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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 9:59:39 AM
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joy2give2u
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quote:
The Pharisee's problem is that they did not understand scripture Which was my point........even in the most accurate translation people can be blinded to the truth........And even in the worse translation God's can still speak truth.
If a person is putting his/her faith in the translation and not the Holy Spirit opening their eyes will they see? Will they hear?
The bible is full of accounts where those hearing directly from Jesus himself were blind and deaf.
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Just because someone misuses a scripture doesn't make that scripture wrong.
I agree
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2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Is the reason you have taken up the cause of translations in this thread, instead of discussing the topic and sharing how God speaks to you, because you feel I did not correctly explain the word of truth. Do you believe God did not tell me what he told me? Do you believe I am misleading people?
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scripture is always correct I never said it was not. I just do not believe God can only speak through limited translations. For myself I have five translations which I use on a regular bases. I chose to read different translations because God has spoken powerfully through each at different times in my life.
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No He never contradicts his word. Period. It is the holy spirit who speaks all truth. Words can be read differently based on the person reading. For example it is clear you do not know me based on how you are reading what I write.....
If scripture, as written, is infallible and the most accurate translation impossible to read incorrectly why did God give us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth? All we would need is the most accurate translations correct?
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We have to know the word and the only way to really do that is to find the most accurate translation. You really believe the only way to know the word is to read the most accurate translation?
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his is an interesting comment, Joy, and I'm wondering if I understand you correctly.
Are you saying that we can limit God or keep him from doing anything?
Shemaromans I am saying God is speaking to us all the time. We are the ones who chose to listen or not. Moses walked by the burning bush many times before he stopped to listen. The bible is full of people ignoring God's voice.
Compare it to a satellite receiver.......if your receiver is turned off you don't receive from the satellite even though it is still sending a signal. There is nothing wrong with the satellite but the receiver is may be broken.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 10:11:12 AM
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joy2give2u
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Dear Lord
My heart is broken over what this thread has become. So many Christian's Lord do not realize that you wish to speak to us directly. That you desire for us to hear your voice, to see your face. I started this thread to share the things you were showing me which confirmed to me that you do speak to us one on one. That we can hear your voice and you do call us by name.
I am so sorry Lord I allowed myself to get caught up in discussions which took this tread away from the purpose it was started.
Lord my heart is for others to hear your voice through this thread. That others who are as hungry to hear from you as I am will read these words and begin to seek your voice. My heart Lord was that you would use this thread to help others believe you do speak to us in such an intimate way we can hear your voice and know in our spirits it is you.
Father please take this thread back and use it for your purposes and not ours. Lord open eyes to see and ears to hear what you wish to be said here.
I am so sorry for the part I played in making this thread about translations and not your voice......I am sorry Lord.
Father I pray as people read this thread you will speak to them. Father let them hear your voice in a way they have not heard you before.
Lord emotions play such a huge role in how singles hear and often our emotions speak louder then your voice.
Relationships are so hard. It makes it harder when you are lonely and desire a spouse that it is easy to let our desires for a husband or wife speak so loud it drowns out your voice.
Lord my prayer is that as we singles begin to desire to hear your voice intimately more and more........As we begin to believe you speak directly to us and seek your voice........As we begin to recognize it more and more we will begin to walk in truth in our relationships.
Lord my desire and I believe it is your desire is for us to not be lead by loneliness or our emotions but by your Spirit........by your voice.........
I pray Lord we begin to believe you speak to us not just in the time we set aside to read the Bible but in our daily activities. Lord that we begin to hear your voice all day long posting here, working or doing a multitude of things.......
Please Lord I pray.......Please quiet our emotions and let us hear your voice.
Thank you Lord.
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God's Majesty seen through my eyes
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 10:45:00 AM
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shemaromans
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quote:
Shemaromans I am saying God is speaking to us all the time. We are the ones who chose to listen or not. Moses walked by the burning bush many times before he stopped to listen. The bible is full of people ignoring God's voice.
Compare it to a satellite receiver.......if your receiver is turned off you don't receive from the satellite even though it is still sending a signal. There is nothing wrong with the satellite but the receiver is may be broken.
Thank you, Joy, for clarifying your meaning.
