Over the years, growing believers would complain to me that God does not talk with them like with other people.  They would lament that God is silent, unresponsive to their prayers of asking for this or that to happen in their lives.  They want to do great things but don’t know where to begin. I learned to avoid judging, probing their lives, or making this a teachable moment. God’s Holy Spirit would lead me most times to pray first with them; then ask “What passages are you currently reading in God’s Word?”  “What do you understand and what do you wonder about from your reading?”  “What is God saying as you pray in communication with Him?”

Here are some of the responses I’ve heard:

“Well, I haven’t had time to read the Bible, I’m pretty busy with work and going to school.”  (I heard this from a seminary student!)

“When I read, I immediately get frustrated with two or three verses and besides; I already know what it will say or tell me to stop doing.”  (From church leaders!)

“Reading the Bible only tells me what happened long ago, not what is happening in my life now—so it seems a waste of time to study and pray when I could be doing better things that are more helpful.”

Yikes!  Dear Friends, we are missing the point if we believe that God’s Word is only a tool of history instead of “the lamp that lights our path” to God as He guides us to what He wants to say to us individually.

God’s Word is History in a sense—It is HIS STORY of redemption through His Son, Jesus who was present from beginning of creation to the “omega” of the end of time.  God’s Story is also a love letter to everyone who comes humbly before Him in Jesus Name to seek wisdom, clarity, purpose, comfort, direction, love, mercy, grace, encouragement, healing from brokenness, strategy for living, restoration from the attacks of the enemy and so much more! 

For me, reading God’s Word is like sitting across the table from the Three-in-One: God the Father, Jesus our Savior and Lord, and God’s Holy Spirit in a power-filled, spirit led, exciting and expectant conversation with the One who created all, is in all, and over all—the One ever present in my life.  God knows how everything in our lives is put together for our good and His glory!  “And He walks with me and he talks with me…”

This conversation with God begins with humbled prayer, presenting ourselves as an offering to God, seeking His will, “His perfect and pleasing will,” to live and grow each day in the unforced rhythms of His grace! Without communication with the Director, we become out of step to the beat of His symphony written to create beautiful harmonies of love with God and others.

Because of Jesus, there is no middleman or priest behind a curtain, it is just you and I, individually walking boldly to the throne of God, bowing before Him, asking for what He wants next. Then we listen as He calls us by name.  This is the missing piece for some.  We must discipline ourselves to take time to stop speaking, asking, demanding, complaining, and lamenting to hear what God has to say.  It is time well spent to “be still and know that He is God” while being silent to hear fully what He has to say.

Just ask Philip—God spoke to his heart clearly and concisely.  “At noon, walk over to that road.”  The rest is history—God’s story of redemption for a traveler just passing through helped by Philip—the servant who listened and obeyed. 

Acts 8, The Message

The Ethiopian Eunuch

^26-28 Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

^29-30 The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

^31-33 He answered, “How can I without some help?” and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this:

As a sheep led to slaughter,
    and quiet as a lamb being sheared,
He was silent, saying nothing.
    He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial.
But who now can count his kin
    since he’s been taken from the earth?

^34-35 The eunuch said, “Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?” Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.

^36-39 As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, “Here’s water. Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn’t mind. He had what he’d come forand went on down the road as happy as he could be.

⁴⁰ Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Philip listened and obeyed.  We cannot stress this enough.  We aren’t the best listeners—to anyone!  We listen only while thinking how we will respond without really understanding what the speaker is saying.  We love being “in charge and in control” of every conversation.  We “one up” each other to feel important and worthy.  We listen just enough to be dangerous.  I don’t like that about us and neither does God!

Philip was readied and prepared to listen.  He knew what God was saying through His Word.  He seemed excited to run alongside the carriage when he heard the Ethiopian official reading God’s Word.  He obeyed God’s direction to “climb into the chariot”!  He did ask permission.  What happened from His readiness to listen and obedient heart was another soul saved in the Name of Jesus and then baptized that day!

Matthew 28-20—The larger commandment of Jesus to his disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” is accomplished in the details our everyday lives by:

• Daily offering ourselves to Him (Romans 12)
• Submitting first to God with adoration and worship to the One who loves us most (2 Chronicles 7:14)
• Communicating with God, acknowledging that He delights in all the details of our lives (Psalm 37:23-24)
• Listening more, talking less in prayer (yes this is a discipline to learn and grow!) (Psalm 46:10)
• Asking what He wants as He gives us “this day” all He knows we will need. (Matthew 6: 9-13)
• Being still to listen after the asking for His will be done with open minds—He will tell you exactly what He wants.  Let go of everything else.
• Listening as God speaks through His Word, His People, Circumstances, and even through those who don’t know Him yet.  God speaks through His creation constantly!  We must listen with our hearts, minds, and souls to be aware!
• Inviting His Holy Spirit to lead us before we read His word is a gamechanger in the pursuit of God, His purpose for us and His direction to us (1 Corinthians 3:16–17; 6:19)
• Drawing near to the One who promised, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” fills us with confidence, power, joy, and peace that only God-Jesus-Holy Spirt can provide.  (Matthew 28:20; James 4:8)

We probably won’t experience exactly what Philip did.  God had a specific, urgent plan for an Ethiopian seeker to find Him.  God knew He could count on Philip.  This was not an event to be copied, but rather an example of how God works in the lives of His listening, obedient servants. 

Three-Pronged Prayer—Open hearts, Alert Minds, Many Opportunities

Paul writes to the church asking them to pray with and for him—while he is in jail for preaching Jesus!  Notice his request is not about physical needs—it’s about the spiritual needs of those all around him in his current situation!  Paul writes:

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Colossians 4:2-6, NLT

God answers prayers like this!  He has answered many times for me! 

To God be the glory for great things HE has done!  Be still, let go, know God.

Lord,

Teach me your will.  Lead me on level ground.  Show me your ways. I am your servant.  And I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen