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HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Verses marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Cover photo © Yuri Arcurs—Fotolia

GOD’S WHISPERS TO A WOMAN’S HEART

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-5450-1 (padded HC)

ISBN 978-0-7369-5451-8 (eBook)

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Dedication

For Sarah—

Thank you for giving me the privilege of watching your faith grow as you recognize Him working in your life and listen for His whispers on your heart.

Contents

Dedication

Preparing to Hear His Voice

Part I: Recognizing His Whispers

Listen for My Whispers

Look for Me…and Find Me

I Understand

I Have a Plan

You Are Precious

I Will Fight for You

That Inconsolable Longing

Your Heart’s Desire

Your Search for Love

New Beginnings

A Clean Slate

A Fresh Start

No More Regrets

No One Else Satisfies

I Strengthen Your Heart

Share in My Peace

Peace as Jesus Gives

My Comfort for You

Worry About Nothing

Experience My “More than Enough”

Let’s Rest Awhile

In Lonely Places

A Day Worth Rejoicing In

Calling Me Your Husband

Never Will I Leave You

I Go Before You

I Don’t Make Mistakes

Let’s Settle This

Bring Me Your Brokenness

Let Me Calm Your Heart

My Sufficient Grace

Trust My Timing

Be Fully Content

In Due Time

Come to Me

Come Away with Me

My Hiding Place

Suffering Loss

Indescribable

Just for a Night

Be Still

Sensing My Love

The Good Things

Everything You Need

Your Sun and Shield

Know My Voice

Align Your Heart with Mine

Number Your Days

Worth More

All Your Longings

Your Confidence

Come Boldly

Be Assured

Much More to Say

Every Part of You

Give Freely

My Grace Is Sufficient

Guard Your Heart

Let Me Handle It

Your Defense

Part II: Reflecting on His Character

The Edge of Desperation

Singing in the Desert

No Fear

Choosing to Rejoice

It’s No Accident

Second-Guessing God

Keep Talking to Jesus

He Will Carry You

He Knows

Your Right-Hand Man

Joy in His Presence

Lighten Your Load

He Provides Rest

He’s Always Listening

A Steep Climb

Beholding His Glory

Worth the Climb

Waiting on Him

Waiting for Him

He Delights in You

He Knows Your Heart

Filling Your Heart with Songs

He Gives Songs in the Night

Listen for Your Song

Finding Your Quiet Retreat

Your Island Hideaway

All Day Long

He Demonstrated His Love

Slow Down

A New Song

Immeasurably More

He Can Do Anything

His Whispers of Protection

Something Better Awaits

His Will for Us

Strength for the Weary

Refreshment from His Word

A Breath of Fresh Air

Good to Be Near Him

His Shepherding Heart

Tough and Tender

He Never Tires

Strength to Soar

For His Name’s Sake

For His Fame

Never Out of His Sight

Chosen by His Love

Desiring Nothing Else

One Thing

My Debt Erased

So Walk in Him

Part III: Responding to His Heart

Everywhere I Go

Drawn by Your Love

Doorkeeping for the Lord

Your Higher Ways

You Know Me Inside Out

You Are My Refuge

The Lord Has Need of It

Your Burden Is Light

Renewed and Repaired

You’re Not Finished Yet

Seeking You First

Seeking Your Face

Hearing Your Voice

You Are My Advocate

The God of All Comfort

You Will Restore Me Once Again

Your Inseparable Love

As You Call Me Back

A Spacious Place

All I Want

The Object of Your Delight

My Shield and Glory

An Undivided Heart

Enlarge My Heart

Nothing on My Own

Your Love Chases Me

Your Desires, My Delight

Calmed and Quieted

My Eyes Are on You

Your Great Wonders

With Your Help

Your Safety

Examine My Heart

My Immovable Rock

The Wonders of Your Love

Thirsting for You

The Light of Your Face

My Stronghold

My Dwelling Place

On Things Above

My Living Hope

My Eternal Home

Surrendering Your Heart

A Closing Word from Cindi

About the Publisher

Preparing to Hear His Voice

Do you long to hear God’s whispers on your heart? To know His thoughts of you, His plans for you, His comfort and His presence? Chances are He is already whispering. You and I just need to get quiet enough to listen. That’s what this book will, prayerfully, help you do. I have divided it into three sections to help you recognize His whispers, reflect on His character, and respond to His heart.

Part I: Recognizing His Whispers—God communicates through the Scriptures. By reading them and picturing His heart for you, you will prayerfully learn to recognize His voice through His Word.

Part II: Reflecting on His Character—Sometimes it may seem like God isn’t there. But He often makes His presence known to us by what we experience on a daily basis. This section will help you look for His presence and listen for His whispers in your everyday circumstances.

Part III: Responding to His Heart—As you reflect on God’s Word and His character, your response will no doubt be one of worship, wonder, and ultimate surrender.

So quiet yourself and listen closely, dear friend, to what God is whispering to your heart.

Listening for Him alongside you,

Cindi McMenamin

PS: Hearing God’s whispers on your heart begins when you have a personal relationship with Him. To find out more about what that means, see “Surrendering Your Heart.”

Part I

Recognizing His Whispers

Open your heart and listen to Him whisper through His Word…

Listen for My Whispers

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

ISAIAH 30:21

Are you hoping for guidance today? Do you want to know how to walk in My ways? Then quiet down, My child, and listen for Me. I am the One who is beside you every moment of the day, providing direction, whispering affirmation, nudging you to show love toward others, pulling you back from harm. You need only to quiet yourself and listen for My loving voice. I will not intrude upon you, nor frighten you, nor discourage you. My voice is not in a terrifying wind, nor in a startling earthquake, nor in a consuming fire. Listen for Me in the sound of a gentle blowing, a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12).

