When We Don't Hear God
>> Friday, August 22, 2008
In this section, Elderedge tells a somewhat comical story about being unable to find his watch. I love what he wrote along the lines of God not speaking to him at that moment would not be the verdict on how he is doing with God at that moment. "Hearing from God flows out of our relationship." He talks about the many different ways that God can speak to us or answer prayers (contents of a sermon, kind words from a friend, etc.). What are some of the ways that God has spoken to you?
3 comments:
Okay, so this section was also very good for me. (Actually this whole book has been awesome)
I thought his statement on page 48 about God not speaking to him at that moment is not the verdict on how he is doing with God very freeing. He said "my ability to hear God's voice on any given day does not change my position in Christ one bit." "We don't know on any given day all that's playing into why we can't seem to hear from God."
I've often felt like I had done something to upset God or that the amount of time I'd spent with him wasn't enough when I hadn't heard from him. I kind of felt guilty, which I know is not from God. I think it helps reading things like this though to really "get it."
I think God speaks the most to me through his word. I probably haven't been hearing from him much because I haven't been in the word much lately.
This section was very powerful for me, as well, for reasons similar to what Julie wrote. The section on Elderedge not hearing from God on his own time table would not be the verdict on how he was doing with God. That was a very powerful statement for me.
I have often become frustrated when I haven't heard from God. Sometimes He was really not talking to me at that time and many times I probably wasn't truly listening. Many times I have been able to look back and have an "ahhh..now I understand" moment, but it was always frustrating for me during the time that I wasn't hearing God.
I have heard God in many different ways over the years. Through the Word, circumstances lining up in a certian way, words or messges from others...but I think most recently (since starting this book) I have been hearing from him in prayer. I have been trying very hard to shut off the internal chatter that seems to never end in my head. Sometimes it is still really difficult, but other times I am seeing progress. Needless to say, now that I am trying to listen more during prayer, I have been hearing Him more.
I would say that like Kasey sometimes I look back at a circumstance or a sermon, or a conversation and think....ohhhh, that is what He has been trying to tell me. Everything in hindsight lines up perfectly and I can clearly see what He was revealing to me.
But there are also times when I feel like I am being put on "ignore." It is comforting to know that He is always there...even when I am not "feeling" it.
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