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"But as for me, it is good to be near God." Psalm 73:28
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 10:47:13 AM
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iwillfearnoevil
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quote:
ORIGINAL: shemaromans
Are you saying that we can limit God or keep him from doing anything?
do you not believe in free will? that people can choose or not choose to listen to God? that is the point of this thread if you recall the OP.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 10:53:41 AM
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iwillfearnoevil
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quote:
ORIGINAL: John_O
I agree that we need to listen to God. never argued that point. "Logos" doesn't enter into this particular point though as it's not used in the OT. "Dabar" doesn't translate exactly correctly (or even closely) as "message".
Version is important. Some are more accurate than others. (I'm not KJV only. But I am formal equivalence only.)
i only mentioned logos because you seemed confused indicating you interpreted 'word' as something personal which would be logos. message = communication. which can happen in speech, utterance, may forms. i think you trying to pick on this verse is probably the least of NLVT's problems and is a reach for dismissing the OP.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 11:01:53 AM
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benelchi
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quote:
ORIGINAL: John_O
quote:
ORIGINAL: iwillfearnoevil
quote:
ORIGINAL: John_O
It's quite possible to have a message from the Lord without having the word revealed to you. Say if Eli was given a word to speak to him. The message would be from the Lord yet the word was not yet revealed. Similarly teh children of Isreal received many messages from the Lord via Moses Without the Word being revealed to them.
I see the revelation of the Word as being much more personal, like a visit, while a message is more like a phone call.
looking at the differences here
NVLT: message from the Lord
KJV: word of the LORD
the word in question here (pun intended for the pun maestro) is dabar (hebrew) from H1696:
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
a) speech
b) saying, utterance
c) word, words
d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
Word as logos (greek) can refer to this personal aspect as used in John 1:1 (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.) and perhaps is the source of your skepticism. i understand your point about which translation of a bible is used, as i personally tend to be more cautious when dealing with paraphrases too, altho i'm not a kjv only man. however, i think joy2give2u's original point of us listening to God talking to us thrives with this deeper examination.
I agree that we need to listen to God. never argued that point. "Logos" doesn't enter into this particular point though as it's not used in the OT. "Dabar" doesn't translate exactly correctly (or even closely) as "message".
Version is important. Some are more accurate than others. (I'm not KJV only. But I am formal equivalence only.)
If I had to choose only one English bible, I would choose a formal equivalence version; however, thankfully I don't have to choose only one and sometimes the dynamic equivalent versions offers a better translation than do the formal equivalent versions. The example you have used here of "message" vs. "word" is a good example of where the dynamic equivalent translates this verse better. Whenever the phrase "word of the Lord (devar-YHWH) is used it always carries the connotation of a message being given and not just one "word"; even when we read English translations that do translate this as "word" we still understand "message" because contextually it can't mean anything else. And by the way Browns-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon does include "message, discourse, saying, speech, ect..." among the definitions for 'devar'; this is also included in the the definition provided in "The new international dictionary of Old Testament theology and exegesis, Vol 1", and many other Hebrew dictionaries. Also every major English translation uses dynamic equivalent langauge to some extent because a completely literal translation would be useless. Example: In Job 1, the word "BRK (Bless)" is translated as "curse" on four separate occasions in every English version of the bible. This is done because it is considered a euphemistic use of the word, and the context of the passage requires this translation.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 11:12:29 AM
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shemaromans
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quote:
ORIGINAL: iwillfearnoevil
quote:
ORIGINAL: shemaromans
Are you saying that we can limit God or keep him from doing anything?
do you not believe in free will? that people can choose or not choose to listen to God? that is the point of this thread if you recall the OP.
Thank you for paying close attention to Joy's thread and my post. I have a three-part answer:
1. I was simply asking Joy to clarify her meaning so that I could make sure that I was understanding her. Nothing more, nothing less.
2. I don't take this thread to be about free will (and think that you made a giant inferential leap about my beliefs with little data). Free will encompasses a much larger scope than the specific topic presented in the OP. I could ask you a question in the same vein, and we would bust this topic wide open--and ultimately be sent to the Theo folder!
3. Discussing the broader question of free will would also discount the prayer that Joy just posted (if I'm not mistaken). She wants people to reflect upon how well they listen to God, not to present and discuss their personal beliefs on free will in general.
