That Little Voice In Your Head

One of my very favorite verses in the bible is Isaiah 30:21.

"Your ears will hear a word  behind you, 'This is the way,  walk in it, '
whenever you turn to the right or to the left."

It so beautifully reminds us that the Holy Spirit is alive and living inside us. 

We've all done it. Started to buy something extravagant. A showy car. Bigger Boat. Larger house in the most prestigious neighborhood.  That "little voice" asks us if we really need the item. It calls us to examine our motives for the  purchase.  Or we've started to repeat gossip.  No sooner than we open our mouths that check in our spirit says "don't go there". Or maybe we've witnessed a friend in a compromising position and the Holy Spirit whispers to us to "speak up".

What do we do when we hear that voice prompting us to do the right thing? Do we listen to it? Do we ignore it? Do we realize it's God protection for us?

When my kids were in elementary and middle school I had a vision for a fabulous design. I knew it was good. I believed in the product. I started out small. I worked from my home.  I had two sales reps and about 35 stores. As the business quickly grew I found it more difficult delegating my time. When I had a great work day I was a really poor Mama. When I was a really good Mama I was very poor at servicing my accounts. There was no balance. I was unable to do both things simultaneously well.

Six months into the start of the company I was featured in Southern Living magazine. The line took off. I soon had an opportunity to open a showroom in Atlanta. Honesty, the voice in my head started quietly as a whisper. I ignored it. Then, shouting in my head. The Holy spirit woke me up at night "Not now. Wait. Later." I knew that I needed to be a Mama first and foremost. Period. My ego wanted to continue the corporate ride. I wanted both.

This  is what God laid on my heart. For me. He knows my idiosyncrasies.  He knew I was missing out on my children's youth. He knew I needed to focus on one job, not two, at a time in order to strive for excellence. He knew what was best for me.

Let me preface by saying two of my very best friends have had wildly successful careers and motherhood. They are phenomenal at both. Guess what? I was not. And I chose to ignore the Lord. I purposefully chose to ignore "This is the way,  walk in it".  

What's so sad  is the fact that I truly did not understand why my world was a disorganized wreck. The Holy Spirit had CLEARLY  said "Elizabeth, not now. wait. later." My flesh said "I can do both. Lord. I'm good at this. People like my product. It's a family venture. Having my office in my home doesn't keep me from my kids. I only have to go to Atlanta 5 weeks out of the year". I was justifying the means to meet my fleshly needs. My family suffered for my selfishness.

We all want recognition. Quiddos for a job well done. What He wants is for us to listen to Him. Not because he's an egotistical,  controlling, God. Nope that would be us. The Lord knows that if we follow His lead he has magnificent plans for our lives. {Because} He made us He knows every cell in our body, every insecurity, every talent. He knows how to make us prosper. To bring us joy.

Everyone wants to be famous. There is no hope in that. There is no fulfillment. There will always be a gnawing hole in the pit of your stomach. That lie will play continually in your head "there is more out there". The "more" is the joy we have in Christ.

When the stock market crashed people stopped spending money on expensive neck wear for little boys. My husband stepped in. He made the decision, for me,  to close my showroom before it was financially too late. My ego was crushed. Instead of being the mature, thankful wife,  I was the disgruntled spouse. I punished my husband for closing my business. I made it his fault. 

The reality was that I had ignored the Holy Spirit. I knew in the depths of my soul that I should have never started a business at that season of my life. Anyone?

You see the Lord had bigger plans for me. He knew that I needed to be there for lots of huge milestones for my children. I was able to witness one get a collegiate athletic scholarship. I was able to watch the other achieve her goal of being a ranked equestrian in the eastern United States. The Lord also knew there would be huge trials that I would need to be around for. The Lord knew that my girls would need me. He knew that if I was not there for them their future relationship with me would have dynamically been changed. He knew that during  the countries economic downfall my husband would need me.

How would your life be different if you heeded that "little voice" in your head? Do you believe the lies of the enemy telling you that you must do this or that? What would happen if you followed the Holy Spirits calling on your life?

I got a lot of heart ache. A lot of pain. An over abundance of joy. A new life of absolute freedom in Him. And great stories for the ministry He had waiting for me. What is the Holy Spirit telling you?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.-Jeremiah 29:11