Last year I wrote a book about hearing God's voice. I am learning to practice listening to God (John 10) but still find that it is a discipline.
The last several weeks I have really been enjoying conversations with the people I love the most about this topic. There is a consensus that we don't have all the answers and we are all still learning. The one thing that has been the focus is how do we share with those who have not experienced hearing God's voice.
I am not talking about atheist or pagans (I find it easy to talk to them about my experience with God), but Christians who have never heard from God.
The Christians I am refering to, all talk about their relationship as something very personal, but they have never had a conversation with God. Sure, they have all spent lots of time praying and reading the Bible.
I have had a couple of authors that I really enjoyed that I read every book they had written and then I sent them a letter or two. I do not consider that to be a personal relationship.
I can't believe that Jesus prayer in John 17 leaves us in a place where a distant God leaves us generic instructions for 2000 years of generations in all different cultures and then from a distance grants the boons of his faithful followers.
Jesus said in John 17 that his followers have the same relationship with the Father that he (Jesus) has with the Father. I don't think Jesus had one way conversations with his father.
My point here was not to make the case for hearing God's voice (I got started and couldn't stop myself), but rather to think about how to introduce this topic to Christians who don't believe that God can/will talk to individuals. I don't think it is a matter of only those with "enough faith" get to hear God. It does seem to me more a matter of taking time to listen to God than having enough faith.
Having had the chance to spend some of my days walking with God and listening for/to his voice, I want everyone I know to experience that. How can I invite you if you don't believe it?
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4 comments:
I have the longing to hear from God. I am told that I don't because there is sin in my life. Isn't there sin in everyone's life? Show me the sinless one.....How does one learn to trust the voice he hears when the voices he has followed in the past has lead him astray. I do believe God speaks to some, but for me it is not my time, so I will wait.
I have struggled with being taught that if I had sin in my life God would not listen to me and he would not hear me.
I think there is a sense in wish we can live in a way in which we mute or muffle God's voice, but I am convinced that on the basis of His Grace there is nothing I can do that will stop him from talking to me or listening to me.
Makes sense.
Hi Paul, I'm glad you're doing a blog like this. A missionary who came to the church (in Ft. Dodge) a month or two ago had a primary message for me, what he sensed from me most- that I listen to God. I don't think he could have said anything that would have meant more because its saying that the only opinion or leading in the world that matters is God's. The missionary said I think a lot, too. And he said I need a housekeeper so that I could do other things I need to.:))
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