Hear God Every Day with Sara Whitten

What does the Bible teach us about our work and ministry? Follow this guided encounter to do a "check up" on where God has called you and how to let Him lead you in the assignment.

In Exodus 32, the people were hit with a "pause" during transition. Instead of waiting on the Lord, their need for understanding led them to shape something of their own design. In our own times of transition, we can be tempted - in our desire to know "what it looks like"- to rush back to the familiar and lean on what we understand, instead of waiting on the Lord to bring the new. God, in what ways are we leaning on something familiar where you want us to wait on the new You have for us?

The final part of the Isaiah 54:2 series which focuses on what it mean (Biblically) to strengthen.  Encounter Questions: Lord, would You show us what our gates need to be opened to and closed to in this season? What are the things we need to let in that we're not, or things we have been letting in that we need to close our gates to? Jesus, would You show us any places that we need to be repaired or healed? Holy Spirit, would You illuminate any breaches or places of compromise in our lives that keep us from being stable or standing fully on the promises and words You've given us?

Part 4 of 5 in the deep dive into Isaiah 54:2. What does it mean to lengthen our cords? Encounter Questions: Holy Spirit, what does it look like for me to persevere in this season? Jesus, what increase are you preparing me for through this lengthening?

What does it look to not hold back? As we dig into the Biblical history of this phrase, we uncover deeper implications for its use in Isaiah 54:2. Encounter Questions Jesus, remind me of a promise You have spoken over my life. Lord, what is a way that I can not hold back from You? What are you calling me to be open-handed with?

Part two of a deep dive into Isaiah 54:2 looks at what it means to stretch- Biblically speaking. Encounter Questions: Holy Spirit, what are You creating in me in this time of stretching? God, where are You making a way where I don't see a way yet? Lord, what are ways that I can soak in You in order to prepare to be stretched? God, is there anything that You would have me give to You or sacrifice in order to prepare for the growth You have for me?

Isaiah 54:2 speaks to a "tent time" of upcoming growth for Israel. What do these tent seasons look like for us? What are the unlikely markers when God is enlarging your tent space? Encounter Questions: Lord, would You show me what gifts you're growing my capacity in this season? Father, what places that feel empty are You actually growing?

When we find ourselves in an old place of defeat or in a place that feels dry, it could be the foundation for a miracle. What does Ezekiel tell us about encountering the Lord in these valleys? Lord, what do YOU say to these dry bones (the natural)? Holy Spirit, what do I declare to the breath (the unseen)?

What does it really mean to have the Lord as our strong tower? In this episode, we explore the 4 Biblical meanings of the Lord being our fortress as well as ask the Holy Spirit for important reminders and clarity about our season. Father, help expand my vision to see in all directions. What hope do you want me to see ahead of me? What testimonies do you want me to remember behind me? Holy Spirit, remind me of your vision for this season. What are you doing in me? What are you doing with me? How can I refresh myself in you for this work? Jesus, what tools or fruit are you giving me access to as I fix my focus on you?

What prophetic invitations does the story of Noah have for our own seasons of waiting? Lord, remind me of or reveal to me a promise you have spoken over my life. Jesus, what ways are you teaching me stewardship of more in this season? Reveal to me your guidelines or instructions for the things I'm stepping into. Holy Spirit, what is one way that you're moving around me right now that I can "observe" (or fix my eyes on)?

What are we covered in the dust of? How can we allow the Lord to renew and simplify our mindset to be Kingdom-focused in this season. Lord, what dust do I need to shake off of my life, and what does that look like? Holy Spirit, how can I be a part of proclaiming your Kingdom with my life in this season?

No matter where we are on our walk, we need these three reminders of how to posture ourselves in the position of a child. We "grow down" in order to "grow up" in the Kingdom! Lord, what is one way you're inviting me to lean on your like a child in this season?

