice on how to make decisions about your daily life so you can enjoy more peace, less stress, and more joy. 

If you'd like to join our community and receive my weekly posts, enter you email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Hear When God Speaks

Ever wake up in the middle of the night? I do. I used to get frustrated by not being able to get my much needed 8 - 9 hours of beauty rest. I'd do anything to try to get back to sleep - get a snack, put relaxing music on, listen to a podcast. Then one night it dawned on me. Could God be trying to talk to me? Hmmmm. 

I surrendered and listened to that still small voice. Some call it intuition. I call it God. Did you know that sometimes when God can't get our attention during the day, he will wake us up at night to talk? If you're married, you've probably experienced this with your spouse a few times so you know what I'm referring to.

So there I am lying in bed wide awake and I hear - not audibly mind you, but inaudibly.
"Go do your nails".

I knew it was God speaking because He usually speaks to me in the form of a command such as "Go" or "Stop".

Now that is an odd thing to hear at 2 am.

I listened again and again the still small voice said

"Go do your nails."

Obedient and groggy, I pushed myself off the bed and made my way to my kitchen where my manicure tools were waiting from the day before. As many of you ladies know, there is quite a process to doing your nails. Guys, bear with me here. You'll see where I'm going with this soon.

First, you smooth out all the ridges and rough spots.

Then, you buff the nails.

Next, you shine them up with one of those handy rectangular things.

Then you apply the polish.

Lastly, you apply the top coat.

Yes, gentlemen, this is what we ladies have to go through in order to have those nice shiny nails many of you adore. I can honestly tell you I have been judged by the condition of my nails. Really!

As I was doing my nails, the realization came to me:

The same process we use on our nails is the same process God uses on us to make us beautiful and shine.

First, He smooths out all the rough edges and removes the spots.

Then, He allows life and circumstances to buff us.

When the buffing process is complete, He shines us up so we are ready to be polished.

Next, He applies the polish - this is the exact color He has for each one of our lives.

Finally He applies the top coat - His protection over us.

Are you having trouble sleeping these days? Could God be speaking to you? Are you willing to listen and obey or do you drown out that still small voice by taking a pill or a sleeping aid? Perhaps we need to be more diligent about taking time during the day to get quiet and listen to God.

Whatever your situation, rest assured God is in control. No matter how bad things might seem, He is still on the throne and His plans will not be thwarted. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us and that plan sometimes takes time to be revealed. In the meantime, we can trust that He is refining us for his perfect purpose. So don't fight your sleepless nights. Listen to that still small voice. You can be sure all will be made clear in time. Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my bi-weekly posts and a copy of my free eguide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you find healing, wholeness, and harmony. 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

The Cure for Loneliness

Many people in this world are lonely. Perhaps like me, you are divorced and an empty nester. Or maybe you are widowed or never married. Friends and family are either too busy with their lives, married and too busy, and really good friends are hard to come by. Today I'm sharing how I combat loneliness and I hope it will help and encourage you too.

I have found that developing a relationship with God is the most comforting thing in the world. God, and remember that is just a label, is that unseen energy or force that makes the world turn. The good news is God is ALWAYS INTERESTED  in us! His line is never busy and he always keeps his word.

Would you like to learn how to hear from God better? Now I don't mean in an audible way, of course. God communicates with each of us differently. He already knows your love language. First let's talk about why is it so important to hear from our spiritual Father.

A few good reasons are:
1) so we can  make better decisions
2) so we can move forward in life
3) so we can live the abundant life
4) so we can learn how to overcome the difficulties of life
5) so we can have more peace even when everything around us is in chaos
6) so we can have more joy even during the tough times

First let me ask you a question.

Do you always need someone or something to keep you company? The TV? The computer? Your cell phone? The dog or cat?

Realize you are never really alone. 

Although we may feel physically and emotionally alone, it is important to realize this fact. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. God is always there, but let's just say he is behind the scenes, orchestrating circumstances for his purposes and for your growth. He is waiting for you to make time for him. "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you" (James 4:8).

Calm the mind and the body. 
Most of the time we use distractions, food, alcohol, technology, to calm us down which can lead to unhealthy consequences. In this fast-paced world we live in, it takes effort and focus to relax the mind and the body. The first step in hearing from God is to relax the body. Sometimes I go for a walk, a hike, or ride my bike. No Ipod, music, or cell phone. I may do some yoga poses to move out the stress and negative energy stored in my body.

Other times I simply need to slow down and clear my mind. I usually on the floor in a cross-legged position and focus on my breathing and my belly. When we are stressed our breathing is shallow and high in the chest. As we calm ourselves, our breath gets deeper and moves into the belly. I'm trying to develop a regular meditation practice to rest my ever-running brain.

Relaxing the body helps to relax the mind. As the body relaxes, slowly the clutter in the mind dissipates. Then we are prepared to hear from God. "Your servant is listening." I say out loud to get the attention of whatever angelic forces may be hovering.

Cultivate Solitude. 
Alone time is truly a gift. When we realize we are not alone, cultivating solitude will become easier to do. We will learn to block out the negative voices that try to make us feel bad about ourselves. Instead, we will focus on relaxing our body and our mind and being open and receptive to what God might be saying to us.

If I want to hear from my significant other or my children, I need to spend time with them. If I want to know what they think, how they feel, and what's important to them I need to spend quality time alone with them. The same goes with God. He is always near. It is we who distance.

Practice passage meditation. 
God does speak to his children and he does it in a variety of creative ways. One of the best ways to hear from God is to read a sacred text. I prefer the Bible because God is required to honor his word, not the word of anybody else. It is amazing how verses will jump off the page at me or start appearing from multiple sources in a brief period of time. They can be guidance, encouragement, or answers and it is up to me to delve into them more. I just had an experience with a verse, 1 Cor. 10:13. It just started popping up everywhere so I knew it was the Holy Spirit trying to pass me a message. In fact, it was an answer to a question I had been asking God. Even though I may have read this passage many many times, I had a new revelation which was exactly the answer to the question I asked. Amazes me!

