Find Your Voice

The Bible says there are many languages in the world (1 Corinthians 14:10). There are many voices speaking and many people talking but it seems like no one is SAYING anything.

It’s so important that you find your voice. And I’m not talking about Facebook posts and Tweets. I’m talking about discovering who God made you to be and expressing that to the world.

There are many ways to express your voice. You can express it in your work by being a great teacher, waitress, nurse, fireman or clerk.

You can express it as a parent by raising kids with character and integrity. Sometimes it is best expressed, not by preaching and trying to change people, but by genuinely loving people and being a true friend.

For some of us it is expressed through music, writing, film and other art forms.

You have to find your voice. And you have to express it by living true to yourself and God on a daily basis.

And if your “Jesus” and your “spirituality,” or your “Christianity” is limited to the context of what religious organizations dictate, well, then I’d say you’ll probably never find your true voice.

Think about it. Jesus bucked the system everyday of His life. He was despised and rejected by men, yet all truth was and is found in Him.

So choose who you’re going to serve.

I’m going to say three things that are vital to this season for those who choosing to live beyond the box by serving Jesus and not religious cults and systems.

1. Timing is everything

2. “What is truth?” is the greatest question that was ever asked. Ask it often, about everything and everyone.

3. Be true to God and true to yourself and it will all work out.

Think about it.

Pray about it.

Live it.

Hey everyone! I hope 2013 is treating you well so far!

Be sure to check the website regularly for upcoming shows, new videos and news!

I realize there is a brand new audience out there who may be reading this. You see, faith in God is the most vital part of my life. Now, I did not say participating in organized religion. It’s knowing Jesus that’s the key for me, NOT jumping through religious hoops, which I did for a lot of years.

This isn’t meant to force anything down anyone’s throat, though it is written from a Biblical perspective. That’s just the foundation for how I live my life.

I write for one reason–to add value to the lives of others.

I have a lot of friends from many different walks of life who believe different things. That’s ok! My blog is here for those who want it and for those that don’t, no worries and certainly no judgment! We can still be friends!

Since I only write about once a month these days (if that), I take the liberty to write a little longer, so you’ll have to indulge me.

For me, a LOT has happened in a short amount of time!

It has been really awesome and at times really hard, but everything entrepreneurial is that way. I can honestly say that if I had tried to do this in my 20′s it would have eaten me alive. I’m glad I’ve got all these years of life experience and walking with God behind me! I’m truly in uncharted territory, but I always have God’s wisdom navigating me through darkness, trouble, lack, uncertainty and pressure. What I don’t have He always makes up for–big time!

Without a doubt, the best part of this whole experience has been meeting different kinds of people from different walks of life. It has been amazing and life changing! Every single person has enriched my life in some way. I could already write a book about it and I’ve only just begun!

With that said, here are a few thoughts you can apply to your own life and the dreams God has given you.

1. Check Your Vision

“And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV

If the dreams you have for your life never seem to be coming to pass, you need to check your vision. You see, God-given vision hastens to the end. It will not delay. That literally means it rushes like lightning to fulfillment.

When God put it on my heart to write Prayer Revolution, He showed me this truth. It was a brutal time in my life where I was questioning EVERYTHING.

I literally got the idea to write Prayer Revolution while I was taking a walk. I turned around, walked home, and started writing it. I had no idea how to write a book, no idea what I was supposed to say and no idea how to publish it. I had no idea how to build a website. But in a month I had built my website and started blogging. I blogged everyday for 2 years. In 6 months my book was finished, published and people were buying it.

I started playing music out in bars and restaurants the second week of January this year with the intention of bringing hope to a dark world. The first week I met 2 key people who are immensely adding value to what I’m doing and helping me get where I need to go. The second week I got to play with a friend at House of Blues. The third week I got paid for playing. Last week I booked the first paying gig I got all by myself (with the grace of God of course) and now my calendar is filling up.

I’m not bragging about it. It has nothing to do with me or my talent. There are thousands of more talented musicians than me. I’m making a point here. Many people play for 2 or 3 years before they ever get paid. But, for me, the vision is from God and it is rushing like lightning to fulfillment.