Grace and peace, iwfne!
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"But as for me, it is good to be near God." Psalm 73:28
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 11:37:06 AM
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iwillfearnoevil
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it just seemed like you were implying something with just a subtle innocent question. did you really think joy2give2u was saying she thought we were more powerful than God?
yes we can limit God's voice. definition 1a in my dictionary says something that bounds, restrains, or confines. if we are choosing not to listen to God's voice, then we are limiting His best for us. that is why i mentioned free will. it's a simple choice ... do we choose to listen or not? some people think it doesn't matter.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 11:50:54 AM
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shemaromans
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quote:
ORIGINAL: iwillfearnoevil
it just seemed like you were implying something with just a subtle innocent question. did you really think joy2give2u was saying she thought we were more powerful than God?
One of the drawbacks of online communciation, I suppose. We don't know each other. If you knew me, then you'd know that I don't make comments like that. In fact, I detest them. If I have something to say or ask, I'm quite direct. I might not choose the correct words or articulate my thoughts as well as I'd like, but I don't participate pointed implications, in snarky, underhanded jabs, or in "gotcha" type snares.
Subtle and innocent often contradict themselves, imo. 
quote:
yes we can limit God's voice. definition 1a in my dictionary says something that bounds, restrains, or confines. if we are choosing not to listen to God's voice, then we are limiting His best for us. that is why i mentioned free will. it's a simple choice ... do we choose to listen or not? some people think it doesn't matter.
Some of your words move the discussion beyond listening to the still, quiet voice. And as previously stated, I'm not going to open that can of worms.
God bless you!
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"But as for me, it is good to be near God." Psalm 73:28
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 1:09:35 PM
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John_O
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quote:
ORIGINAL: joy2give2u
quote:
The Pharisee's problem is that they did not understand scripture Which was my point........even in the most accurate translation people can be blinded to the truth........And even in the worse translation God's can still speak truth.
If a person is putting his/her faith in the translation and not the Holy Spirit opening their eyes will they see? Will they hear?
The bible is full of accounts where those hearing directly from Jesus himself were blind and deaf.
So we see that it helps to have an accurate translation because people listening to the Son of God hiself in the flesh were still mistaken. Us fallen humans need all the help we can get.
quote:
quote:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Is the reason you have taken up the cause of translations in this thread, instead of discussing the topic and sharing how God speaks to you.
You'll see in my first post that I agree with you. We need to listen to God. I've not "taken up the cause of translations" I've merely stated that we need to use a reliable one.
quote:
quote:
scripture is always correct I never said it was not. I just do not believe God can only speak through limited translations. For myself I have five translations which I use on a regular bases. I chose to read different translations because God has spoken powerfully through each at different times in my life.
But everything he told you lines up with scripture. God will not contradict himself.
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quote:
No He never contradicts his word. Period. It is the holy spirit who speaks all truth. Words can be read differently based on the person reading. For example it is clear you do not know me based on how you are reading what I write.....
If scripture, as written, is infallible and the most accurate translation impossible to read incorrectly why did God give us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth? All we would need is the most accurate translations correct?
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
And what did Jesus say to us? The scriptures.
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quote:
We have to know the word and the only way to really do that is to find the most accurate translation. You really believe the only way to know the word is to read the most accurate translation?
That the only way to know it accurately yes.
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Moses walked by the burning bush many times before he stopped to listen. The bible is full of people ignoring God's voice.
While the second statement is true, there is no scriptural evidence for the first. The bush was burning when Moses saw it. That's all we know. That doesn't mean it was ever burning before or that Moses ever walked that way before. It could have been burning for eternity or it could have ignited just before he laid eyes on it.
quote:
Compare it to a satellite receiver.......if your receiver is turned off you don't receive from the satellite even though it is still sending a signal. There is nothing wrong with the satellite but the receiver is may be broken.
Excellent analogy. We all need to keep our recievers in good repair.
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Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 1:12:26 PM
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John_O
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quote:
ORIGINAL: iwillfearnoevil
i only mentioned logos because you seemed confused indicating you interpreted 'word' as something personal which would be logos. message = communication. which can happen in speech, utterance, may forms. i think you trying to pick on this verse is probably the least of NLVT's problems and is a reach for dismissing the OP.
No I interpreted the revelation of the word as being more personal.
And if you read my posts again you'll find that I never dismissed the OP. I agreed with it.
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Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 1:16:08 PM
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John_O
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quote:
ORIGINAL: benelchi
If I had to choose only one English bible, I would choose a formal equivalence version; however, thankfully I don't have to choose only one and sometimes the dynamic equivalent versions offers a better translation than do the formal equivalent versions. The example you have used here of "message" vs. "word" is a good example of where the dynamic equivalent translates this verse better. Whenever the phrase "word of the Lord (devar-YHWH) is used it always carries the connotation of a message being given and not just one "word"; even when we read English translations that do translate this as "word" we still understand "message" because contextually it can't mean anything else.
You see I don't read that verse and get "message". A message is something given via someone else or written etc. If I'm talking face to face with someone it's not a message.
Aren't translations fun? No one ever means the same exact thing. Which is why I see it as so important to stay as true to the originals as we can.
That said, since my minor point has apparently taken over the thread (Which was never my intent at all) I'll drop this line of conversation.
< Message edited by John_O -- 6/17/2008 1:22:08 PM >
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Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 1:18:23 PM
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benelchi
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quote:
So we see that it helps to have an accurate translation because people listening to the Son of God hiself in the flesh were still mistaken. Us fallen humans need all the help we can get.
But John_O, in this case she did have an accurate translation; see here.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/17/2008 2:19:03 PM
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joy2give2u
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quote:
Which is why I see it as so important to stay as true to the originals as we can. Which is why I believe it is important to listen to and follow where God leads.........In the OP I shared I was sitting outside with my bible asking God to speak to me regarding hearing his voice and whether he speaks to us directly by name.
quote:
But John_O, in this case she did have an accurate translation; And this is what I love so much about the Lord........he knew which translations I would have with me before he laid the questions I asked on my heart.....he knew as I walked out the door, before I stared at the white clouds and talked to him what he would lay on my heart........he knew he would lead me to the bible sitting next to me.....especially since he was the one who put the piece of paper in the bible at the exact spot where he wanted me to read.......and he was the one who told me to read those verses.........all so he could use the most accurate translation for that verse to speak to me the truth he wanted me to hear..........
God is so amazing.......how he orchestras things just right for us to be in the position and with the tools we need to hear what he wishes to say to us.
Thank you Father that your greatest desire is an intimacy with us. Thank you Father that you have such a heart to speak to us and a patience to keep speaking even when we do not hear.
Lord thank you for your promise.....that we will know your voice.
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 6:49:15 AM
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mutinywxgirl
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You know, I've been thinking a lot about this thread the past few days - thinking back to our service Saturday night (I went straight from disaster training). I have to laugh at God's sense of humor - because I was covered in CO2, and about as "grubby" as I ever get - and I run into countless people I've not seen in years! LOLOL Guess looks really don't matter where God is concerned -- but that's another thread topic.
Well, we had special guests doing worship (Phil Wickham and his band - if you pay attention to the writers of the worship songs, you'll recognize his name). Anyway, that set the tone for the service - and at the end, one song literally had me sobbing (see siggy - that's the chorus that knocked me out). God used those words to really grab my attention to what He's been trying to say to me - again!
I may not be one who sees/hears him in all of nature (now, put it into the atmosphere - and it's a different story!), but, I do know that He does use MANY things to talk to me or impress things upon me - and it's usually music.
I am SO thankful that He talks to us individually - in the ways that He knows WE need to be able to hear Him. But, the question is - do we always listen? I know that I don't - at all. I'm realizing now just how much my lack of listening has hindered Him working in my life - but that's how loving He is - He still works for good what we choose, knowing that ultimately His will will be done.
I continue to be broken for all the times I've not listened - and now am working hard to be able to hear all He has to say to me.
May we all be open to whatever He has to say to us - in whatever means He uses to speak.
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When blood and water hit the ground.
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down.
We were free and made alive.
The day true love died. The day true love died.
Lisa is happy THE ROWDIES ARE BACK!
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 8:53:30 AM
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hotsaucygma
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Interesting Lisa. Have you ever noticed that some threads just don't let go of you? That you think about them off and on for days? It happens to me, and this is one of those threads.
I had been thinking along the same lines as you. That God speaks to us in the way we can hear him- teachers will tell you that kids lean in different styles, some are auditory learners, some do better visually. I think God knows his children and speaks to them in the way they will best hear Him. As I have said before, He is not a "One size fits all" God!
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Dear Lord, let my words today be as sweet and delicious as cheesecake... for tomorrow I may have to eat them!
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 9:45:41 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
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..... Hey guys!
I'm jumping in here late.... as always.... ;o)
The other night I saw the most amazing coloring in the clouds from the sunset.... the sight took my breath away... all I could do was stand there speechless.... and watch.
.... and then my spirit reminded me of how I still need to be still before the LORD... even amidst a seemingly crazy time in my life.
I was thankful the LORD caused this moment for me....
.... a reminder of His love.
.... a reminder of His grace.
.... a reminder of His strength and beauty.
In all things... I am His servant.... and I need to be listening....
My home is not here on earth...
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 10:04:11 AM
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joy2give2u
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Hey Lisa and hsgma thank you for sharing........Amazing things happen when we say Yes Lord your servant is listening.........we hear God.
I love that God speaks continually and we hear him when we open ourselves to receive what he is saying.
I started this thread because I was struggling believing some things God was saying to me in my head. I was beginning to doubt the voice I heard was really God and wondering if it might be my own thoughts instead.
I was not struggling with knowing he speaks to me through nature, through music, through His Word, the bible, or through people.
I did not ask God to show me the many ways he speaks to us because I believe he speaks to each of us many ways........I believe there are many pathways to hear God's voice and he speaks to each us of based on how he designed us and how we are listening.
If anyone felt I was saying God only speaks one way or that if he is not speaking as a voice in your head that you are not listening I am sorry. I was not saying that.
Those who know me know that I believe strongly God can and will speak to us how ever we are listening. I have even made post regarding what some call sacred pathways.....which is about God speaking to each of us, building an intimacy with each of us based on who he created us to be.......I have posted many times my belief that we should not expect God's voice, or even His face to look or sound the same to each other.
The only reason I focused on hearing God's voice in my mind in this thread was because that was the area, of God speaking to me, in which I was struggling.
I have been amazed and at times awed at how God has answered my question.
I asked Lord is that voice I hear in my head, the one which calls me by name and speaks to me in a soft clear voice is that you or just my emotions.
He answered and I shared his answers here.
He does amaze me...........how he speaks to us each directly, in a way we will listen, concerning the things on our hearts..........
It always leaves me in such amazement the way he will confirm what he says over and over different ways so that we will have no doubt what he is saying to us.
God did this again last night..........I will share in just a minute........
Hey Rach it is great to see you from way off in Texas LOL
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God's Majesty seen through my eyes
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 10:42:45 AM
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joy2give2u
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quote:
Yes Father...I hear you...I believe you...I just need to believe in myself now. LOL Tink.....sometimes that is the hardest isn't it........believing in ourselves..........I think one of the reason God has to tell me things over and over different ways is because I doubt myself........I know I hear God, I understand what he is saying and then in a few hours I think.....well was it really him or was it me........I don't trust myself to hear him over myself.
I remember once telling God this.......that it was not that I didn't trust him or believe he was speaking to me........I just didn't trust I was understanding clearly what he was saying and that I didn't trust myself not to interpret what he said wrong........
I remember my words exactly..........I said "God it isn't that I don't trust what you say to me I just don't trust what I hear"
You know what his response was? I will never forget it.
He said, "Dawn what you are really saying is you don't trust me more then you distrust yourself."
I don't know if that makes sense to you but it did to me.
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God's Majesty seen through my eyes
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 12:01:59 PM
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joy2give2u
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I have been thinking a little about what I said about God speaking to us different ways and felt I needed to expand on the thought.
When I first realized knowing about God and knowing him personally were two different things I was so hungry to meet God face to face.
I began spending hours each day in my prayer closet (a local colleges library) reading the bible, writing in my journal and praying. I had spent my entire life thinking I was a good Christian who had a wonderful relationship with him. I thought I knew Him so well.......I was so wrong.
