Posted on 01/24/2012 2:39:28 PM PST by hawkins
Prayer stands as a key component of a Christian’s life. When a Christian prays they share their gratefulness, reverence, thoughts, concerns, and needs with the Eternal Father. Even non-Christians talk to God at times in their lives. However, prayer represents only one side of communication with God. Men need to let God talk. Unfortunately, the wide majority of the world refuses to give God the opportunity. If they would let Him talk, they would be much better equipped for the lives that they have been given.
Those who give God the chance to talk to them learn:
Christians to whom God talks demonstrate a far better understanding of their life purpose than others. How can a person know for certain if God has talked to them? Is it an emotion or feeling? Will they see visions or dreams? No. God talks to man only in one way today. He talks to man when they listen to His Word, the Bible. The best way of letting God talk is picking up the Bible and reading. How often does God talk to you? Do you schedule time each day for him to talk? If you haven’t taken the time before, no better time exists to start than today. He wants to talk to you soon and often! Let him share with you the knowledge which pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4).
I KNOW THAT FEELING!
“...because I am such a tiny being compared to God...”
True. But He also knows the number of every hair on your head! (He knows you better than anyone else, and even better than you know yourself!) He WANTS to be in a close relationship to you.
And I had never thought of it before, but a guest preacher at our church during Communion said something that really gave me pause when I have feelings of insignificance.
“And Christ died on the cross for YOU. And even if you were the only one on earth - He still would have done it.”
(Okay - don’t get too technical into it as if I was the only one on earth there would have been no Herod, no Pharisees, etc.!)
Well put . . .
More than a few of us still struggle overcoming the performance anxieties and people pleasing of our childhoods . . . because we
never had sufficient opportunity to learn to
REALLY TRUST
in a loving Daddy’s unconditional love.
Therefore, it’s very hard to trust even in God’s unfailing Love.
If what anyone says doesn’t match up with the Bible . . .
as St Paul said . . .
if even an angel of light comes preaching any other Gospel, let him be accursed.
Good to see you, Quix!!
As requested by Laz . . . to the whole END TIMES GROUP
I don’t know how off topic as I haven’t watched it yet . . . however here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEDAE_9v4h0
Lazamataz would like to share this. The only reason he wants to share it is that he says the music is AWESOME.
THX THX for your kind words and kind reply.
Likewise.
God spoke to me when I read that line in the OP and he said, "Don't let that stand without a comment or two." God saves us by his grace through faith without our works. There is nothing we can do that deserves or can merit eternal life and that is why it is a "gift". A gift is something you don't pay for, you don't do anything to earn it nor anything in order to keep it. It is freely given because it is given by grace. Just as we are saved by faith in Christ, so we also live by faith.
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)
"Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Galatians 3:11)
When I sense my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and they echo back to me, I know that God STILL hears me because I live by faith. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) I know that he loves me and always wants what is best for me though what he allows in my life may not seem like it at the time, but "afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) His discipline is proof that I am is child and his correction is evidence that he loves me.
In times like these, I have come to understand it is best to just pray through it. Never to give up because he never gives up on us. He is training us up in righteousness, conforming us ever closer to the image of Christ, with whom we are joint-heirs. All because of God's wondrous grace.
"Being CONFIDENT of this very thing, that HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST." Philippians 1:6.
THAT'S faith! Praise God for His faithfulness and grace!
There’s no hiding...Yaweh, has a target on you...the thing is, we may all laugh at how you try to hide from this...but, never the less you’ve been tagged...Count it all as joy! I know I will.
I'll consider it another harbinger. another words a wake up call.
When you are impatient about not getting a yes answer, just imagine the Lord saying, “Whoops. I forgot.”
You know He can’t have forgotten. And you know He loves you. So put those two things together.
abosuletly! It does not! He is faithfull and true!