During this season, we are invited to re-evaluate our "yokes" with the Holy Spirit and let the Lord restructure what we are "pulled" by.   Encounter Questions  Holy Spirit, what have I joined with this season to help me with the hard? Father, what have I joined with in this season to plant? Jesus, what alightments are you calling me to and which ones needs to slide off this season?

It is in the exciting times of new beginnings that the enemy loves to plant the seed of comparison and bring everything to a standstill. How do we resist comparison and finish what the Lord has started?   Encounter Questions  Lord, in what ways has comparison crept in to what you're doing in this season of my life? Father, what healing do you want to bring to past disappointments? Holy Spirit, what hope do you want to show me about what you're doing with me right now?

The very places the enemy wants to bring fear are the places the Lord is fueling the fire of His deliverance, His anointing, and His guidance.  - Holy Spirit, where are areas of low hope, low confidence, or low courage? What words of Yours do you want to remind me of to "fill up" these areas? - Lord, illuminate what the "warriors boots" or "bloodied garments" have been for me in this seasons? As I place them in Your hands, show me how they can be fuel for Your fire. I trade these fears for more of Your fire, Lord. Amen.

Part of building in our Promised land starts with tearing down. What does it look like to tear down what the enemy is wanting to "catch" us with and to "catch the vision" instead of where the Lord is leading us in His strength and promise.  Encounter Questions:  - Lord, what "blustering" lies of the enemy am I letting fill my sails? Holy Spirit, what truth do You want to speak to these lies? - Lord, could you show me how I am being tempted into shallow waters? Jesus, what does it look like to go deep with You? - God, what are the ways of victory that the enemy wants to lead me away from with His strongholds of questions?

Shaking us free from idols prepares us to move into what God has next for us. But we can't do much moving at all if we're too busy looking at the way God moved in the past that we forget to look to our WAYMAKER.  Encounter Questions:  - What way (looking for God to do a specific thing) have I been worshipping that has taken my eyes off the waymaker? - What truth do you want to tell me about who You are that will prepare me for Your Promises?

"We've always done it this way!" What happens when our traditions, cultures, or relationships carry us away from God's best. How do we weed out the idols to get back to a unhindered intimacy with the Lord? Encounter Questions:  1. Holy Spirit, where have idols been introduced to me through (generational history? Culture? Organizations?) 2. Father what truth from Your Word do you want to replace this idol with? (Repeat as many times as needed)

Seasons of waiting seem like nothing is happening, but what if God was using them to shake loose all the things we were leaning on that would not serve us in the place He is taking us? Declarations:  - I Stand in the waiting, trusting You have told me all I need to know. - I Surrender my power and judgment to You.

What places of leadership or stewardship has the Lord spoken over you? What have you been persistently wrestling with? What stagnant pools of blessing are still to be released both for you and from you? God is giving you His grace in that place and telling you "behold!" Encounters:  - God, what grace are you wanting to insert into my life? - Holy Spirit, highlight ways I have become worn out? Lord, what promises would you revive me with? - Pray: Father, like Sarah I release the how and when to you in humility…thank you for your grace and your promises that seek me out even in hiddenness or when I am worn out!

How are we invited to find treasure even in our season right now? Find new hope in our invitation to walking in the ways of Heaven here on earth. Encounters:  - God, how can I further step into bringing your Kingdom through my life now? - What would you have me trade? - What would you call me to invest in? - What disappointment do I have to throw out?

What is God's protocol in the face of bad news? As we look at Hezekiah's encounter with the Lord, let it encourage you in the face of whatever threats the enemy may be making. Encounters:  -Lord, what is Your report? -Holy Spirit, to what situation in my life are you saying "don't be afraid of what you hear"?

Living in a knowledge-rich world, it's easy to put all kinds of self-improvement protocols or wise teachers in our lives in the seat of "judge" of what's good and bad. In our effort to earn it or keep the latest cleanse, we sometimes miss God's invitation to be childlike and lean on His Word alone.  Encounters:  -What wisdom that isn't your wisdom am I putting on the seat of Judge/Driver in my life? -Lord, what areas are you inviting me to be more childlike and lean not on my own understanding?

Instead of just having peace for a time, what would it look like to never take our peace off? Encounters:  -How can I keep my shoes on today? -Lord, what safety do you want to reveal to me that invites discovery?

Part 3 of our prayer series! What Jesus taught about prayer reveal both the truth of our identity as well as the greatest stumbling blocks to our persistence in prayer.  Encounters:  -How can I know you better as my Father or my protector/provider? -Lord, give me eyes for your timing and your justice.

Part 2 of our prayer series! Take a deep dive into the root of prayer in Scripture. How can we utilize prayer time to exchange our "good" for God's "best"? Encounters:  -God, what divine exchanges are you wanting to make in my ideas or wishes?

Take a deep dive into the root of prayer in Scripture. How does God use our prayers to build things in the Spirit that impact the world? Encounters:  - God, what are you building through my prayers?

Some seasons feel like staring at a garden bed waiting for sprouts. The truth behind that, however, is even in these seasons there is much to do and much to hope for. Encounters: -God, what does watering look like for me? - What is something You are growing, Lord, that I don't yet see?

A life of faith isn't about praying the right prayers, doing the right declarations, or prescriptive behaviors. So what does it mean to live a life of faith? What good messages from God are hard for you to really believe? Join me as we invite the Lord into these places. Encounters: - God, what messages am I having a hard time believing? - What would it look like for me to really live like the Kingdom of God is here?

In the time between our prayers and the fulfillment of God's answers for them, how do we encounter joy in the journey and lean into the transformation of the wait. Encounters:  - Ask God to remind you of His promises or review old written down prophetic words - What fruit are You producing in the wait, God? - How can I embrace joy today?

God is always providing, but sometimes we're missing the new resources He's opening up because we're busy seeking fulfillment from the same place it came last season. Let's seek the Holy Spirit about what thinking patterns or habitual behaviors may need to change with our new season. Encounters:  -In what ways am I still getting horses from Egypt? - What new sources are you opening up for me in this new season?

When the Bible says the Lord FIGHTS for us, that fighting doesn't mean the hand-to-hand combat we imagine. Learn how God designed us to fight, and find delight in the place of your pressure today. Encounters:  -What battle do I need to stop fighting and realize that you already won? - What does it look like to eat instead of fight in my season? - What works have you made for me to enjoy with you that the enemy is trying to distract me from?

Encounters: We are plowing where our focus is fixed. How can we step into a greater joy even in the midst of hard seasons?

Encounters: Relationships are complicated enough...especially when we encounter people who don't agree with us. What does Jesus say about the people who don't listen to us? The answers in scripture may surprise you.

Hopelessness doesn't always feel hopeless. Let me share a new infusion of hope from God's Word that will break through the lies of expecting bad things, expecting nothing, or fearing the future.

We tend to look for perfection in our circumstances, our responses, and our timelines. But what if the places of IMPERFECTION were the places we could be most poised for a move of God? Encounters:  1.) Where are areas of perfectionism in my own thinking? 2.) Circumstances- How could this imperfect situation be setting the stage for a miracle? 3.) Responses- How could my imperfect response or the imperfect response of another set the stage for a new revelation of Your perfect love? 4.) Timeline- How could this imperfection in timing set the stage for a divine interruption?

When we get a word about growth, often the first place we look for God's increase is in the place of last season's fruitfulness. But what if God is doing a different kind of growth? Be encouraged-- something is happening even when you haven't seen the growth! Encounters:  1.) What does Your growth look like on the inside this season?  2.) What does Your growth look like on the outside this season?

Sometimes our own expectations or gaps in understanding can lead to delays in our follow-through. How can we forget the forecast and trust God's lead? Encounters:  1.) What are the "seeds" you want me to sow this season?  2.) What is the "harvest" you want me to gather in this season? 3.) What "forecasts" of my own are keeping me from follow through? Open my eyes to see false forecasts for what they are.