I didn’t say it’s easy. I didn’t say it comes without a fight. But over the years I’ve become wiser, more discerning, thick skinned, I’ve learned what IS God and what ISN’T and I’ve learned to fight and win.

Now make no mistake, there has been a lot of preparation that has paved the way for this. And I still have a LOT to learn. If I hadn’t picked up a guitar a year and 7 months ago and started to learn one chord I would not be getting paid to play today.

Some people claim that their vision is from God but it never comes to pass. Beware of that. It’s not Biblical. And I’ve seen preachers and churches use it as an excuse to get people to keep giving them their money and their lives in service for years with nothing in return.

2. Start Where You Are

I’ve done a lot of different things in my life that seemingly failed. But they were actually part of my education. I learned so much rodeoing, training horses, traveling, starting businesses, learning to make boots and so on.

I lived in West Texas for awhile. My time there ended disastrously. I’m not exaggerating, either. I left hurt and embarrassed. I could’ve pressed criminal charges against people.

But I got to know a pastor out there during that time (he’s a cool one, not a weirdo). It’s been 6 and a half years since I lived there. That pastor is doing something else now and I was just able to publish a book for him! And it’s a great book, too (not a weird one)! I never dreamed that would happen in a million years!

My time in West Texas seemed like it was an epic failure, but years later God is using it for good.

The point is, if you don’t take step one, you will never get to step 3, 5, 10 or 200.

3. Timing Is Everything

I had no idea that at age 36 I would be starting a music career! I was very happy working on the ranch, hanging out with my friends, going to town maybe once a week or so and minding my own business!

I had thoughts like, “Ugh, this is what people do in their 20′s! Are you sure, God?” But, timing is everything and His timing is perfect. And this music thing is for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).

Even just a couple years ago I was WAY too religious and judgmental to do what I’m doing now. I’m glad I got free from that because life is much more fun when you’re free of all that ridiculous religious bondage! And there are way too many cool people to meet in this world!

You can be weird, religious, exclusive and cult-ish, or you can love God, love people and live and enjoy life to the fullest! You can make decisions for your life that lead to freedom or decisions that lead to bondage. The choice is yours and it’s between you and God.

The point is, where you are now isn’t where you’ll always be. And God will make sure you know what you need to know when you need to know it!

Timing is everything and His timing is perfect!

4. Keep Your Peace

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” Romans 15:13-14 ESV

You have the right to live a peaceful life. You have a right to joy. Faith and strength for life come from joy and peace and they also lead to it.

Don’t let anybody or anything steal your peace or your joy. It’s just not worth it! Stress is a killer! It steals your creative energy and robs you of your health.

You have God’s promise that if you trust in Him and keep your heart pure, He will keep you in perfect peace and strongly support you (Isaiah 26:3, 2 Chronicles 16:9).

5. Surround Yourself With the Right People

It is absolutely, extremely vital to surround yourself with the right people, especially if you’re pursuing something entrepreneurial.

God has brought several new people into my life this year to help me down this uncharted path. They have strengths and experience that I don’t and vice versa. Nothing great is accomplished alone and I couldn’t do this without them!

Surround yourself with the right people.

New ventures require new relationships.

After you check your vision, determine it’s God-given and you start to have success, watch out for jealousy. Jealousy is so weird that if you don’t watch out for it you’ll mistake it for something else.

James says this about it:

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” James 3:16 ESV

Jealousy is so weird because every evil practice, every kind of evil, every way of evil comes from a selfish, jealous person. And if you are NOT a selfish jealous person, you really have to watch out. Because you would never treat someone like that you’ll assume they won’t do that to you.

When jealousy shows up, stuff gets weird! It makes people act crazy and do crazy things. And it can come from people you’d least expect. It will turn people against you and make you feel like a big piece of crap! And it is designed to derail you or at least make you miserable.

Don’t put your character on someone else.

Others may just not have good character. Don’t assume that they are even able to treat you right. Treat others the way you would want to be treated but guard your heart. Temper your merciful spirit with wisdom so you don’t walk into any traps with people.

Love and trust are two different things. 

Love is unconditional, but trust is earned. And you need to love some people, through prayer, from a distance.

Keep the negative Nellies out of your life!

Well, that’s all for now. Keep checking the website and Facebook for new shows and news. Support live music whenever and wherever you can. Musicians are the hardest working people on the planet and they add so much value to our lives!

And until next time, keep on rocking!

Religion stinketh.

I will never fully understand why it is so difficult for people who call themselves Christians to expand their relationship with Jesus beyond meetings and buildings. It is truly one of the saddest and most limiting things I’ve seen.

Jesus didn’t tell us to build buildings. He said be the church.

He sent the Holy Spirit to give us power to be witnesses, to activate our faith in such a way that we are the living, flesh and blood evidence that Jesus is alive, that He loves people and wants to fix their broken lives.

Jesus said go into all the world.

He didn’t say go into all the church. That includes going to other nations and places and it also includes going into worldly systems–into business, education, the arts and politics.

Jesus was a friend of sinners.

That is how people identified Him. Everyone wasn’t sure about the whole Messiah thing at the time. Unless God opened their eyes, they could only say what they saw (and it’s still that way today). And they said He’s a friend of sinners. They called Him a glutton and a drunk because He had dinner with people and went to parties. They also saw Him heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead. And those closest to Him knew that He would draw aside and spend a lot of time in prayer with the Father. Those closest to Him knew He had a daily, living relationship with God.

Jesus said it’s the sick who need a doctor.

And the people who need the most help are not sitting in church three times a week (although they need their own kind of help!). They are out there in the world. They’re doing business, working in government, teaching school, waiting tables and sitting in smoky bar rooms late at night.

Same message, different package.

With that said, the message is the same, but the package is different. Joni and I, in our own ways, are employing new missionary strategies for a new missionary context. We’re going into the world where the sick and the lost are. We’re going into places where people exist who are never going to visit a traditional church. God has placed us in jobs and systems where we can be light in very dark, depraved places.

We’re “proud” to say that Nocona Gospel Community is still going strong. New leadership has risen to take it forward and we are still very much a part of it. It’s how we fulfill the Biblical mandate to meet together with other Christians on a regular basis. And we are both looking forward to doing Gospel Community wherever life takes us.

We happen to believe that you can be the church and live a Gospel centered life on mission for God without a 501 c 3, without being weird, and without being judgmental, controlling or manipulative.

At the end of the day, Joni and I are just two friends who love Jesus and want to help people with the gifts we have. That’s how we began and that hasn’t changed.

The message is the same. The package is just different.

I will not speak for Joni, I will only speak for myself, though I can assure you, life is good and she is good. Personally, I’m really excited to be launching out into the music industry as a singer/songwriter and I’m grateful for the platform God is giving me there. Many of the songs I’m writing are coming right out of my daily Bible reading and prayer time as well as my life experiences. But they’re songs that could be played anywhere. And every time I sing them I’m sowing seeds of truth into people’s lives.

I’m working hard to finish my second book, “Essential,” which is Basic Bible doctrine for people who are searching to know God. It’s a simple book I feel like I could hand to someone and say, “This is what you need to know about being a Christian. This is will enable you to experience more than religion. It will equip you to be the church!”

Brilliantly, as we’ve followed God, He has created something awesome here. We go out into the world, make friends and do life. And as people connect with us, if they want it, they can find enough material on this website to disciple them to maturity, not to mention, becoming part of Gospel Community in whatever context and location we find ourselves.

But no matter where I go or what I do, I’m determined to love people, to encourage them, and make myself available to help them regardless of how they respond to me. And if you’re really have a relationship with Jesus, people will see it. You can’t con a con and people can smell a religious spirit a mile away. But if you are authentic and genuine, if you just determine to love God and help people, if you just keep it simple, people will be drawn to you even if they don’t know why.

And when you allow yourself to venture outside the box, you’ll get to do amazing things, meet extraordinary people and experience joy in life that you never dreamed was possible.

So stay tuned if you’d like. It’s going to be an amazing ride!

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 ESV

1. DON’T CAST AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE

For those of us who know and love Jesus, we’re aware that He has secured good things, promises and rewards for us in this life and the life to come. But too many people live short of it. The blessings and promises of God remain religious catch phrases and never become a part of the reality of their daily lives.

Confidence is not cockiness. Confidence is a healthy thing and the writer of Hebrews says don’t throw it away. That implies that we have control over whether we are going to live confidently.

Confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something. It is the state of feeling certain about the truth of something. It is a feeling of self- assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.

The Apostle Paul said we should rate our own ability with sober judgment. That means we should be able to think rightly about ourselves, our gifts and abilities and the measure of faith God has given us to influence the world (Romans 12:3).

Why? So we will live confidently, not cocky, insecure and self-conscious. So we can get about pursuing our dreams and helping others on another level.

2. LOOK FAILURE IN THE FACE

Many people throw away their confidence because they are afraid to fail and no one talks about it much. People really don’t understand how to prevail against the fear of failure so they can overcome inertia, get some positive traction in their lives and move forward into the momentum that will carry them to their dreams.

Instead of trying to ignore failure or trying to cover it up or live in denial may I suggest looking it square in the face and saying, “You know what? If I’m going to fail, I’m at least going to fail trying to do something great. I’m at least going to fail pursuing my dreams.”

What if you fail? Well, you might. But what if you don’t?

I’ve pursued lots of things throughout my life that looked like they turned out to be failures. But in reality, each of those things prepared me for the next thing right up to what I’m doing now.

Don’t live in denial of your fears. Look failure in the face. Tell your fears and failure how it’s going to be. Keep your confidence and move forward.

3. TAKE A RISK

I think people have a wrong idea of what it means to take a risk. It doesn’t mean you do something stupid, thoughtless or reckless.

Risk always involves doing something you’ve never done before. Risk involves taking a path where there is uncertainty. Risk means there’s a chance there could be loss and that is where most people stop.

There is no overnight success and there is no return without risk.

I’m a risk taker and it makes a lot of people uncomfortable. It seems flaky to them. But when I take a risk it is usually the result of months or even years of thought, prayer, research, and getting good advice. It’s a process.

And while I may make the initial decision that this is what I’m supposed to do, this is what I’m going to do, this is my mission, aim and goal, in reality it is achieved one small step at a time. There is a ton of consistent, daily preparation and obedience that leads up to what appears to be the big, sudden result.

I love to study successful people.

We look at celebrities and think something just got handed to them over night. But the greatest success stories involve years of sacrifice, struggle, tenacity and passion.

However, they all have one thing in common. They were ordinary people just like you and me, but at some point they made a decision to take a risk, to do something they’ve never done before, to be true to themselves and the dreams that were in their heart. They were ordinary people who said, “I might fail, but if I do I’m going to fail trying to live my dreams, pursuing what is in my heart.”

4. START TODAY

So start somewhere. You have to search your heart and believe in the dreams God put inside you because no one else will. He may have given you a dream that if you act on it, over time, it will change your community, shape culture and benefit many people.

Don’t live your life bogged down in mediocrity.

Take a risk.

For you, taking a risk may be allowing yourself to dream. Maybe you could spend your lunch hour writing down the things you would do if you had unlimited time and money. Maybe it’s spending an hour a day doing something that will get you closer to achieving your goals like reading and learning something new about the things you want to pursue. Maybe it’s saving money so you’ll be prepared to step into a new venture or seize an opportunity. Maybe it’s reading a biography of a successful person you admire to help you think successful thoughts about yourself and rate your own ability with sober judgment, which usually means believing you can do something great too.

The point is, start somewhere, start today, and don’t quit. Be consistent even if you don’t feel like your actions are adding up to much. They are.

And always know and be confident that there is a reward. There’s a payday. There’s always a process and a learning curve. If you make mistakes along the way don’t feel bad, just learn from them! If you are taking risks to follow God and pursue the dreams He has put in your heart, no matter what happens, even if it looks like epic failure, He will always turn it around for your good.

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The Christian views everything in the light of eternity, not in the light of time. It is because we persist in judging everything from the standpoint of time that we get depressed and defeated.

What is time, then? Well, time is really “but… a moment.”

You think of it in the human, ordinary, earthly manner. And you say, “Seventy years! How long it seems!” Yes, but now take that seventy years and put it into the context of eternity.

What is eternity? Well, there is no end to it. Can you think of a million years? Of course not. But then think of a billion years. Of course you cannot. But think of that going on and on and on forever and ever. What is seventy years in that context? It is a moment, a flash.

“What is your life?” says James. “It is a vapour” (James 4:14). Like a breath of air, it has come, and it has gone. So the apostle Paul is able to say that our “light affliction” is “but for a moment” because he has this whole new Christian view of time, and as soon as you have this, you are already more than conqueror over everything that is set against you.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (In Trials and Tribulations)

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:6

We can’t repeat Jesus saving death, but we can mirror His faith, love, obedience, and self sacrifice. We can walk the way He walked, in the same method, process, habit, behavior, manner, and character.

And he walked like this:  In perfect clarity. He’d just get up and say, “I’ve got to go over there. We’re doing this. You, come with me. I’ve got to do this.”

Can you operate that way? Yes you can.

One of the most tormenting things in life is not knowing.

But God did not leave us helpless and without support. He sent the Holy Spirit, the comforter, the helper to teach us and guide us in this. He convicts us or convinces us about sin, righteousness and judgment. He lifts us up and shows us the way out and He helps us do what honors Jesus.

If your heart is bothering you about something it’s foolish to run away from God, because He already knows.

When your heart bothers you, immediately run to God and be honest.

If your heart doesn’t condemn you, that’s a clear conscience. Remember acts 24? It says I always take pains to have a clear conscience. To live in a way where my heart doesn’t condemn me and weigh me down. And the beautiful thing is, when you have confidence before God, whatever you ask you receive from Him.

Doesn’t that sound like how Jesus walked?

He became a man and lived by the Spirit.

“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge (or you know all things).” 1 John 2:20

There are some things you just know. You didn’t reason it out or figure it out. You just know it in your gut.

Geese just know which way to fly. Salmon just know which way to swim. They travel hundreds and thousands of miles and wind up at exactly the right place with no GPS. No conversation. No road map.

How?

Not by reasoning, math, logic or emotions. They just know.

They’re not hindered by all the reasoning. They just yield to the knowing.

And they wind up at exactly the right place at the right time.

“Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” Psalm 26:2

Some translations say try my reins and my heart or test my reins and my heart.

What are reins? They’re what you use to steer a horse right? If you have s horse that’s not very well trained or is hard mouthed, you’ve got to put a bit in their mouth and fight and pull. They are rebellious and unsubmissive. You have to put some pressure on them to get them to move or to turn or direct them. Or you have to check them to get them to slow down or get their attention.

But a horse that’s light in the mouth doesn’t hardly even need a bit. They feel the weight of the reign and they move off of that instantly, without hesitation.

Some horses are so sensitive that they pick up on subconscious cues. Cutting horses stop. They’re looking to stop. That’s what they know they’re supposed to do. When I rode a lot of cutting horses I got to where I couldn’t think about stopping until, bam, I stopped because they would stop the moment I started to think about it. I sent them an ultra light sub conscious cue that they picked up on because they were looking for it.

I think God needs some light mouthed, light hearted, ultra sensitive, rein trained Christians He can communicate with.

Christians He doesn’t have to wrestle with to point them in the right direction. Christians who just pick up on His subtle cues and move on it instantly, without hesitation.

We’re not talking about hearing voices or seeing things all the time.

We’re supposed to be continually aware that there’s somebody else inside us, co-witnessing with us. And if we’ll start paying attention to that, no matter how dull we’ve become, we can get so tender, as tender as when we were first saved.

