What's all that noise?

Oh how I am enjoying these weekly appointments with God, outside in creation, hearing from Him in a different way. Listening and watching, anticipating that He is going to speak to me through His creation. And He never disappoints.

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?
Job 12:7-10 NKJV

This week there was some wind and drizzling rain but I wasn't going to let that deter me. Memories of sailing in much more inclement weather flooded back and reminded me of how comfortable my life has become. And that it was good for me to step out, into the weather, to purposefully meet with my Heavenly Father.

So I set off, confident that I would have yet another insightful encounter with God. This regular sitting, remaining silent in nature is a new way for me to hear from God. It has been so good for my soul to do something different, something fresh, and the revelation that comes from this time is reflecting that newness.

Anyway, this week I was sitting, becoming still, and I felt the wind on my face, again those memories of sailing came back. Then I became aware of the rain drizzling down my face, a soft cleansing. A cicada chirping in the distance caught my attention. Then it was like the wind, rain and chirping disappeared, although they were still there, and I heard the clear singing of a little bird for maybe 5 or 10 seconds, and then it was gone. The wind, rain and cicada chirping came into the fore again. 

It was as though God was reminding me that sometimes there is a lot of noise around and we have to be listening attentively to hear His voice, otherwise we might miss it. And we don't want to miss what He has to say, because His truth gives us life and helps us to better discern between His ways and the world's ways.

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. Romans 12:2 TPT

The point of this post? Two things. First, to encourage you to try something different in your quiet time with God. Secondly to be more purposeful in learning how to discern God's voice despite the noise.

Let's pray,

Jesus, thank you that you are for us so who can be against us. Please help us to take time to listen to you, whatever that looks like each and every day. Thank you that you give us courage to do new things and in that we can be expectant to hear new things from you. Thank you that you are transforming us, please help us to co-operate in that process. Thank you for your grace and patience as we learn more of your ways. Help us to be gracious and patient too with those around us. In your name we pray and live. Amen


********************** Please read ***********************

Over the past few weeks Ken and I have been working on my new website - https://wendyrobinson.com.au
and now it is ready to go!All of my blog posts and podcasts, including today's one can now be found on 


My book is also available from this website .. https://wendyrobinson.com.au/victoria-grace-by-wendy-robinson-paperback/

We have also been busy creating a second website .. https://childhoodcancerparentsguide.com/
This website is designed be found by those families who find themselves in hospital in a similar situation to we were 8 years ago. The content of this book is the same as Victoria Grace - living with victory through childhood cancer; however the cover and title are different, so people searching for this specific resource can find it more easily. If you know anyone in this situation, please email them this link, thank you.

If you have difficulty accessing these websites, please email me at wendy@wendyrobinson.com.au

Stubborn or resolute?

In a recent conversation I was talking about a child being stubborn, and said laughingly, "Yes, that is something that runs in our family - stubbornness." 

Since that conversation I have thought a bit more about that word - stubborn - and even had a chat to God about it. What do we do with this stubbornness? And I felt him reply, "Not all stubbornness is bad."

Indeed there are a few definitions of stubbornness. The Mirriam Webster dictionary gives these ones ... unreasonably or perversely yielding; difficult to handle, manage or treat; and justifiably unyielding, resolute.

Justifiably unyielding. That is the one that I believe God was talking about. The stubbornness that means we ...

... won't give up on believing in His word as being the final word.

1 Peter 3:22 in The Message Bible says, Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.

Over the years I have done some tantrums reminding the enemy that he does not have the victory - only Jesus has the victory.  Stubbornly believing that God's promises are the only way forward. Not giving airplay to any other options.

... Stubbornness means that we will choose to believe that God loves us the same yesterday, today and tomorrow regardless of our thoughts, words and actions or inaction.

2 Corinthians 12:9 in the Amplified version says, But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me.

Choosing to believe that despite what I have done or said, He is there, and He is listening, and He is willing to forgive me, and give me His new mercies day after day after day. 

... Stubbornness means that we will choose to believe that He will not leave us nor forsake us.

Joshua 1:9 in the NKJV says, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Sometimes going into a challenging situation I visualise Jesus physically with me, fully expecting that I will sense His presence and that the Holy Spirit will give me the words to say. We do not walk alone.

Stubbornness, the resolute kind, is what we want. The resoluteness that Barnabas encouraged the believers in Antioch to have.

Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; Acts 11:23 NASB

And so since that conversation and talking with God, my prayer has become, "God please take this stubbornness and use it for your good. Let there be a passion for you that is unyielding and resolute."

Or, in the words of Psalm 51:10

Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! Psalm 51:10 NET

How do I keep my heart open to God?

"Keep your heart open to me," those are the words God whispered to me the other morning as I sat looking through the crystal clear water to the bottom of the lake. It was as though He was showing me how he wants my heart to be, so absolutely transparent. No outside disturbances like the slight breeze that was causing ripples in a less sheltered part of the lake. No pollution, like the impure water that flows from the storm water drain mixing in with the clean lake water.

The question is how? How do I keep my heart open to you Lord? How do I know when it isn't fully open? How do I know when I am subconsciously hiding something from you? You know what is hiding anyway!

This scripture comes to mind ... Psalm 51:10
Create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. Psalm 51:10 TPT

So is that the answer? Ask you God to create a new clean heart within me? Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt me to sit quietly with you and wait for you to give me a word? And upon hearing that word I will know immediately, an aha moment, a revelation of yes that does need to be confessed. You always knew it was there. I just needed to acknowledge it, to confess it.

How happy and fulfilled are those whose rebellion has been forgiven, those whose sins are covered by blood. How blessed and relieved are those who have confessed their corruption to God! For he wipes their slates clean and removes hypocrisy from their hearts. Psalm 32:1-2 TPT

There it is - He wipes our slate clean and removes hypocrisy from our hearts. What peace comes after confession.

Then I finally admitted to you all my sins, refusing to hide them any longer. I said, "My life-giving God, I will openly acknowledge my evil actions." And you forgave me! All at one the guilt of my sin washed away and all my pain disappeared! Pause in his presence. Psalm 32:5 TPT

Pause in his presence.  How often to we really do that? Completely pause in his presence?

This is something God spoke to me about at the end of last year - the need to more often pause in his presence. In fact, He gave me a very specific scripture .... Genesis 24:21 ..

And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD has made his journey prosperous or not. Genesis 24:21 NKJV

The key words for me were the 'remained silent so as to know whether the LORD', ie for me to remain silent until God speaks. So for the first month of this year, once a week I have gone to a peaceful place and sat, remaining silent until God speaks. After only four weeks it has become one of my favourite times in my week. It is a weekly appointment that I certainly don't want to miss. I still have my daily time with God early each morning, and conversations throughout the day, but they are more times of two way communication. Whereas this weekly appointment is time set aside to remain silent and wait until He speaks. I don't want to miss what he wants to say to me. Because it is always exactly what I need to hear, as Psalm 32 says,

I hear the Lord saying, "I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don't make it difficult; don't be stubborn when I take you where you've not been before. Don't make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!"
So my conclusion is this: Many are the sorrows and frustrations of those who don't come clean with God. But when you trust in the Lord for forgiveness, his wrap-around love will surround you. Psalm 32:8-10 TPT

Don't let pain, anger, fear and disappointment keep you from having an open heart towards God. Find that time to pause in his presence, listen to what he reveals, confess your sin, ask forgiveness and let him minister his love and kindness to you. Only then we can move towards loving God and others better.