Life is all about choices. If we want to feel less lonely and more connected, especially as we get older, it is important to develop an intimate relationship with God.  Just like any other relationship, it will take some time so be patient. When you start to connect, it will enrich your life and build your  faith and trust that you are indeed - never alone!

I promise you that nothing on earth can compare to hearing directly from the Almighty Creator of the Universe. It is an awesome thrill when God speaks and you hear it!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to become part of our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my bi-weekly posts plus a copy of my free eguide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Do send feedback after you've read it.

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Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

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Ignite the Power Within Step 5: How to Tell If You're Making the Right Decision

Most of us like the word "yes", don't we? I know I do. When someone asks me to do something I really want to do or I find something I really love, my immediate response is an emphatic "YES"! I am passionate about it. There is no hesitation, no doubt, no waffling. Joyful anticipation is a sign we are making the right decision.

A friend of mine was recently considering buying a certain car. As she relayed the pertinent facts, figures, and safety features, I noticed there was no enthusiasm in her voice.
"You really don't sound too excited about this car," I said. "Do you really want to buy it?"
"No, I don't think so," she admitted.
A few days later, she called me up all excited about another car she found and bought that one instead. She has been a happy camper ever since.

Here's another example. Let's take the shoe shopping experience. I'd venture to say that shoe shopping is difficult for most of us.  Either I can't find my size, the right color, they cost too much or they don't fit quite right. Bummer! And so frustrating. But when I finally find just the right pair of shoes -  good color, comfortable, and on sale, - YES!!!!! I get so excited. It borders on euphoria at times.

We know we are making the right choice when we not only have peace about our decision, but we also have joy about it too. When God wants to give us something or get us going in a new direction, we will be filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and hope. We wake up in the morning energized and motivated. This is how we know we are living in the will of God. Just as good parents want to guide their children and give them good things, so it is with God. He enjoys blessing us and he wants to see his children prosper.

But we must be careful. Sometimes we are excited at first because of the idea of something: the new guy, the new car, the shiny whatever. It is foolish to jump into a situation without giving it some careful analysis and prayer. We love new cars, but don't go rushing off to buy that Lexus without giving it some serious thought such as how you are going to afford those monthly payments.

There will be bumps along the way. The bumps are checkpoints for us to check in with God to make sure we are on the right path and ask for confirmation of our direction. An example I like to share is when I was trying to sell my house years ago and one deal after another fell through. I felt like I was supposed to sell it but started having doubts when the contracts weren't working out. So I went to God in prayer, and he confirmed what I was supposed to do in a most astonishing way. If you want to read more about this, check out my book, "The Power of Faith". 

Making good decisions has to do with listening to that still small voice inside of us. When we are connected to God, we can trust He is guiding us in every decision big or small. When we leave God out of the equation, we usually make the wrong choices. I know from personal experience.

Hearing from God and making better decisions is possible and we get better with practice. If you enjoyed this post, please click the +1 icon and share with your friends Many people would love to know how to hear from God and make better decisions.

If you would like to join our community, enter your email in the box provided. You receive my bi-weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Know When the Holy Spirit is Speaking

What do you know about the Holy Spirit? Do you believe He exists? If so, how do you get the Holy Spirit and why does it matter?                          

Unless you belong to a Pentecostal church, you probably won't hear much teaching on the Holy Spirit. There is a lot of debate about the activities and functions of the Holy Spirit. Many pastors shy away from anything they don't fully understand. Talking about Jesus is one thing, at least he showed up in human form. Talking about a spirit gets into deep water for some people. But we're courageous here so jump in with me.                                  

At a recent church service, the speaker began a message on the importance of the Holy Spirit. I was glued to my seat. It is not often preachers talk on the subject. Sadly, however, the guy sidetracked to a story from his childhood talking about the "spirit of bbq" and his grandmother's cooking. His appetite for food got the better of his message so I decided to pick up where he left off.

Knowledge of the Holy Spirit is extremely important in the life of anyone attempting to live a peaceful and harmonious life. If we are unaware of the forces working within us, we are powerless to combat them and we will be defeated every time.

So today I'm going to share  a personal story  about following our inner promptings. Here's a situation that happened today.

I was peacefully working on my computer, when my cell phone rang. It was my mom.  I hesitated but answered anyway.  She was very irritated and the conversation did not go well.

"Something told me not to answer the phone, " I said to my son after I hung up.
"That was the Holy Spirit," he replied.
"I didn't listen - again." I said.

So that's how it goes. The Holy Spirit was warning me not to pick up the phone. I felt it, but I went ahead and answered the call anyway. How many times have you felt a hesitation but gone ahead and done whatever it was anyway? I had the same feeling walking down the aisle. I ignored it then, too, and the marriage ended in divorce.

God wants to protect us and guide us. When we accept Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us to help us. The choices and decisions in our lives lead us either towards God or away from God. We have free will and it is up to us to choose.

The Jesuits, a branch of the Catholic religion, call these inner promptings "consolations and desolations". Here is an article describing the difference. And another one here.

Following the Holy Spirit requires mindfulness. It requires us to be mindful of the feelings and promptings we get from God in the present moment.  When we slow down enough to be fully present, we are more able to feel these promptings. It is then up to us to heed them or not.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and it has encouraged you in how to tune in to that still small voice that wants to guide and protect you. If you would like to receive my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", enter your email address in the box provided.

Until next time, I'll be practicing listening and obeying.
Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz