Hearing the Lord Jesus Christ

[Karl Peters]

I don't see the connection.

Are you saying that God puts the children running the household?

Much love!

I wrote: "Indeed, the more we reject the idea that we can and should hear from Him more that we do the less we are going to hear from Him." and you can't see the connection between our rejecting hearing Him and that resulting in hearing Him?????

We need to seek His voice more!! If we reject that idea then we are not going to seek to hear from Him more, and we are going to wind up hearing from Him less, because we keep thinking we don't need Him more.

 

[marks]

I wrote: "Indeed, the more we reject the idea that we can and should hear from Him more that we do the less we are going to hear from Him." and you can't see the connection between our rejecting hearing Him and that resulting in hearing Him?????

We need to seek His voice more!! If we reject that idea then we are not going to seek to hear from Him more, and we are going to wind up hearing from Him less, because we keep thinking we don't need Him more.

You are essentially saying that I can stop myself from hearing God by putting my hands over my ears. If I think I can't hear God, then I can't hear God? That's putting the inmates in charge of the asylum.

I'm wondering . . . how does God let people know that He speaks to them? Isn't it by speaking to them?

I don't think God let's me run the relationship based on my fleshy weakness. I think God remains constant, calling me upward in ways I can hear, whatever they may be.

Much love!

 

[Karl Peters]

I have found that there is nothing I can do to hear the voice of God. If he wants to talk to me he will but I have no control over it.

If someone is in the same room with me and I want to talk to them, can't I just ask them a question and listen for what they have to say??

The Lord is with you always. The Scriptures explain that, but do we believe in Him? If I do believe that the Lord is always with me, then I will call on Him and listen for His voice. If I don't believe in Him (an omni-present Lord who loves Me) then I won't call on Him and expect and Him to answer. Because God is spirit, I understand He is not always to hear from. Because we are people living in the flesh, I understand that we (including me) might have trouble believing for Him to answer. Yet if I am saying, believing, that there is nothing I can do to hear the voice of God so that I take the attitude that if He wants to talk to me He will, instead of taking the attitude that I can seek Him and will find Him, then the problem is mine. I simply don't really believe in an omni-present Lord who love Me1

There is something written about according to our faith, and something about hearing by faith. We need to something actually examine what we are saying to realize where our faith is. Are we believing that there is nothing we can do to hear the voice of the Lord? How does that compare with the verses in the Bible.

Deut 4:29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

1Ch 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

2 Ch 15:2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Prov 8:17 “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Jer 29:13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Mat 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 9:11 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Acts 17:27,28 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

Over and over, and over, it is written to seek Him and you will find Him, but do we even believe what we read?

Look, I understand that we (including me) often have trouble hearing from Him. It is often not to believe that we can hear from Him, or that He is really with us, or that He really cares enough to answer us, or that it is even worthwhile trying to hear from Him. I personally have tons of reasons for not seeking Him more. Yet when I finally have gotten around to actually seeking Him and what He has to say to me I do pick up things being said in my spirit. I might doubt (not believe) that they are from Him. Perhaps I think that is just me talking to me. It might even be the devil talking to me, I say to myself. Yet if I get smart I remember what is written and start going with what I get by hearing with faith and interesting things begin to happen. They don't happen like I think, but His ways are not my ways. Still things happen, what I hear start to make some since, and even far better sense than my thinking - and I find out that He was with me, and He does talk to Me, and He is God, even the Lord or lords and King of kings.

Sadly, I also too often go back to leaning on my own understanding. But I remember again and start to seek Him again. Yeah - because I believe He does sometimes to just get through to me, but that only makes me realize that I should have been seeking Him more, because there is something I can do to hear from Him more, and it is as simply as just seeking Him!!!!!

 

[Randy Kluth]

It's not that we can expect God to talk to us the more mature we get, because God is willing to - and wants to - and is just standing there trying to get us to listen to Him an open us to Him!

So God is trying to get you to listen to Him, but you're not hearing Him? Or, is it only *other Christians* who you feel God is trying to talk to, but are not listening to Him?

Part of that work is to make us aware that we need Him - so that we will turn to Him!!

So God is trying to make you aware that you need Him, and trying to get you to turn to Him?

Part of making us aware that we need Him is to make us aware of the things we are doing wrong! We must repent of our ways if we are to turn to Him and listen to Him.

So what sin are you committing that you need to repent of, in order to hear God? You claim that if someone is living, generally, a righteous life that somehow they're sinning, not repenting, and therefore not hearing from God?

Making us aware of the things we are doing wrong is called "convicting" us of our sins. That is not condemning us of them.

But you seem to be *condemning* all Christians as sinful, in need of repentance, and being unable to hear God when we should be hearing Him? It's not discipline, but *condemnation,* to say that a believer is *in sin and not repenting!*

It is not like a trail where they prove you are wrong to lock you away! Indeed God (Father, Son, Spirit) are about showing us that we are wrong to save us from being locked away in hell for eternity.

Why, if I'm already saved, would I need discipline to keep me from being locked away in hell for eternity? Isn't salvation being delivered already from the threat of hell?

The problem is that our own pride tells us that we are not wrong.

It is not pride if we indeed have not done wrong, and someone else keeps telling us we have in fact done wrong! This isn't about having a sin nature, and committing small, daily sins. I'm talking about the big sins, that we are called upon to repent from. If we're not doing those things, and have no need to repent, why do you still call on all Christians to repent, as if they're doing the big sins?

We all do little unloving things every day, some milder and some worse. And we do need to repent of those things. But it isn't always for lack of hearing God. In fact, it is often the opposite, that God has told us to be more loving, and instead, we rebel.

We do need to repent of such things. But ordinarily, we should be living a more consistent, loving lifestyle, without expecting perfection. There is no need to be on our faces in repentance every time we fail to dot an "i" or cross a "t." God's love overwhelms it, and we should just accept His grace, apologizing to our victims, if necessary.

So if we are talking about hearing from Him we are simply talking about wanting to get close to Him and hear what He has to say. That does take a little faith that He is there for us, but not very much. Why wait for our plane to be crashing to exercise the little bit of faith that we do have? Instead seek Jesus Christ our Lord everyday called "Today", and "now" is a good time. Do that more often and you will start hearing from Him more often, regardless of your conceived "maturity".

Why indeed would anybody wait for our plane to crash to get right with God? But this assumes to start with that we aren't right with God. You seem to imply that anyone who has gotten right with God really isn't unless they're receiving automatic writing from the Holy Spirit, telling us what to do every moment.

This isn't real, in my assessment. This is an imagined Christianity, claiming some kind of exclusive intimate relationship with God, so that others may get their model from you. I don't think you hear from God any more than I do! And no, just because I'm honest and admit I don't always hear from God doesn't mean I'm living in sin and need to repent!

To say that our maturity is irrelevant or unimportant is ludicrous. Heb 6.1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity... As we learn to grow up in love and in righteousness, we have less need to repent, and can have confidence that we have whatever we ask, because we have learned to walk in God's will.

1 John 3.19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us

 

[marks]

We do need to repent of such things. But ordinarily, we should be living a more consistent, loving lifestyle, without expecting perfection. There is no need to be on our faces in repentance every time we fail to dot an "i" or cross a "t." God's love overwhelms it, and we should just accept His grace, apologizing to our victims, if necessary.

I heard a sermon on the radio recently where the pastor recommended not constantly taking your spiritual temperatue. I think that is good advice. That's "eyes on me", not eyes on Jesus!

Much love!

 

[marks]

This isn't real, in my assessment. This is an imagined Christianity, claiming some kind of exclusive intimate relationship with God, so that others may get their model from you. I don't think you hear from God any more than I do! And no, just because I'm honest and admit I don't always hear from God doesn't mean I'm living in sin and need to repent!

