So here is my latest lesson straight from God. I will leave out the "Why, why, why?" and the arguments we had about reading. This is one lesson I'm having a little difficulty with because of my heels in the dirt, not dragging, but straight out in front of me resisting.
In the beginning, when God created light, the Bible states that He spoke, "Let there be light." He then assigned light and darkness names of day and night. Words were used in the very beginning. How we choose to use words exposes who we are. Words are the window to our souls. They express our feelings, beliefs, and desires. They are our greatest form of communication whether spoken or written.
James 5:17 says Elijah was a human being, even as we are. Moses, Noah, Paul and Mary were humans like us. If they were on the earth today dressed in modern clothing and speaking as we do, would we see any difference? I have never read anywhere in the Bible where God decided humans were too complicated and powerful, so He dumbed us down. I have never read where God said that He was going to change the strength of His love for His people. He taked to them and He says we are the same. He wants to talk with us.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
To love we need to be in relationships. Relationships grow through communication. Communication produces knowledge and knowledge produces intimacy and the cycle begins. If the Father wants a personal relationship with His child there are many ways to communicate. He could write an instruction manual, and though it is very helpful, does it produce intimacy? He could leave post-it notes all over the house, but the relationship would be one sided. He can write messages on a billboard in front of the neighborhood church and though these are all ways to communicate, for actual relationship growth conversation works best.
Lately people have tilted their heads to the side, raised an eyebrow and asked, "God talks to you?" Yeah. He doesn't come through the door at 5:15, kick off His sandals and ask what's for dinner. He doesn't grab me by the leg in the morning and say it's time to get up. I am not saying He never would, because He's out of the box I once kept Him in. In fact, with anyone else these behaviors might tempt me to withhold my words as punishment.
I'm no expert on this, but I believe with all my heart that God wants to speak to each of us. If you are only open to hearing Him in the Bible, you are limiting Him to only speaking to you through the Bible. If you believe He speaks through other people then that may be the only way He can speak to you that you will hear Him. Just like toddlers, we need to learn to talk to Jesus to get the most out of it. I suggest reading a book on it. I first read about listening prayer. As His child, I got tired of talking to Him all the time and then one day it struck me to be quiet and listen so He could respond.
Last night I started reading a book by Dallas Willard called "Hearing God". I tend to expect to sit down with God and have Him list off instructions and I forget to talk to Him like I would my Bio-Dad. We have been conversing for awhile now and most of the time He starts off with words of comfort. Yesterday, like people do in relationships, (especially relationships with me) He said I'm holding back. I let Him get only so close and I push Him away. I thought being single would help me avoid having this type of conversation. So, I did what I know and spent a little extra time with Him today and I keep reading and listening. It may seem funny that I tried to make Him happy by spending a little extra time with Him, but we both enjoyed it.
One thing that really helped me talk with Jesus is to imagine Him not much taller than me, instead of that HUGE guy in the big chair drumming His fingers and frowning. Sometimes I will think about Him with the Peter or John eating together or walking and it makes Him more real to me. He meets us where we are, because He wants to "hang out" with us.
A kingdom works by the communication of thoughts and intentions through words or other symbols, for a kingdom is a network of personal relationships. - Dallas Willard
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
To love we need to be in relationships. Relationships grow through communication. Communication produces knowledge and knowledge produces intimacy and the cycle begins. If the Father wants a personal relationship with His child there are many ways to communicate. He could write an instruction manual, and though it is very helpful, does it produce intimacy? He could leave post-it notes all over the house, but the relationship would be one sided. He can write messages on a billboard in front of the neighborhood church and though these are all ways to communicate, for actual relationship growth conversation works best.
Lately people have tilted their heads to the side, raised an eyebrow and asked, "God talks to you?" Yeah. He doesn't come through the door at 5:15, kick off His sandals and ask what's for dinner. He doesn't grab me by the leg in the morning and say it's time to get up. I am not saying He never would, because He's out of the box I once kept Him in. In fact, with anyone else these behaviors might tempt me to withhold my words as punishment.
I'm no expert on this, but I believe with all my heart that God wants to speak to each of us. If you are only open to hearing Him in the Bible, you are limiting Him to only speaking to you through the Bible. If you believe He speaks through other people then that may be the only way He can speak to you that you will hear Him. Just like toddlers, we need to learn to talk to Jesus to get the most out of it. I suggest reading a book on it. I first read about listening prayer. As His child, I got tired of talking to Him all the time and then one day it struck me to be quiet and listen so He could respond.
Last night I started reading a book by Dallas Willard called "Hearing God". I tend to expect to sit down with God and have Him list off instructions and I forget to talk to Him like I would my Bio-Dad. We have been conversing for awhile now and most of the time He starts off with words of comfort. Yesterday, like people do in relationships, (especially relationships with me) He said I'm holding back. I let Him get only so close and I push Him away. I thought being single would help me avoid having this type of conversation. So, I did what I know and spent a little extra time with Him today and I keep reading and listening. It may seem funny that I tried to make Him happy by spending a little extra time with Him, but we both enjoyed it.
One thing that really helped me talk with Jesus is to imagine Him not much taller than me, instead of that HUGE guy in the big chair drumming His fingers and frowning. Sometimes I will think about Him with the Peter or John eating together or walking and it makes Him more real to me. He meets us where we are, because He wants to "hang out" with us.
A kingdom works by the communication of thoughts and intentions through words or other symbols, for a kingdom is a network of personal relationships. - Dallas Willard
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