This was the first time in my life where the Word came a live. God was speaking so powerfully through His Word. Each question I asked God he answered directly in his Word. I read book after book, each speaking powerfully into my life, so much so the words I read were imprinted on my spirit.
As I grew in my walk with the Lord he put me in positions where I was able to share with others, in small groups I lead, and through other avenues how God speaks to me.
Sharing with others that God wants to speak directly to us, that he has a voice and he is waiting for us to listen became my passion........my hearts desire.
People would come to me hungry and ask how do I listen to God. How does he speak to you.
My answer was always the same........You need to pray, sing songs of praise, and humble yourself before the Lord and then go to His Word. In the bible will speak to you........reading it you will hear his voice.
I would get frustrated and so would the person because they were not hearing from God in the Bible. At that time I did think that if someone did not hear from God, hear his voice through the Word, then they just must not be listening.......After all in my life God spoke powerfully through the bible and everyone agreed God spoke through the bible. I actually believed it was the only way to hear God's voice clearly.
God amazes me.....how he continues to grow our understanding......how the things we are so sure about today, though they will still be true, change to something even deeper.
A few years ago I took a class at my church on hearing God's voice. My pastor talked about how we all hear God differently. In my small group we discussed how each of us hear God. During this time I realized that reading the bible was not the way God spoke to everyone........I also realized I had closed myself off from hearing him in ways he use to speak to me because I believed he would only speak to me through the bible.
I asked my ladies, in my small group, if they would be willing to do an experiment. Together we shared different ways God spoke to us individually then each of us chose an area where God never spoke to us and during the following week we sought out God's voice in a way we had never heard him.
I was transformed that week. God spoke to me in a way I never thought he spoke. His voice was as clear to me as it had been in the bible.
I wanted to hear him more so I began to ask God to speak to me any way he wished. I said to him Lord your servant is listening........and I opened my ears to listen.........he spoke through nature, hymns, worship songs, the pastors sermon, the bible, books, billboards, songs on the radio, strangers and friends......
I share this for one reason.........I believe God speaks to us all differently and it is important to listen to him how we believe he speaks to us.....because he will speak to us that way.........BUT I also know I limited his voice, I chose how he would speak to me by only listening in a way I believed was how he spoke.
My prayer for everyone reading this thread........is that we will listen to God as he speaks to us and we will eagerly ask us to speak to us in new ways. Ways we have not heard him speak before.
My prayer is that we will begin to believe he speaks to us not just in the bible, or in songs, or through our pastor........that we will say Lord your servant is listening and I believe you can speak to me in more ways then I comprehend.......please Lord speak to me.....then listen.
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God's Majesty seen through my eyes
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RE: Yes Lord your servant is listening. - 6/18/2008 2:19:28 PM
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honeycluv
Posts: 3
Joined: 6/17/2008
Status: offline
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quote:
........is that we will listen to God as he speaks to us and we will eagerly ask us to speak to us in new ways. Ways we have not heard him speak before.
My New Way of Listening:
When I attended a Quaker college, I was first baffled by people sitting in silence. Before convocations or sometimes class and dinners, we would have a moment of silence. Across the street from campus, an elderly man opened up his house every evening of the week for an half hour of silence. There, in the dark with candles 9 - 9:30 p.m....for years....
I went to Quaker meetings of worship, and after the speaker gave the message...again, 20-30 minutes of silence. I often wondered how people could hear from God without saying anything. Isn't he suppose to be answering our questions? Our concerns and prayers?
But, as I sat there during these periods of silence...someone would get up and say something. Then, there was silence again. Another one would also stand up and share words. Silence again. Then, another speaker. And, these words weren't just nice and religious. They were powerful. They were life changing. And for some reason, these once quited people were speaking out boldy.
Thus, I have realized that listening to God...even in times of silence....is not just for us to hear him, but to speak what he downloads into us. If you are a listener then, you have the opportunity to be a instrument for God's voice...so that others can listen as well.
But the most intriguing thing about this all is that listening to God in silence...is taking a break from having the old conversations and prayers we give up.....and receiving something new from God. Letting him start the conversation...and that is a heavenly experience that by the Spirit of God we can share boldly. 
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