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I posted the following note on YouVersion using Matt 11:15 as the reference, though I could also have chosen Matt 13:9 or Rev 13:9 to link this to. (Interesting that both Matthew and Revelation say the same thing in the 13th chapter and 9th verse… Sorry I get sidetracked by things like that…) Below I elaborate on this morning's thought:
“I'd never claim to have heard God speak in an audible voice; however, I do believe He's said specific things to me — but only after spending much time in His Word and talking to Him did I ever feel like He responded. I don't think I would have ever heard Him if I wasn't listening."
Has anyone ever told you that prayer should be a dialogue? If not, allow me to be the first, but also google it because you'll find some cool stuff like this… Also, I know “should" isn't the preferred word here, but sometimes what's appropriate is less preferred – like discipline and punishment for example.
Prayer is another area (in addition to Bible reading, discipleship, fellowship, and giving) that has plenty of emphasis from plenty of sources. (In the past I've also written about some of these things.) But for some reason this morning, it just jumped out at me. I should probably write about it more, and I definitely need to do it more — without ceasing — right?
I'd have a hard time narrowing down all of the spiritual disciplines into just one thing, so I won't try. They all seem interrelated to me, so I'll just make the case for balanced focus using two I've mentioned: Prayer and Bible reading for example. How can you know how to pray without reading the Bible? – i.e. passages like when the Disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray And how can you know how to read your Bible without prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to teach you what you're reading? – like the Ethiopian Eunic who was reading Isaiah
I won't belabor the point here, but I hope at least a few people will better see prayer as a dialogue with God after reading this. We don't ask our friends or family something without giving them time to respond, so we shouldn't do that to our Father in Heaven either. (And there's another should for those who get driven crazy by assertive words like that!)
I'll finish with a story I've told many people, and it's what I thought of when I wrote that opening line about hearing God's voice. It was in College at the USMMA; I remember the time of day (late afternoon) and the place (walking by the 172 foot flag pole) but I can't really remember the year or season (I'd guess it was my 3/c year in the fall.) I can't remember why I was talking to God during this particular walk across campus, but in the midst of it I told Him, “Lord, sometimes I just feel like cussing!" I must have been upset about something, or maybe it was just a result of being surrounded by people who curse like sailors because, well, that's what we were… But it was almost instantaneous – not really audible – but I could tell the response came from God because it totally seemed like something only He would say when I “heard“: “Well that's fine Adam, you can say whatever words you want to say, it's up to you, but I don't want to hear it." I also remembered what He says in His word about that kind of talking…
And with that, I've never really had a problem with the F-bomb or any other language – the socially acceptable, though frowned upon when kids are present kind… I figured God could hear everything I said, and if He didn't want to hear that, well then, I probably ought not to say it.
So that's just one example, there's a few other in my lifetime I could share, maybe I'll write about them eventually, but there's definitely something special that takes place when you wait long enough to listen. He might just give you a story to tell about too!
Peace,
Adam
Bible Verse Links:
Matt 11:15, 13:9 and Rev 13:9 (ESV)
1Thess 5:17 (NKJV)
Luke 11:1 (HCSB)
Acts 8:27-36 (NKJV)
Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)