The God Who Speaks

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

Hebrews 1:1-2New International Version (NIV) https://www.biblegateway.com

   Throughout human history, God has been speaking to man-kind in various ways. His prophets and apostles were moved by the Holy Spirit both to proclaim and to write His words, but His ultimate expression came through the birth of His Son Jesus Christ. Today, most believers acknowledge that God speaks primarily through Scripture, yet the voice that dictated the Bible has not ceased. Through His Holy Spirit, the Lord still communicates to every Christian who listens with an open and receptive heart.

   Consider the wonder of having a God who speaks-not a distant deity who thunders orders and admonishments from heaven, but one who actually wants to have a conversation with you! Why? Consider the following:

• God loves you and desires a relationship with you.
• He wants you to know Him personally through an intimate communication.
• He longs to encourage you to trust Him. As you experience the fulfillment of His words, your faith grows strong.
• He wants to guide you. The Lord has a good purpose for your life and is willing to direct your decisions and ways so you can experience all He has planned for you.

. . . Take time this week away from the distractions to listen to the God who wants to talk with you.

Stanley, Charles F. "The God Who Speaks." In Touch: Daily Readings For Devoted Living December 2015. Atlanta: In Touch. page 18.

Choices

^{15 "}I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15

   You can live as close to Me as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.
   People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control those situations. They feel happy when things are going well and sad or frustrated when things don't turn out as they'd hoped. They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation.
   Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying my Presence. Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.

I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from My Love.

Philippians 4:12; Genesis 28:15; Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:38-39 

Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2004. page 342.

Focus

³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

   Do not be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me. I know that your heart's desire is to be aware of my Presence continually. This is a lofty goal; you aim toward it but never fully achieve it in this life. Don't let feelings of failure weigh you down. Instead, try to see yourself as I see you. First of all, I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me through your life. I am pleased each time you initiate communication with Me. In addition, I notice the progress you have made since you first resolved to live in My presence.
   When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don't be alrmed or surpised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days.

Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 4:14-16.

Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2004. page 320.

God Works Within Us

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

   Let the words from today's reading slowly sink into your understanding: "able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (v.20). What an amazing description of the Lord's ability to work within us. Yet so often our focus is mainly on what we want Him to do around us: If He would change this situation or fix that problem then my life would be better. But He invites us to think and ask bigger - He wants to change us!
   The Holy Spirit has more than enough power to transform lives from the inside out, but working change within is usually a slow process. Spiritual fruit takes time to grow and mature. That's why we need patience and faith to believe He is working even when we don't see the results right away. God is never in a hurry and will never give up on us.
   The Lord has a purpose for your life, and He is constantly working to achieve it. Although He has an individualized plan for each one of His children, He also has an overarching goal - to conform every believer to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. In order to accomplish this, He may have to bring us through some struggles and heartaches. It might not make sense to us, but God knows exactly what He's doing.
   What would you like to see the Lord do within you? As you read the Scriptures, look for qualities that God considers precious, and ask Him to work them out in your life. Then rely on His wonderful promise to do even more than you have asked or imagined.

Stanley, Charles F. "God Works Within Us." In Touch: Daily Readings for Devoted Living. October 2015.Atlanta: In Touch Ministries Inc. 2015. page 36.

Jesus said, "I am with you."

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—, ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."  John 10:14, 27-28

I AM WITH YOU, I am with you, I am with you. Heaven's bells continually peal with that promise of My Presence. Some people never hear those bells because their minds are earthbound and their hearts are closed to Me. Others hear the bells only once or twice in their lifetimes, in rare moments of seeking Me above all else. My desire is that My "sheep" hear My voice continually, for I am the ever-present Shepherd.
   Quietness is the classroom where you learn to hear My voice. Beginners need a quiet place in order to still their minds. As you advance in this discipline, you gradually learn to carry the stillness with you wherever you go. When you step back into the mainstream of life, strain to hear those glorious bells: I am with you. I am with You. I am with you.
Jeremiah 29:12-13; John 10:14, 27-28

Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2004. page 317.

Every Need

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Psalm 118:8

God is the only One who can truly satisfy your heart's desire for wholeness. When you feel lonely or disconnected, what you're really sensing is your soul's longing to be one with Him. And He alone knows how to bring that profound intimacy about in your life.

   Once you recognize this and turn to the Lord to satisfy your loneliness, you are in a healthier position to receive the love and affection of the people God sends to you. Rather than become emotionally dependent on them, you are able to contribute to their lives and be involved in a wholesome, caring, mutual relationship with them.

   However, understand the Lord is a jealous God. He wants a relationship with you, and if he sees that you're relying on another person to do what only He can, He often finds a way to end that relationship as it once was.

   Only the Savior can provide everything you need to live a peaceful, joyful, fulfilling life. So look to Him first and foremost to satisfy the needs of your heart.

Father, please forgive me for looking to others to fill my needs.

Refocus my heart on Your wonderful presence and provision, amen.

In His presence . . . take refuge in His perfect provision.

Stanley, Charles F. "Every Need." Every Day in His Presence: 365 Devotions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2014. page 320. 

Take up the whole armor of God...praying always...

“Take up the whole armor of God…praying always…” (Ephesians 6:13, 18)

You must learn to wrestle against the things that hinder your communication with God, and wrestle in prayer for other people; but to wrestle with God in prayer is unscriptural. If you ever do wrestle with God, you will be crippled for the rest of your life. If you grab hold of God and wrestle with Him, as Jacob did, simply because He is working in a way that doesn’t meet with your approval, you force Him to put you out of joint (see Genesis 32:24-25). Don’t become a cripple by wrestling with the ways of God, but be someone who wrestles before God with the things of this world, because “we are more than conquerors through Him...” (Romans 8:37). Wrestling before God makes an impact in His kingdom. If you ask me to pray for you, and I am not complete in Christ, my prayer accomplishes nothing. But if I am complete in Christ, my prayer brings victory all the time. Prayer is effective only when there is completeness—“take up the whole armor of God…”

Always make a distinction between God’s perfect will and His permissive will, which He uses to accomplish His divine purpose for our lives. God’s perfect will is unchangeable. It is with His permissive will, or the various things that He allows into our lives, that we must wrestle before Him. It is our reaction to these things allowed by His permissive will that enables us to come to the point of seeing His perfect will for us. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)—to those who remain true to God’s perfect will—His calling in Christ Jesus. God’s permissive will is the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters. We should not be spineless and automatically say, “Yes, it is the Lord’s will.” We don’t have to fight or wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength.

“My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers December 16