Usually when I write here I give a one-sided account of something
going on in my life. It’s all about me,
me, me. Isn’t that they way of the world
these days? Or so I’ve heard anyway. This time I want to try a more interactive
approach and see what happens. Here’s
the premise:
There is a problem that is worrying me. I have prayed about it for a long time now,
and my feelings go back and forth on the issue.
Sometimes I feel like God is telling me it is ok, let it be, go with the
flow, it will all work out in the end.
But then I think about the gravity of the problem and I feel going with
the flow is just not the right answer. This
confusion is the source of my greatest conundrum. How do I know if I am being eased by the
voice of God, or being teased by the voice of evil?
I know Satan is a sly one, the nuns taught me that much. He knows how to get in your head and give you
reasons to justify wrongdoings. “Go with
the flow” is something I would expect from that one, not from the Almighty. That is why I’m so confused about the right
things. I know the problem I worry about
has no easy solution, so when I feel like God is relieving me of it I
immediately second guess and think I am being led astray by the wrong voice.
Here’s the interactive part.
I want to know how you, reader, listen for God’s voice? How do you hear it? How do you know it? I’m in my fourth decade, nearing another one,
and I don’t think I’ve ever really heard God.
I try to listen, I really do, but it is so hard to tune out all of the
static.
I know people who are staunch Christians who cross the
threshold every time the church is open.
I know more relaxed Christians who still have strong convictions and
share their faith openly. I know missionaries and clergy. I know Christians who diligently study
theological ideas and can quote complex texts with complete understanding. And I know, at least I hope, some of you
reading this fall into one or more of these categories. So here is my request: share with me.
I want to know how you hear the voice of God. I want to know how you know you are going in the
right direction. Do give me scripture
reference suggestions and relate personal experiences. Do not give me theological essays to
read. I don’t want that, I want
personal. Can you help? Comment here if you care to share openly or email
me at elizabeth.shoemake56@gmail.com. I may compile and share your ideas later.
Thank you, kindly.
I hope you get lots of comments on this, Elizabeth. I myself pray, the regular prayers we learned from our Moms, but intersperse them with conversation, albeit one-sided. I try to thank God for His blessings as much as I ask for them. After all, Jesus said, Ask, and you shall receive, but we should be grateful for all we already have. We just have to remember that God will give us want HE knows we need, not necessarily always that for which we ask.
ReplyDeleteAs for the issue of how do we know when God is speaking to us, I just think about the consequences of the suggestion. Are they good for us, but bad for someone else? Likely it's NOT God. By their fruits you will know them, is something I think of when I think of the results of my actions. Will what I do reflect well on the God I serve, or will my actions cause others to think less of Him?