Have you recently felt that you would like to move to another city and start over again? Are you disatisfied, perhaps you dislike your job, feeling a differnt job will solve your commons, or disolve your feelings of discontentment.

Several things have dropped into my spirit that I wish to share with you as we continue our spiritual development, our journey together in growth. The greatest need I sense that you may have at this time, is God's direction for your life's plan to unfold.  I perceive that you may have been feeling that what you have considered significant, lately seems empty.

Your dreams of being used by God may have begun to appear unrealistic, with so many plans having gone awry that you may be wondering why you ever felt that your life had unique meaning. I am writing to tell you not to let go of your vision; listen to the prompting of God assuring you that you in fact, now truly growing.

Growth has it's unique process involving various phases. One phase is like the exciting spring time filled with blossoms and wonder.  The summer phase brings it sturdiness with the promise of fruit.  The fall promotes a harvest with the celebration of increase and with it the seeming multitudes aboard your band wagon, cheering you on.

Then-we have winter. In the cycles of growth it seems that winter is dead. The plans, excitement and substance of the former phases seem to have died, and we question: "Did I miss the voice of God?"

Thank God for His Word! Let's review the growth experience of Samuel, one of Israel's great judges. As a small boy, Samuel was dedicated to the service of God by his mother. He grew up in the temple, under the supervision and training of Eli the Priest. One evening, as the lad, after retiring to bed, he heard a voice calling his name.

"He ran to Eli and said, Here I am, because you called me. Eli said, I did not call you; lie down again. So he went and lay down. And the Lord called him again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I, you did call me. Eli answered, I did not call, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the Word of the Lord was not yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel the third time, and he went to Eli, and said to him, here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, go, lie down. And if He calls you, you shall say, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place." I Samuel 3: 5-9 Amplified Bible

Samuel was then given a message from God. It was clear and specific, concerning Israel and the house of Eli. In this manner, Samuel began his growth in learning to know the voice of God. In his youth phase of life, he was being trained by the Spirit of God, to know God and His' ways.

Now be reminded of this, in a parallel manner, the Lord is training you to know His ways.

You are growing up in Christ, the way of growth is not as clear; His voice is not as distinguishable as you might remember in your Christian youth. Thus you have recently questioned if you have ever known the voice of God and life seems at a standstill.

This is a good time for honesty. Jesus said, "...know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Is there a part of you deep in side, "That is just the way it is-I was too religious anyway?"

If this statement is true of you, then you are absolutely correct! The state of being "religious" is an unreal, excessive state of "personality." What we refer to as personality can also be referred to as ego. It is the creation of our lower nature, the nature that loves to be "religious" to be seen of men, so men may know "how good we are."

Being religious is an "ego-trip" that needs to be eliminated.

Continuing in honesty, some of you may have established the preferable manner in which He should manifest His glory. None of us want that seeming silence to continue with its speculations of whether we ever hear from Him.

I want you to appreciate that you may now be in the best place you can be for this present time!  For you this can be the perfect time to look inward and identify the smaller self, the "ego" that continually seeks to control and manifest itself, especially in the starkness of this cold winter phase. Also, this can be the perfect time to amplify and call forth your true self, the nature of Christ within that is unfolding.

It is good that your plans or delayed or even changed. The goal of lifes journey is not to "attain" it is to "be."

In this "being" has been placed the magnificent gift and opportunity to process the developing spiritual nature of Christ within, for Whose demonstration we have longed. Too many of us have erroneously been believing that this nature would come with a decision, a quick prayer, with regular confession of the Word . . . but not quite! The Holy Spirit moves deeply in the root of our being, to feed, nourish and prepare us for the wonder that lies ahead. We must accept this quiet phase of renewal. So now let us join our wills with that of the Holy Spirit to allow this regeneration process to work at it's deepest level.

One of the most direct and profitable ways to develop this growth process is thru praying in the Spirit.

Even though we have heard this many times, it is essential for us to  now focus our attention on this dynamic form of spiritual communication. The Holy Spirit will remove the obstacles in your prayer life, and in the lives of others as you yield yourself to the power of praying in the Spirit.

Look again to the Word of God and the life of the great prophet Samuel. We learn that he not only learned to hear God's voice, but he also learned obedience. He followed the leadings of God, even though he was led to "undo" one anointing and start over again. Samuel anointed Saul and then later he anointed David, for Samuel had clearly heard from God and yielded to Him following in obedience.

As we read the biblical history we find:

1. The people of Israel wanted a King.
   
   
2. God, though cautioning Israel against it, gave them a king: Saul.
   
3. King Saul continually transgressed, and God had to select a new King.
   
4. Samuel was chosen to be God's "spokesperson" in this change. (Many may have wondered about these changes in direction, whether it was really of God.)
   
5. Samuel's personality or "ego" got in the way, and it was difficult for him to get the clear, full directions from God concerning the new king.