I think God speaks to all of His children.

For myself, I think that if I have anything from Him more than others, it's because I'm more remedial than others.

Much love!

 

[marks]

To say that our maturity is irrelevant or unimportant is ludicrous.

I think this was in response to my statement that faith is more important that maturity. That someone only hears from God if they are mature enough, that's a subjective standard that doesn't appear in the Bible, that I can think of. Meanwhile, I can think of a lot that says we receive from God by faith, not by thinking we're all grown up.

Much love!

 

[Karl Peters]

There is a lot we need to understand - let me just cover these three below

So God is trying to get you to listen to Him, but you're not hearing Him? Or, is it only *other Christians* who you feel God is trying to talk to, but are not listening to Him?

There is not one of us who seek Him and listen to Him like we should!! Jesus explained He did and said only what the Father told Him. That is why He is The Word of God (Rev 19:13 - Jn 1:1) Not even the angels in heaven that are faithful to God were worthy, but only Him. It's ok that we are not Him. We are counted as righteous simply because we believe in Him. Of course faith comes from hearing, so we don't believe if we don't hear Him. If we listened to Him like we should we would come to understand this. We would understand we (none of us) listen to Him like we should. So why the question of if I think it is only for others and not me?

So what sin are you committing that you need to repent of, in order to hear God? You claim that if someone is living, generally, a righteous life that somehow they're sinning, not repenting, and therefore not hearing from God?

The sin we all need to repent of is thinking we know better than God, so as to not ask Him about all the things in our life. Have we not read the Lord's prayer and the instruction to pray like that when every we get into that place? Does the Lord's prayer not have something like "Forgive us our debts" and that then daily. The person that thinks they don't sin daily (don't listen and obey like they should) has been deceiving themselves!

1 Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we have indeed been alway listening to Him and doing what He asks of us then there is not sin. So if anyone thinks they have no sin (listening and doing only what the Lord says, like Jesus, then they are deceiving themselves. Yet if we confess that we don't (like in the Lord's prayer) then He is faithful to forgive us.

1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Lord is not so worried that we don't get everything right (and all unrighteousness is sin) but that we realize that we don't and keep seeking after Him. It is that which helps us to continue to learn!

So God is trying to make you aware that you need Him, and trying to get you to turn to Him?

Yes - the Lord is trying to make us aware that we need Him, and is trying to get us to turn to Him!!!!

And this isn't a once in a life time thing, nor a once on Sunday thing! It is not even a once in a day thing!! But at least we should be turning to Him every day called "Today".

Heb 3:15 while it is said, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS [fn]WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.”

Still, seeking Him all day long is better, right?

Is 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Waling with Him can be like that!!

That doesn't mean it is always like that for me. It is rarely like that for me. I usually hear from Him about a dozen different times a day, but it can be more or less. Some days I get upset with Him, or perhaps I just to busy and don't hear from Him too much. Yet there are also days where I spend much more time with Him. He used to take me out on Saturdays just going around yard sales and talking to me as we went. He would be telling me turn left, then right up there, and He would lead me to the yard sales He wanted me at. He would tell me about what to look for before I got there. He would talk to me about all assorts of things as we spent Saturday morning together, and literally telling me "This is the way, walk or 'drive' in it,” whenever I turn to the right of to the left. So how is it regularly going to be when we get to heaven with Him - and don't we also pray that His will be done on earth as in heaven.

This thread was not meant to accuse anyone of not listening to Him like they should, but we don't. It is meant to get people to seek His voice more (Today) and so understanding that we don't listen to Him like we could/should is important to get us to seek Him more "Today".

Heb 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

That snake in the garden said, "Did God really say" and try to get Eve to not listen to the Lord. That snake is up to that very thing "Today". Yet the Holy Spirit, and so us working with the Holy Spirit, encourages one another day after day to hear the Lord, so long as it is still called "Today" and to not let our heart be harden by the snake and those spirits that follow him. We can seek Him, and if we seek the Lord we can hear from Him!!

 

[Karl Peters]

I heard a sermon on the radio recently where the pastor recommended not constantly taking your spiritual temperatue. I think that is good advice. That's "eyes on me", not eyes on Jesus!

Much love!

We need to try and keep our eyes on Jesus, not that we do. Still I think we often get the wrong idea on repentance. Repentance is not so much a "taking our spiritual temperature" but is in fact our seek Jesus Christ!

That is; I don't go around telling myself how my ways are wrong, but I try to remember to seek the Lord because I think His was are right and not mine. So repentance does not show up in my considering all the things I do wrong (taking my spiritual temperature) , but my repentance shows up in my seeking the Lord!

Therefore the repentant Christian is the Christian seek the Lord, not the person telling themselves how bad they are. That is not repentance and is just putting yourself down. If we truly believe that our ways are not right and that God is with us, then the obvious solution is to simply seek Him and His voice.

In fact one of the mistakes I make, that He my Lord Jesus Christ gets on to me for, is my making it about remembering all the things I mess us instead of just seeking Him. In that case He tells me that He made me and to put myself down is to make Him our to be wrong and to have made a mistake in how He made me. He didn't make a mistake in how He made me!! It's just that I need to remember to seek Him because I was made to be with Him. The fact is that I do make mistakes, but He is so great that He has taken that into account and is able to make all things right if I am just seeking Him and trying to obey. Therefore even my mistakes have been figured out by Him, and they don't stop His words to me from accomplishing exactly what He meant them to!!

 

[Karl Peters]

One thing that bothers me anytime I write on hearing the Lord on a Christian Forum is that I can get people thinking on hearing God, but all too often there is no actual indication of them really hearing from Him. That is to say I read a lot of people "Theology" but very little if any of what they actually claim to hear from Him. If we do actually hear from Him we must certainly have lots of things He told us!! I mean if we do hear from Him everyday called "Today" certainly some of those things are on this subject of hearing from Him.

So on that line of thinking I am putting down some of the things He told me on this subject of hearing Him. You can consider them as you wish.

WE HEAR WISDOM, BUT IS IT THE HEARING OR THE ACTING UPON IT THAT MAKES A MAN WISE?

AS INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN TO A SERVANT, AND WISDOM AND PARABLES TO A SON, AND AS JOKES ARE GIVEN TO A FRIEND, SO I LOVE YOU IS SAID TO A BRIDE.

WHAT TEACHER DOESN’T PUT A BOOK IN FRONT OF HIS STUDENTS TODAY; YET NOT JUST A BOOK BUT OVERHEAD TRANSPARENCIES, VISUALS, AND OTHER MATERIAL? FOR I TELL YOU TRULY, IF THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME THEY ARE NOT MY PUPIL, THEY ARE NOT MY STUDENT; I TELL YOU TRULY, THEY ARE NOT MY DISCIPLE UNLESS THEY ARE HEARING FROM ME. SO DON’T TELL THEM TO READ THE BOOK, THEM TO TAKE THE CLASS!”

THE BEST LISTENERS MAKE THE BEST TEACHERS.

SHOULDN’T YOU HEAR FROM A MAN YOU’RE JUDGING WORTHY OF DEATH AND EXAMINE WHETHER THERE IS TRUTH IN WHAT HE SAYS. SO IT IS THAT I HAVE MADE HEARING FROM ME THE VERY THINGS THAT GIVES YOU ETERNAL LIFE.

IT'S NOT EASY LISTENING TO A ROCK. YOU HAVE TO LISTEN VERY CLOSE!

THE LIE IS “GOD DOESN’T TALK TO YOU!!!!” REMEMBER WHAT THE DEVIL SAID “DID GOD REALLY TELL YOU?” THAT IS THE LIE! THAT IS THE LIE BEING USED TODAY!

The above refers to the snake in the garden saying to Eve "Did God really say..." Those are the first words in the Scripture from that snake of old. Satan still uses that lie today.

A MAN THAT LISTENS TO GOD IS AS RARE AS DIAMONDS IN THE ROCK.

THESE BITS OF WISDOM ARE LIKE DROPS OF WATER. I WILL SURELY GIVE YOU A POND FULL.

WILL YOU HANG ON EVERY WORD THAT GOD SAYS? … I DID!

IT IS WRITTEN THAT THE FATHER SAID, ‘THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED, LISTEN TO HIM’. ….IT IS THE SAME COMMANDMENT AS ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.’

DON'T FIGHT WITH THEM. SUCCEED BY LISTENING TO THE LORD

The above are just a few of the many many things He has told me. They were interesting enough to get me to write them down afterwards, and they are on this subject of hearing from Him. From hearing from Him, things like the above, I think it important to keep trying to encourage people to actually seek His voice. And there are many more reason, like the many times He has talked to me to have me pray to the Father for people. I have seen many miracles come from listening and obeying Him.

 

[marks]

Therefore the repentant Christian is the Christian seek the Lord, not the person telling themselves how bad they are. That is not repentance and is just putting yourself down. If we truly believe that our ways are not right and that God is with us, then the obvious solution is to simply seek Him and His voice.

@Jones12849

As I understand repentance, from the Greek Metanoia, this word doesn't refer to your actions, doing right, doing wrong, and changing from wrong to right. Metanoia is a compound of "meta", the proposition meaning "after", and "noia", the mind. In conjuction, this is the "after-mind", and refers to the result of an exchange.

When we are born, we are fleshy creatures only, with a fleshy creature mind, all being corrupted by sin. Repentance is when we come to realize we are wrong, God is right, and we need His rescue. We live in flesh, we have the mind of the flesh, sinful, and unable to please God.

We are born again, and receive a new mind, called the mind of Christ, the "after-mind", our repentance, or metanoia.

Repentance is something we do when we come to Christ. We give ourselves over to Him, and He gives us a new mind. After that, the Bible describes the process as our minds are "renewed", which is as we learn to stop thinking the old way, and start to think the new way.

When our thinking is according to what God did for us in Christ, then works of righteousness result. When our thinking is according to the old man of flesh, sin results.

When we, as God's born again children, commit sins, the works of the flesh, it's because we are not walking in the Spirit, living the "new man". We don't need to repent, in the sense of "metanoia", because we've already exchanged the flesh mind for Christ's mind. But we do need to stop living as if we were in the old mind, and begin again to live the new.

Forgiveness for our sins remains, because we are forgiven in Christ, because of His righteousness, not of ourselves. It's not about us, it's about Jesus, so God's forgiveness does not come and go as my sins come and go. Jesus remains constant and unchanging, and so my life in Him is just that, constant and unchanging.

We just need to train our minds to think according to what the Bible says is true.

Much love!

 

[Randy Kluth]

This thread was not meant to accuse anyone of not listening to Him like they should, but we don't. It is meant to get people to seek His voice more (Today) and so understanding that we don't listen to Him like we could/should is important to get us to seek Him more "Today".

Nothing wrong with that. I see--you're including yourself in what you're accusing others of doing, namely not hearing God as we should? The issue got confusing to me, because it seemed that you were accusing Christians of not getting constant guidance from God as to what to do next, in the same way you claim you get.

Well, I don't think God guides that way, telling us what to do next all day long. And it isn't unspiritual to admit that. In fact, the Scriptures say that God treats us like free children, and not like slaves.

Certainly He guides us all day long--there isn't anything He's not involved with. But He doesn't pull us along, like hooks in our noses, telling us to go here or go there. He certainly can do that, but He treats us as children--not like slaves.

And so, He refuses to tell us what to do all the time, wanting us rather to decide for ourselves. He, of course, reserves the right to tell us what to do at any time He wants. But most often, that's not what He does. He just leads us into places where we make responsible decisions, by reference to His Spirit of love. He's certain to remind us of who we are, what our gifts are, and what would be the responsible thing to do.

 

[Jones12849]

@Jones12849

As I understand repentance, from the Greek Metanoia, this word doesn't refer to your actions, doing right, doing wrong, and changing from wrong to right. Metanoia is a compound of "meta", the proposition meaning "after", and "noia", the mind. In conjuction, this is the "after-mind", and refers to the result of an exchange.

When we are born, we are fleshy creatures only, with a fleshy creature mind, all being corrupted by sin. Repentance is when we come to realize we are wrong, God is right, and we need His rescue. We live in flesh, we have the mind of the flesh, sinful, and unable to please God.

We are born again, and receive a new mind, called the mind of Christ, the "after-mind", our repentance, or metanoia.

Repentance is something we do when we come to Christ. We give ourselves over to Him, and He gives us a new mind. After that, the Bible describes the process as our minds are "renewed", which is as we learn to stop thinking the old way, and start to think the new way.

When our thinking is according to what God did for us in Christ, then works of righteousness result. When our thinking is according to the old man of flesh, sin results.

When we, as God's born again children, commit sins, the works of the flesh, it's because we are not walking in the Spirit, living the "new man". We don't need to repent, in the sense of "metanoia", because we've already exchanged the flesh mind for Christ's mind. But we do need to stop living as if we were in the old mind, and begin again to live the new.

Forgiveness for our sins remains, because we are forgiven in Christ, because of His righteousness, not of ourselves. It's not about us, it's about Jesus, so God's forgiveness does not come and go as my sins come and go. Jesus remains constant and unchanging, and so my life in Him is just that, constant and unchanging.

We just need to train our minds to think according to what the Bible says is true.

Much love!

Thank you very much for this. This makes sense to me and clears up a lot of confusion I had as to what is expected of me and how I can best walk with Christ. I really appreciate this.

 

[marks]

One thing that bothers me anytime I write on hearing the Lord on a Christian Forum is that I can get people thinking on hearing God, but all too often there is no actual indication of them really hearing from Him.

I don't put myself on display. I don't have any objection to talking about myself, only, there needs to be a need, a context, a purpose, and not just proving myself to someone.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Well, I don't think God guides that way, telling us what to do next all day long. And it isn't unspiritual to admit that. In fact, the Scriptures say that God treats us like free children, and not like slaves.

But sometimes He does, I think. Or so it seems to me.

Even to the point of turning down this street and not that street, because the parking spot will be on this street. Nothing is so small as to escape Father's notice.

Earlier in the week when this was the case, I thought to myself, but the space next to my building is NEVER open! And He said I'll be feeling foolish when I drive by and see He was right. And I felt foolish, and I felt thankful that when I was able to drive around the block again, it was still there.

It's not at all unspiritual to tell people what God does or doesn't do with me. We are all unique, and I think God has a unique relationship with each of us.

That's why our commonality is in the Bible, and not in whatever God whispers into my heart. My life experience is subjective. The Bible isn't.

Much love!

 

[Mantis]

This post makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong or not doing something correctly to hear from the Lord. I have heard, very directly the unmistakable voice of Christ two times in my life. One time to pull me from darkness and one time to let me know my body is his vessel. I wish I could have a constant dialog with Jesus but a lot of the time it feels like a one way communication.

 

[Randy Kluth]

But sometimes He does, I think. Or so it seems to me.

Even to the point of turning down this street and not that street, because the parking spot will be on this street. Nothing is so small as to escape Father's notice.

Earlier in the week when this was the case, I thought to myself, but the space next to my building is NEVER open! And He said I'll be feeling foolish when I drive by and see He was right. And I felt foolish, and I felt thankful that when I was able to drive around the block again, it was still there.

It's not at all unspiritual to tell people what God does or doesn't do with me. We are all unique, and I think God has a unique relationship with each of us.

That's why our commonality is in the Bible, and not in whatever God whispers into my heart. My life experience is subjective. The Bible isn't.

That's why our commonality is in the Bible, and not in whatever God whispers into my heart. My life experience is subjective. The Bible isn't.

Much love!

Yes, who am I to tell God how to relate to each of billions of individuals? The main thing is that He lives in us and guides us in *righteousness.* As to what things we are commanded to do, we are told that "love" is the thing we must do. And that's different for each situation an individual is in.

Yes, I've gone by vacant spaces like that, but I don't owe it to failing to listen to God. Sometimes it's just a matter of wisdom, taking the 1st available spot, instead of risking another run around the block. If God really wanted to speak audibly, He could've done that. But He normally doesn't do that, and we shouldn't get all bent out of shape because we missed our chance! ;)

I do think God is concerned about the smallest things in life. On more than one occasion I lost something in the dark or in the grass, and found the "needle in the haystack." We could all write a book on all the things God has done for us, big and small. But why count--there's always more coming!! :))

 

[marks]

Yes, who am I to tell God how to relate to each of billions of individuals? The main thing is that He lives in us and guides us in *righteousness.* As to what things we are commanded to do, we are told that "love" is the thing we must do. And that's different for each situation an individual is in.

Yes, I've gone by vacant spaces like that, but I don't owe it to failing to listen to God. Sometimes it's just a matter of wisdom, taking the 1st available spot, instead of risking another run around the block. If God really wanted to speak audibly, He could've done that. But He normally doesn't do that, and we shouldn't get all bent out of shape because we missed our chance! ;)

I do think God is concerned about the smallest things in life. On more than one occasion I lost something in the dark or in the grass, and found the "needle in the haystack." We could all write a book on all the things God has done for us, big and small. But why count--there's always more coming!! :))

As to what things we are commanded to do, we are told that "love" is the thing we must do. And that's different for each situation an individual is in.

I think this says very well one reason we are not under Law. Law is limited to what it covers. Love covers all.

I don't believe in getting bent out of shape over things with God. If there is fault or error of course it's mine. That's why I questioned the first time, instead of just turning. I don't expect that I'm always right about things. I'm sure I'm not.

I don't want to be guilt of telling someone else what their relationship with God should or shouldn't be like. God sees to that.

But I feel good about telling anyone, if you desire more intimacy with God, believe that He does too. If you desire more fellowship, He does too. If your longing heart yearns for Him, this is His Spirit within you crying through you, Abba! Father! Trust Him.

We could all write a book on all the things God has done for us, big and small.

And God knows exactly how to present Himself to each of us, so that we can know Him, and His love!

Much love!

 

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On more than one occasion I lost something in the dark or in the grass, and found the "needle in the haystack."

The very next thing I do whenever I realize I can't find something I'm looking for is to ask God to show me where it is.

Much love!

 

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Normally I wouldn't go on like this . . .

Last week my wife came to me to tell me the kitchen was backed up into the bathtub, so I need to snake the drain. I knew she was right. I hate snaking drains! So I got it out, and after struggling to get it just a few feet into the drain, naturally it got stuck. I couldn't do anything! I couldn't go further, and I couldn't pull it out. Frustration was starting to rise, and that's my cue! Negative emotional energy - something taking away my peace and joy - is a sign that the flesh is getting involved.

So I stopped, set myself to rest a moment, and asked God, would you please use this snake, or something, to open this drain? I knew either He would, or it wasn't going to happen. I was looking for Him to do it. I tried one more time. The snake moved a couple more inches, and heard that wonderful gurgling sound as I watch the last of the standing water just drain right down.

Yay God!!!

So I started to wind the snake back up, but no go! Stuck! God, would you get this snake out of this drain? I try one more time, and that wonderful sound, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz as I pull out the measely 7 feet of so that was actually in the drain.

I am weak, but He is stong. In my weakness is His strength. We are His children, whom He created, to whom it is His pleasure to share His love.

Much love!