Journal 1

Jon & Mari Slack (June 29-July 3rd)

Know God. We can hear God and are supposed to have a relationship with Him.

Theme Verse: Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “ now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

The key ideas from Jon and Mari Slack’s lectures were: knowing God, Feel God, Power of Prayer and Hearing God. . They explained that it is important to know that God wants to talk to us and does in our own individual ways. I learned a lot about different ways to hear our Lord, such as in our feelings both physical and emotional, our dreams, in visions/pictures, and so on. We learned about discerning the spirits. I felt that God was showing me that it is extremely important to understand the feelings that I have and that I might actually be getting some direction from him in those feelings. It was a great thought and I will be praying about it over the next weeks.
I was reminded that we do hear God because the veil was torn when Jesus died and we are able to speak to Him and approach him. I learned that I probably have a gift of discernment and am excited to continue using it. I was also reminded of the principles for intercession. I liked being reminded of the great commission and I was reminded that we are already in the end times. The point about our sovereignty and God’s really opened my eyes to our role in prayer and in intercession. I will definitely pray more because of the realization I had about the importance of prayer.
The new ideas I had mostly centered on the fact that I am a “feeler” or have been gifted with discernment. I’m sure I am sensitive, but am still praying about exactly what role that will have in prophecy. I will think about how my sensitive nature might best fit in with our modern world and I definitely feel that I have more direction for the exact major I will pursue at the University.
I was so happy to hear about prophecy and how God speaks. I will definitely listen to my own impressions, thoughts, etc… and try and witness in a new and better way to the world around me. I am excited to grow and continue to become more in tune with God’s direction. The second way I was changed was in my prayer life. I now realize how important prayer is and feel like it is actually worth while to do for extended periods of time, it helps so much to know that we are helping others and not just ourselves in prayer.
In the character study I was reminded again and again of the word father. I was so happy to realize that relationship is natural, and that we can hear God through our own personalities. It made it so much more real to me. I realize that when I only hear silence its not because I’m not good enough or something else I am simply trying too hard to hear God. This word applies to God because He made us and it makes so much sense to think that it is natural for our heavenly Father to talk with us in our own ways. After all, He does know us inside and out. This word implies that God loves us and cares for us so deeply like a Father. He knows us so well and always knows what is best for us and is willing to speak to us anytime we need to direction or want to have a conversation with Him. I find it supremely comforting to think about God in this way, He still is very powerful, but he loves us and relates to us in an intimate way. This just touches on the truth about God’s character and as I study His need for us to pray to him and his desire for us to learn and follow Him I realize more about how full life can be with Him as the guide. The previous sentences all imply a very personal and intimate relationship with the Lord of the universe it is so cool to think that God cares about me so deeply that he’d do anything for me to learn of His love.
My personal response to all of the above has been evident in my writing. I am empowered to be a lover of our God and feel like I am ready to continue pouring my life into Him. I have engaged in more prayer and have been acting upon my desire to really know the character of God and experience a very intimate relationship with Him. I have been praying with people and following God’s direction because I am now realizing that I have been hearing His voice all along, it is extremely encouraging. However, I also realize more of the responsibility I have for loving others and for showing them the Truth that I have found. It is excited and humbling to realize how much I need our Lord. I will definitely use the tests to tell if God is the one speaking or if my own selfish ambition is the center of my thoughts. I want to spread God’s love and subdue the world. I think about this stuff a ton and it is so exciting to hear truth spoken into my life.
Theme Verse: Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “ now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
I hear this verse and since we are in the last times I realize that this verse directly applies to me. I am so excited to experience the relationship that this verse alludes to. I plan to apply this revelation to my life by always opening myself to the knowledge that God walks through life with me and wants to have a constant type of interaction with me as I live every day.
Lord please let me hear you direct me please bless me with wisdom and sincere love, also please show me exactly what love is by the joy of your Spirit. Thank you so much for everything that you give and are to me. You are the essence of life please help me to fully live so I can bless those around me. In Jesus I pray Amen.