God Speaks

How does God speak to you? I think we can all agree He speaks to us through His Word . . .

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1: 1-2

And our thoughts . . . (which I believe is that inner feeling that you get -- that clear message that directs your path).

Through prayer . . .

3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Jeremiah 33: 3

Some receive our messages from God through a dream and for many it is tangible, our daily bread -- —21st century manna

"I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel; say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; then you shall know that I am The Lord your God.'" In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning dew lay round about the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which The Lord has given you to eat." (Exodus 16:10-15 RSV)

God also speaks to us through life events and circumstances and through people. People who love us and love Jesus, who encourage us, challenge us, shape us.

For some, God speaking is not that still, small voice but an audible voice loud and clear. I used to envy those people to whom God spoke. I desired to "hear" God. I would even ask a friend who heard God to pray for me for those decisions where I needed a clear, divisive answer from God. Since she could hear and I could not (or so I thought) would she get an answer to my prayer, request, or dilemma? Like Mack in the book The Shack I wanted a God to talk to me, walk with me, a Jesus who could hold my hand and the Holy Spirit as my muse.

However, slowly (sometimes God uses a 2x4 – this time he let me wade my way through the mire) I came to realize that I don't have to hear God audibly. God walks and talks with me daily, Jesus does hold my hand, especially in my darkest hours, and the Holy Spirit is indeed my muse. I don’t need to “hear” a voice like Morgan Freeman’s in the movie Bruce Almighty booming from the heavens to hear God. It is enough for God to speak to me through His Word, through prayer, in my quiet time, through people and circumstances He places in my life and, on occasion, on Sunday mornings through a sermon.

Now don’t get me wrong…I love the sermons at our church every Sunday, regardless of which Pastor speaks. But there are times when the words are so directed at your heart, that touch your innermost being that you know that God is directing that discussion to you.

This past Sunday was one of those times. The Big Idea: It’s not about attendance, it’s about attachment. Simple enough – but Pastor Gary’s delivery of that message was to me, brilliant! I got it God – windows rolled down.

17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17