Walk at East Coast Park

Went with Hie Ming, Mun Fei and Seok Wah for an early morning walk... so refreshing... and there were so many planes flying overhead....

Discerning the will of God

Just read Benny Ho's book on Discerning the will of God.

5 characteristics about God's will:
Source/Type/ Action
His pleasure/ His sovereign will/ We must submit
His purity/ His moral will/ We must obey
His providence/ His providential will/ We must observe
His permission/ His permissive will/ We must avoid
His preference/ His specific will/ We must discern

God's specific will is uncovered by doing the first 3 aspects of God's will - submit to His sovereign will, obey His moral will and observe His providential will.

The underlying principle of God's guidance is Christ-likeness - Rom 8:28-30.

Below are the key factors to divine guidance:
1. the supremacy of Scriptures
- read the word of God (Ps 119:105, 2 Tim 3:14-17)
2. the spirit of the seeker
- go to God with a pure desire for His will to be done
3. the patience of prayer
- wait for God's guidance and direction
- silence and solitude needed --> demands inner quietness to listen, patience to
wait, expectancy to hear, time to listen and attention and focus
4. the counsel of Christians
- seek counsel of spiritually mature people
5. the confirmation of circumstances
- God's providence may kick in to engineer the circumstances to fulfil his will
6. the discipline of decision-making
- make sound decisions and exercise sound judgment in the light of the
Scriptures, our circumstances, what God has given to us, the big picture, and
our calling.
7. the presence of peace (Phil 4:6 -7 & Col 3:15)
- the inner witness of the Spirit
8. the supernatural signs of the Spirit
- divine intervention

Distinguishing soul-driven from Spirit-driven
sudden impulsive urge/ gradually growing conviction
originates from the mind/ birthed from the Spirit in prayer
initiated by circumstances/ initiated by God
confused changing of mind/ convicted steadfastness in the Spirit
lack of inner peace/ presence of inner peace
waning desire/ growing desire

Steps to listening prayer
1. Lay the situation and options before God
2. Ask the Lord to show if there is anything we don't know or have not considered
3. Mention specific areas of concern
4. Wait for God's reply
5. Write down what you sense you are hearing
6. Wait for confirmation through circumstances, counsel or conviction

A Sabbatical lifestyle 2-4May 08

1st time at a semi-silent retreat @Montfort Centre... lovely, serene place with a marvellous sunset..

Learnt about solitude (fasting from people) and silence (fasting from noise) in order to hear God.



Went for two morning walks (with Jesus) at Bukit Batok Nature Park aka Little Guilin...





God gave me songs every morning I woke up while I was there... In all things (Rom 8:28) and O Master Let Me Walk with Thee.

Some Key Lessons:

1. Ps 131:1-2 - to be still and quiet before the Lord, like a weaned child

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.


2. Isa 61:1-3 - I will rejoice (cf. boulder - wrapped but not suffocated, plant is still growing)

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

3. Daniel 3:16-18 - shift my point of reference: it's not about me, it's about God; trust in who God is

Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego trusted God to rescue them from the furnace, knowing that the God they believe in will save them and even if God does not, they will not bow to the statue, standing by what they believe in.

4. Luke 15:11-32 - Parable of the prodigal son

God loves me. He is Abba Father who is watching and waiting and loving.
I shall let God define me.
I shall not let men define me - not what I do or have or have achieved.