God spoke to me when I read that line in the OP and he said, "Don't let that stand without a comment or two." God saves us by his grace through faith without our works. There is nothing we can do that deserves or can merit eternal life and that is why it is a "gift". A gift is something you don't pay for, you don't do anything to earn it nor anything in order to keep it. It is freely given because it is given by grace. Just as we are saved by faith in Christ, so we also live by faith.
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)
"Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Galatians 3:11)
When I sense my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and they echo back to me, I know that God STILL hears me because I live by faith. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) I know that he loves me and always wants what is best for me though what he allows in my life may not seem like it at the time, but "afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) His discipline is proof that I am His child and his correction is evidence that he loves me.
In times like these, I have come to understand it is best to just pray through it. Never to give up because he never gives up on us. He is training us up in righteousness, conforming us ever closer to the image of Christ, with whom we are joint-heirs. All because of God's wondrous grace.
Er -- any, ah, -- more? Did he? What did he say back when?
(This is not a joke or a sarcasm or curious nosiness -- asking sincerely)
They make Marine boot-camp look like a leisurely Sunday picnic.
This is a very interesting observation, Quix. Our pastor had been preaching through Ecclesiastes a verse at a time. Providentially, for 2 weeks just before emergency surgery, it was Chapter 7 verses 16-18. On the Friday immediately after verse 18, unexpectedly an MRI identified a meningioma tumor in my head about the size of a small lemon. I was rushed to the hospital, and it was removed on the next Monday. But between, The God, my Heavenly Father, spoke to me through those verses -- a reminder and an admonition. Clearly it was for greater growth in love and service.
For a long time, comparing Marine training with God's continual training had occasioned many insights as to His methods, after some meditation on His writings. In this amazing experience, I think He pointed out to me that to become a Marine, the recruit must have his will broken (not his spirit!) so that he can be trained to behave,not according to his own will, but to the prescribed will set forth by the Corps and exemplified in the DI, in mature Marines, and in great leaders of The Corps.
I think this is what The God was allowing -- I began to recognize that over the years my own will had been broken more and more to conform more and more to His determined will as well as his preferred desire -- and learning through this craniotomy was just another (BIG!) step in this process.
Even after 39 years of being saved, I still needed to have my will broken more, more and more, to anticipate His Will to predominate, to be conformed to the image of His Dear Son. And -- to recognize this process is for everyone who wants to know Him better! Make sense?
Here's His admonishing -- a clear message to me:
"Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all."
(A brief note from your Heavenly Father)
(Sounds like a Celestial DI to me!)
(committed to memory in preparation for surgery, and after)
(Actually, God brought several Marine veterans to encourage my healing -- even the neurosugeon who removed my sutures!)
(I still need more brokenness to Him)
It is always encouraging to hear God speaking through others who likewise have listened to Him for a long time. Your little note here rings with the Truths that come with maturity. Thanks!
The best times for me His fellowship comes with rehearsing long passages of memorized Scripture, in ruminating over His counsel in life applications, and His love for His children. It is of great comfort to know that being discipled will be an eternal occupation, His glories never exhausted!
PRAISE GOD.
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!
CONGRATS ON YOUR GOOD SUCCESS through such a testing and trial.
BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH.
Thanks for your kind words and response. I think your examples are wonderful illustrations of Biblical truths.
YEA!
Am humbled by your clear personal experience example of what I was stumblingly trying to convey.
The best times for me His fellowship comes with rehearsing long passages of memorized Scripture, in ruminating over His counsel in life applications, and His love for His children. It is of great comfort to know that being discipled will be an eternal occupation, His glories never exhausted!
ABSOLUTELY INDEED.
It is amazing enough that we will never grow tired of nor bored with ALMIGHTY GOD but ever learning new facets of His personality and character and ways.
The more amazing thing seems to be that He will never grow tired of nor bored with us—His snotty nosed kids.
PRAISE HIS BLESSED NAME.
To put a little sharper point on this, we are saved by the faith of Christ (Gal 2:20 etc.)("Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit."), and we live by His faith (Rom 3:20 etc). I fully trust in the faith of Him!(Heb 10:23)
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