Multiplication is good and essential to stewardship...but are we called to multiply everything? Let's look at Genesis 30 for a fresh encounter on strategic multiplication. Encounters:  1.) What are the strong sheep (things You want to multiply) in my life that you're calling me to multiply?  2.) What are the weak sheep (eat up too much time/effort/resources) in my life that you're calling me to multiply?

We take a look in our own lives at the Biblical recurring theme of choosing believing God's love for us versus blaming God.  Encounters:  1.) In the challenging places, what transformation are you doing?  2.) How can I view this through the lens of your love instead of the lens of offense or blame?

Comfort and encouragement to remind you that when you're in control of nothing, God's up to something. Encounters:  1.) What area or areas am I feeling out of control? 2.) How can I lean into Your growth in those areas? What words would You "water me" with?

Survival mode can happen during busy seasons, seasons of trial, or even really slow seasons. When we focus our prayers, thoughts, time, and energy on just "getting through this" we miss the "more" that God is wanting to do in our season. Encounters:  1. What area or areas am I currently in survival mode? 2. What would it look like for me to live like you've already taken care of it? What would my dreams be?

Breakdown this encouraging word for now. There's something for you and your season! Encounters:  1.) What does it look like right now for me to "sit on" all you're preparing me for? 2.) Remind me of the promises that this is preparing the way for.

Jesus set an example for us by both being a conduit of God's love, healing, and wisdom to the MASSES and to the twelve He chose to MENTOR. God has purposes to work through YOU both to reach masses and to mentor on a smaller scale. What does that look like for you? Real Life Discipleship by Jim Putman Encounters:  1.) What does it look like for You to use me to minister to the masses this season? 2.) What does it look like for You to use me to mentor this season? 3.) What small steps can I take in those directions in the upcoming weeks?

Whether you're in the middle of a big decision or looking to reignite your passion in your walk with the Lord, here's some encouragement for going all in! Audio from Impact Christian Fellowship. Encounters:  1. What does it look like for you to be done with anything that would tempt you to go back? 2. Who can you tell who will cheer you along and hold you accountable in the direction the Lord is calling you? 3. Who will be fed by what you surrender?

Are you in a waiting season? Or maybe things are just off to a slower start than you anticipated. Hear some encouragement from the Lord about how what seems like closed doors may actually be an invitation to more.  Encounters:  1.) Show me some of the wisdom from you that I need before taking more territory 2.) What aspect(s) of Christ are you building on in me?

Hard-heartedness doesn't always look like we think. It can be anxiety, depression, indecision or any other place we're letting ourselves be convinced in a direction other than acting on His Word. How do we notice God's tenderness in these areas of our lives and allow His softening grace to loosen the grip of hard-heartedness?  Encounters:  1.) Where are the areas of hard-heartedness in my life? 2.) Would you pour out your grace right now in those areas and show me; what does listening in these areas look like?

Sometimes we can become discouraged because something we felt we were called to or promised didn't work out in a past season. Be encouraged by this message that God puts purpose in every season and that the timing of His promises is just as critical as the promises themselves.  Encounters:  1.) Is there an area that I've been stuck in instructions from an old season? 2.) What does "get up, go now" look like in my life right now (what is it for me to be "about your business" now?)

Usually right before the breakthrough- when we are on the threshold of our promise- is when we are stretched, discouraged, and tempted to say "this is good enough. I'm done". How can we get the hope to push through to our promised land? Encounters:  1.) What are my areas of complaint? Give me insight into how these areas are opportunities for you. 2.) What are generational areas of complaint? How can I occupy those places?

When we get stirred up, we get cloudy on who we are. How do we get with God and get a view of who we are- aside from what we're doing or what's going on in our life? Learn more with me about what it means to "be still" in a world where activity almost never ceases.  Encounters:  1.) What's something you can't see? How can you be still or TRUST in that area? 2.) Allow the activities to be pushed aside…God how do you see my heart? (Not what I'm doing…who I am)