Listening and Responding to God's Voice: An honest conversation with Michelle Layer Rahal

In this fascinating episode of 'Space for Life', host Tommy Thompson chats with an Indie award-winning author, speaker, writing coach, Michelle Layer Rahal. She discusses her journey as an author, writing her debut book 'Straining Forward', a compelling biography of a Vietnamese refugee's incredible life journey. Michelle emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice and responding to it, a theme central to her most recent book, 'Are You Listening?' Michelle talks honestly about the real-life implications of trying to discern God's voice in our lives, dealing with God's silence, and perspectives about the 'dark night of the soul.' 00:06 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:19 The Connection Between the Host and the Guest 01:26 Guest's Background and Career 02:05 Understanding the Role of a Writing Coach 05:12 The Journey of Writing the First Book 16:08 Reading an Excerpt from the First Book 20:06 The Aftermath of Writing the First Book 21:26 The Inspiration Behind the Second Book 25:59 Understanding God's Voice and Responding to It 29:11 God's Perception of Us 29:23 The Power of Listening to God 29:49 God's Constant Presence in Our Lives 30:20 The Challenge of Recognizing God's Voice 31:06 The Importance of Spiritual Disciplines 31:40 Understanding God's Character 32:33 Recognizing God's Voice Amidst Other Voices 33:17 The Role of Faith in Hearing God's Voice 34:04 Distinguishing God's Voice from Others 34:28 The Deception of the Devil 35:31 The Role of Dreams and Visions in God's Communication 39:20 The Importance of Community in Recognizing God's Voice 45:42 The Challenge of Recognizing God's Voice in Difficult Times 45:56 The Dark Night of the Soul 51:18 Connecting with God's Voice 51:31 The Role of Scripture and Prayer in Hearing God's Voice 52:21 The Joy of Responding to God's Call www.michellelayerrahal.com