Last week, my wife and I received a letter from our senior pastor, informing us that a new missions committee is being formed, and asking us to prayerfully consider becoming a part of it. While this letter gave us an idea of how much time we would need to put into this new endeavor, it contained little information regarding the specific functions of a missions committee. Not having been a part of something like this before, we both agreed that our questions would need to be answered before we could make an informed decision in this matter.
Sunday morning, my wife informed me that, after giving this to God in prayer, she had received what sounded to me like a reasonable answer. (For those just tuning in, my wife is the sensible one in our relationship.) She said that doing this would teach us both some things that we would need to know later on. I agreed, but I still wanted more information. Since she wasn't feeling very well that morning, I headed off to church without her but with all three of our boys in tow. I was able to speak to the pastor about this briefly before Sunday school began, but I decided that I wanted to talk to my wife about it at least once more before making any decisions.
In the past, I have felt God's Holy Spirit speaking to me in various situations: while listening to a sermon, while praying alone, while listening to music...once even while I was just driving (that was a big one - it landed me in Brazil for a week). I did not expect to hear Him again at the conclusion of the Sunday school lesson, but while the pastor prayed, it was as though there was a conversation taking place within me...
"You need to be a part of this missions committee."
"Okay, but I just want to make sure I know what I'm getting into."
"Your questions have already been answered."
"Okay, but I'd still like to talk to my wife first."
"You already talked to her. You have her answer."
"But...but..."
"No buts. As soon as he finishes praying, go over there and tell him you're joining."
"Okay, okay..."
All right, so it wasn't exactly like that, but I'm sure you get the picture. Carrying on a real two-way conversation with the Almighty isn't at all like speaking with another person here on earth. I have no control over when, how long, or even if it happens, and there are few, if any, definite words exchanged when it does happen. All I know for certain when it's over is that something has passed between us. There's never any doubt about what He is telling me. In the past, I have come away feeling skeptical or even refusing to accept what I'm told, but that didn't make what I was told at the time any less true. God's word has never failed.
God's word will never fail any of us. The vast majority of the time, it will not come to us through an unusual method. To experience God's word, we must come to Him through a usual method, by reading the Bible. We must take the time to invest ourselves in it, to be continually learning from Him and about Him. The more of myself I daily invest in His word, the more He continues to change my life in new and wonderful ways, and the more open I become to His revealing of Himself to me in other ways. Have you read from God's word today?
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12
Sunday morning, my wife informed me that, after giving this to God in prayer, she had received what sounded to me like a reasonable answer. (For those just tuning in, my wife is the sensible one in our relationship.) She said that doing this would teach us both some things that we would need to know later on. I agreed, but I still wanted more information. Since she wasn't feeling very well that morning, I headed off to church without her but with all three of our boys in tow. I was able to speak to the pastor about this briefly before Sunday school began, but I decided that I wanted to talk to my wife about it at least once more before making any decisions.
In the past, I have felt God's Holy Spirit speaking to me in various situations: while listening to a sermon, while praying alone, while listening to music...once even while I was just driving (that was a big one - it landed me in Brazil for a week). I did not expect to hear Him again at the conclusion of the Sunday school lesson, but while the pastor prayed, it was as though there was a conversation taking place within me...
"You need to be a part of this missions committee."
"Okay, but I just want to make sure I know what I'm getting into."
"Your questions have already been answered."
"Okay, but I'd still like to talk to my wife first."
"You already talked to her. You have her answer."
"But...but..."
"No buts. As soon as he finishes praying, go over there and tell him you're joining."
"Okay, okay..."
All right, so it wasn't exactly like that, but I'm sure you get the picture. Carrying on a real two-way conversation with the Almighty isn't at all like speaking with another person here on earth. I have no control over when, how long, or even if it happens, and there are few, if any, definite words exchanged when it does happen. All I know for certain when it's over is that something has passed between us. There's never any doubt about what He is telling me. In the past, I have come away feeling skeptical or even refusing to accept what I'm told, but that didn't make what I was told at the time any less true. God's word has never failed.
God's word will never fail any of us. The vast majority of the time, it will not come to us through an unusual method. To experience God's word, we must come to Him through a usual method, by reading the Bible. We must take the time to invest ourselves in it, to be continually learning from Him and about Him. The more of myself I daily invest in His word, the more He continues to change my life in new and wonderful ways, and the more open I become to His revealing of Himself to me in other ways. Have you read from God's word today?
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12
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