It’s possible that you can get to the point where you wake up in the morning and He begins to speak to you and you know it’s Him.

“Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.” Isaiah 50:4

You can wake up responsive to what God is saying. And you can do whatever He says. And as you go about your day, you go here, you do this, you say that, and your steps are ordered by the Lord, your path is directed by him, and miracles will happen.

Many people have prayed Lord order my steps, direct my path, but they don’t even try to be led. They don’t know that they can be led and they just leave it all up to Him.

We have a part to play. We are to respond to Him and yield to Him and cooperate with Him.

(Special thanks to Keith Moore for his resources on this subject)

“The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.” Romans 14:22

Don’t try to push your faith off on somebody else. 

Some people might say, “Oh you don’t need to go to the doctor. God will heal you. Or hey, you don’t need to do that, do this.”

There are a lot of arm chair quarter back Christians.

It’s easy to say, “Catch the ball dummy!” from the sofa. But the jerk on the sofa doesn’t know that you’re playing with 3 cracked ribs and when you reached out to catch the ball those ribs really got your attention. And the sweat and blood was in your eyes along with the sun and you could hardly even see that there was a ball game going on.

It’s different doing it and living it.

So don’t tell people, “Well, why don’t you just believe God? I’ve got faith for that.” A lot of the people who talk so big spiritually, when something happens to them, they’re the biggest whiny babies around.

Proverbs 24:10 says, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

If you fall to pieces in a crisis, chances are there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

Do you have faith? Then live it.

Don’t try to push it off on everybody else. Let them walk in the light they have and you walk in the light you have. They have to walk out their own faith, not yours. When you’re trying to help somebody, don’t try to push your faith off on them. Find out where they’re at. And then hook up with them.

“But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

If you’re heart bothers you about something, you can’t be doing it in faith. If you’re heart bothers you about something and you do it anyway, to you, it’s sin.

Some people get so caught up in watching all the rules about what you can eat, what you can drink, how you are to dress, how you have to wear your hair, you have to worship like this, you have to pray like this, do we believe in dating or courting, can you have wine with dinner, 1 beer or 3 beers or no beers, and the list goes on.

The Bible says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Every aspect of our life has the potential to honor God. Ask yourself, if I do this, if I say this, will it honor God? The way I’m thinking, does it honor God?

Live your faith. Walk in the light that you have.

And don’t try to push what you believe on anybody and convince them to violate their own conscience. You’ll hurt them if you do that.

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” 1 John 3:19-22 

Jesus never had a day where he was unsure about what God was telling Him to do. He was never confused. He was always clear. He lived in a way that pleased God everyday.

Well, yeah, but that’s Jesus.

Yes, but Jesus operated on earth as a man. He laid aside His rights as God and lived on earth as a man.

Is it possible to hear clearly everyday?

Jesus said I always do what pleases the Father. He never sinned, so that means if He knew what to do, he did it. He never violated his conscience. He never lied. He was never dishonest with anyone about anything. He did it as a man, proving it could be done.

And because of His blood you stand forgiven, justified and clean, just as if you’d never done any of those things.

That’s not an excuse, its what should motivate you to endeavor to live up to the standard of living Christ set.

To live worthy of the name Christian.

Living up to that standard begins with being honest and never violating your own conscience, so you can walk more and more like him. That’s sanctification. And it’s a life long process.

(Special thanks to Keith Moore for his resources on this subject)

Last time we said that when you first get saved you’re like a little baby. Your heart is so tender. God’s love got poured out in your heart by the holy spirit and it makes you tender hearted. You just want to love everyone and serve God. Everybody’s like that when they first get saved.

But your flesh didn’t get saved. If you had bad habits when you got saved, you can yield to them after you get saved. You can be mean. You can talk about people behind their back. You can lie. You can steal. You can do drugs.

But if you do it after you get saved, the difference is, it will bother you. Big time.

And if you do the right thing…

For example, something is bothering your conscience about something you said or did and you wouldn’t let it go the rest of the day. You go find that person or you go to the Lord and say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you. I shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong. I repent. Please forgive me.”

If you would do that every time our conscience bothers you, you would stay tender and clear. You would know the voice of the Lord.

But most people don’t do that.

Their pride, their embarrassment won’t allow them to make it right. They want to be tough and cool or whatever. They don’t want to look weak. And their conscience bothered them about it all day long and they just ignored it and ignored it and ignored it.

And when you ignore whatever is bothering your conscience, it creates friction in your spirit.

When you ignore it, you resist the Holy Spirit and you will become calloused.

Have you ever worked with an axe or a shovel or a hammer or played golf  long enough that there’s continual friction on your hands until you get blisters? What happens to those blisters over time? They become calloused until, over time, if this goes on long enough, you could cut your hands with a knife and not even feel it.

That doesn’t happen because there is friction for half a day. That is the result of friction that happened month after month and year after year until they were no longer tender and sensitive hands. Now they’re thick, hard and unfeeling.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” 1 Timothy 1:4-2

Your conscience can become seared.

And if it gets to that point, you are wide open to deception. You’ll start to believe things that aren’t true, things that are outside the Biblical boundaries of true Christianity.

What happens when something is seared? Scar tissue builds up. It’s thick and unfeeling. It becomes desensitized and unfeeling.

We do that training horses. We try to make them “bomb proof” for less experienced riders and kids. The good part about desensitization is, nothing will spook that horse or make it run off or whatever. The bad thing is, when you need that horse to respond quickly and immediately, without hesitation, either because it’s in danger or there is a job to do like get a cow or block a hole, you can kick it, spur it and get mad at it, but it has become so dull and unfeeling that it will not respond to you. And you’ll be in a wreck. It will cost you time, money and embarrassment.

Ignoring and overriding your conscience causes you to get duller and duller to the voice of the Lord.

The good news is, no matter how calloused and dull a person may have become, it’s not too late. You can quit ignoring your conscience. You can stop that friction.

And your heart will start getting tender again.

It may not happen overnight, but you’ll become more and more tender hearted and clear in your conscience and clear in your hearing.

(Special thanks to Keith Moore for his resources on this subject)

When your conscience bothers you, what’s really going on? You see something. You know something. You’re aware of something. Even if you’re not fully aware in your head, your spirit is aware of something and it’s bothering you.

What should you do?

Well, you should not push that down and ignore it.

You should stop and look at it and say, what’s bothering me about this?

And if you’ll do that you’ll stay tender hearted. You’ll stay sensitive. And that means you’ll stay very aware of the holy spirit and what he’s saying and what he’s doing.

You have to act on it though (Remember John 2:5 says, “Do whatever He tells you.” How is He telling you? Through your conscience).

If you say something hard or rough to somebody, your conscience will bother you, won’t it? But If you get used to ignoring it, you’ll find you can say even meaner things and it doesn’t bother you quite as much. Maybe it still bothers you a little, but if you ignore it another 89 times, you can get really ugly and mean and it will hardly even bother you at all. And you’re in bad shape then.

You are dull to the voice of the Lord.

And you’ll go for weeks and months and say, “Well, I don’t ever hear anything from the Lord. I wonder why He won’t talk to me?”

He’s talking. You’re just not hearing. He’s endeavoring to communicate, but He communicates to us through our conscience, through our spirit.

When you first get saved you’re like a little baby. Your heart is so tender. God’s love got poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit and it makes you tender hearted. You just want to love everyone and serve God. Everybody is like that when they first get saved.

But the problem is your flesh didn’t get saved. If you had bad habits when you got saved, you can yield to them after you get saved. You can be mean. You can talk about people behind their back. You can lie. You can steal. You can do drugs.

But if you do it after you get saved, the difference is, it will bother you. Big time.

And if you do the right thing…

For example, something is bothering your conscience about something you said or did and you wouldn’t let it go the rest of the day. You go find that person or you go to the Lord and say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you. I shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong. I repent. Please forgive me.”

If you would do that every time your conscience bothers you, you would stay tender and clear. You would know the voice of the Lord.

(Special thanks to Keith Moore for his resources on this subject)