Lord, I long to hear Your whispers that warn me, direct me, and affirm me of Your comforting presence. Train me to hear Your voice, not the distracting one that leads me astray.

Look for Me…and Find Me

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

JEREMIAH 29:13 NASB

I’m aware of the days when you’re hoping to hear something from Me. My child, I whisper thoughts and encouragement on your heart all day long. I am the One who longs for you to listen. You hear so many distracting thoughts and words that can drown out My voice: your doubts, your own negative thoughts, the critical words of others, taunts from the enemy. Start looking for Me in your daily circumstances. Listen for My whispers in the kind words of others. Feel the peaceful assurance of My presence as you go through your day. You will find Me—and hear from Me—when you search for Me with all your heart.

Lord, tune my ears to hear You alone, not my own doubts or fears or the criticism of others. I long to see You at work in my circumstances and to hear Your gentle whispers on my heart.

I Understand

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

PSALM 139:13

Have you ever considered that it’s no accident that you feel the way you do right now? I fashioned you in your mother’s womb, and I knew the circumstances that would play out in your life to cause you to feel alone or anxious today. Not only have I ordained all your days and written them out before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16), but I have a plan—and a purpose—in what you may see as your pain or plight. Whatever comes your way today has not taken Me by surprise. I have let life lead you to a place of longing or frustration so you will be reminded that I am all you need.

Will you trust Me with all that is on your mind—and in your way—today?

Lord, thank You for knowing all about what this day holds. Remind me, when I start to get frustrated or feel like I am alone, that You are right here with Me.

I Have a Plan

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

PSALM 139:16 NLT

I know you sometimes feel like your life is not going according to plan. But your life is right on track, My child. You just need to remember whose plan it is!

I see all your expectations, but I hold the ultimate blueprint in My hands. I looked down through the ages of time and knew what you would need to become more intimately connected with Me. And then I ordained your days—overseeing your circumstances, and providing enough of Myself to be available to you when you feel you’re at your wits’ end, so you will see Me as your All in All. Will you trust Me with everything that is happening in your life right now?

Lord, You hold my life in Your capable hands. I trust that You know what You are doing, and You will engineer my circumstances in whatever way will keep me closest to You.

You Are Precious

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up, you are still with me!

PSALM 139:17-18 NLT

Did you know, My child, that I am constantly thinking of you? The number of thoughts I have for you cannot even be measured. And not only do I have your life story planned out, but because I love you immeasurably, that story is truly a good one.

Will you go through this day differently knowing that I am the Writer of your story and I have precious thoughts of you too numerable to measure? And will you trust Me today that I have this chapter of your life already resolved and am waiting for you to see the benefits of trusting Me as you live through it?

Thank You, Lord, that the circumstances of my life are no accident. Because You are the Writer of my story, You can get me safely to my “happily ever after.”

I Will Fight for You

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

EXODUS 14:14

I am ever aware of the times you feel defeated, worried, stressed out about something you can’t control. I have already walked through all of the days that were ordained for you and I can keep your heart calm, your soul at peace, and your circumstances under My control. You need only to be still.

When you are anxious and trying to work through so many details, you rob yourself of experiencing My peace. I am the One who holds back the water from the heavens and parted the Red Sea. I have brought fire down from heaven and yet saved men in the midst of a flaming furnace. Surely I will not let the rivers sweep over you or the fire set you ablaze (Isaiah 43:2). Trust Me, My child, to fight for you. Be still…and watch Me come through (Psalm 46:10).

Lord, You are far more capable than I give You credit for. Teach my heart to be still as I wait for You to show Yourself strong on my behalf.

That Inconsolable Longing

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me…you are familiar with all my ways.

PSALM 139:1,3

I know you experience that inconsolable longing. Every day of your life there is that aloneness, an incompleteness, a longing to feel deeply and truly known. You wonder at times if you have anyone with whom you can commune in love.

When you focus on that inconsolable longing, it will bring you down. No one on this earth—not a parent, husband, child, or close friend—will be able to know you completely. But you are known to Me.

Nothing else and no one else will satisfy. So bring to Me those longings that remain unmet. I am waiting to fill your inconsolable heart with My peace and unworldly joy. I long for you to be able to say as the psalmist did: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).

Lord, thank You that my inconsolable longing is truly consolable in You. May my unmet longings on this earth increase my yearning for heaven.

Your Heart’s Desire

Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.

PSALM 37:4 NASB

I see what your heart longs for today. But, My precious child, why would I give you the one thing that would keep you from coming back to Me? I know what I’m doing—even when it seems like I’m withholding. I have a plan. I want you to be independent of this world and dependent on Me. I will allow the struggles that will keep you clinging to Me because I know when you are holding tightly to Me you are experiencing true joy and peace. Make Me your heart’s delight, and I will put My desires in your heart and delight in granting them.

Hold me close, Lord, and when I start to want something more than I want You, keep me in check and draw my heart back to Yours. Increase my desire for You alone. I know that, in return, You will give me joy.

Your Search for Love

For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name.

ISAIAH 54:5 NKJV

I know those deep longings within you to love and be loved completely.

I see the longings of the single woman waiting for the love of her life. I see the longings of the married woman, wondering when her husband will connect with her and make her feel complete. And I see where you are today in your longings as well.

Cry out to Me to fill the longings of your heart. My answer is always the same: I am here. Waiting to be the One to satisfy you, complete you, fulfill you. Waiting for you to learn what I have been trying all these years to show you.

The alone times in your life are meant to drive you to Me—the Only One who can satisfy. Will you start looking to Me to be your Spiritual Husband?

Lord, You are the One for me. On days when I seek something—or someone—more than You, remind me that I already have all that I am longing for.

New Beginnings