When God speaks... do you hear him?
- Christine DiGiacomo
- 3 minutes ago
- 5 min read
On Sunday morning I was home in San Clemente, California, and walked into a conversation with my dear friend and her visiting mother, sister and niece. Within minutes, their lively conversation got louder as first one and then another of the women expressed their very strong feelings about whether or not a sweet young couple we all know should adopt a certain yellow Labrador. Ha, I had a bit of an out of body experience as I zoomed out, and thought about how interesting all of it was . . . how emotional the women became; one would have a strong opinion, and then upon further reflection, she would totally reverse her position. It was at once amusing and also thought provoking. Suddenly, one passionately announced, 'I'm going down to talk to them--that is a great dog, and they should keep him!' This got me thinking once again about who it is we trust to guide or influence us ... and just whose voice we heed. Wait - whose voice influences you the most? To which I say, it is absolutely vital to know and listen to the voice of God. Perhaps you've just started receiving these Morning Briefings - what are they anyway? Truths drawn from God's Word, applied to our relationship with him and everyday life. In my 19th year of writing, I have taken a segue from the book of James to consider the person of the Holy Spirit--who He is, what He does, why we must know and hearfrom Him. And this is what I know: God wants to talk to us. Every day, he speaks to us through the written Word of God, the Bible. (but it does require that we open it!) As I have mentioned, I pray the Psalms, and it is remarkable how the words of the psalmists, inspired by the Holy Spirit, speak to my situation in life, to my heart, mind and soul. And then of course, throughout Scripture, we read of the various ways God communicated with humanity. . . the ways he still speaks to us today. In Acts chapter 10, God let Peter know that relationship with Him was for all people--not just the Jews. Heretofore, the Christian church had not included Gentiles, but all of that was about to blow wide open, as God said 'his grace was for all people'. How did God speak to Peter? In a vision and through an audible voice.1 Scripture link below. What is truly amazing to me is that God has something to say to you and to me too. Huh, when I am teaching on hearing God's voice in person, the looks on faces are really telling. Some people just can't believe that anyone could 'hear' from God, and that if folks say they do, well, they might be a little strange. Or possibly they are hearing voices and like, they're schizophrenic. Yes, some are suspicious of the whole notion. And after all, we live in a time and day that has the idea that the skeptical person is always smarter than the one who believes. Ha, you can almost be a cabbage and be respected, as long as you doubt.2 Isn't that the truth? But as with most things in our lives, our thoughts on the matter go back to what we believe about God, and who he is. God created us for relationship with him. And we know that relationship with anyone requires communication-- two-way communication. Don't you see? God speaks to those with whom he has relationship. Therefore, we seek to hear from God because of our desire to have closeness with him, a by-product of relationship. Our desire to hear his voice is evidence of our love for him. One can easily see this in the heart of Brother Lawrence who said, "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us."3 Think of our varied communication with friends and colleagues; it takes place in personal conversation, also through voicemail, e-mail, text messaging, knowing facial expressions, eye contact, emotions, letter writing, and physical contact like hugs, pats on the back, kisses and other gestures. ->Would we then think to limit how God chooses to communicate with us? I think not! God speaks through Creation. "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."4 And look at how the psalmist captures Creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2) Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3) There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4) Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world... 5 Oh, but that is so good. God revealed himself through the birth of Jesus Christ. Is there any louder statement than the giving of his only Son to communicate to mankind? No indeed not. Oh, how I love him! Therefore it is to be expected, given the revelation of God in Christ, that if he wants us to know something, he will be both able and willing to communicate it to us plainly, as long as we are open and ready to hear ... So... God wants to talk to you, my friend. Are you prepared to hear him? Do you have relationship with him? He will talk to you from the pages of his word as you read-- He may speak to you in a dream or a vision-- He communicates a lot through his creation... look up, look around, consider. And He has certainly revealed his great love for you and me in a very loud statement named "Jesus"! Listen to this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gawMaRftDt8&list=RDgawMaRftDt8&start_radio=1 God wants to talk to you . . . he really does. Are you desirous? Are you listening? Christine Holy Spirit: Who or what? no.12 1 - Acts 10.9-48, this link has two side-by-side translations for comparison: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 10.9-48&version=NASB;ESV 2 - from Hearing God, Dallas Willard, the best treatise on hearing God's voice 3 - Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, a short little book compiled of the writings of a 17th century French monk; his content is life-giving 4 - Romans 1.19-20 5 - Psalm 19.1-4a |
Comments