Dr, Mike Murphy
February 15, 2018
A conversation with God. So many times we find ourselves desiring to hear from God, to hear His voice guiding us, giving needed direction to us. Others will say if they could only hear Him speak, then they could believe, then they would know He is real. So many questions would be asked of God, if we could just have a conversation with Him, just one little chance for us to talk to Him. So many who think to themselves, if I could just hear Him speak, all my questions would be answered. Each time I hear someone say this, I stop and ask myself, “How do you not already hear His voice? How do you not hear it above all the other sounds around you?” And with each question we would ask, I can all but hear the Lord saying, “Why have you not already listened to My answers?”
Each day, I find myself having a conversation with the Lord. Some days, it seems like it is me doing all the talking, sharing with Him all my concerns, and laying all my problems at His feet. Other days, it is me doing all the listening, carefully hearing each word of wisdom He gives me, and understanding the plans He has for me. Like all good conversations, our conversation goes both ways. And with each word He speaks to me, our relationship grows, my faith is strengthened, and my understanding of His ways become greater.
Many will hear this and ask, “Does God actually speak to you, does He really have a conversation with you?” My answer to that question is a one hundred percent yes! I have a conversation with our Lord every day!
The dictionary defines a “conversation” as an exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas. In everything around me, in all I see and all I hear, it is impossible for me to ignore that exchange. As the thunder roars and the lightning strikes, I can hear the voice of God reminding me of Who created this world around me. As I watch the faith grow in those around me, I hear the love in the gentleness of His voice. And as I watch the news, and I see what man is capable of without turning to Him, I hear the stern warning in each of His words. But above all, as I daily turn to Him in prayer, I hear His Spirit speaking back to me, internally answering me. And as I pick up His Word each day, and carefully read the words He has given us, I clearly hear His voice guiding me, giving purpose in each answer He shows me. I cannot begin to imagine spending one minute of a single day, not hearing His voice, and not being in conversation with Him.
Though we do not realize it, the Bible is one of God’s main ways of speaking to us. If the heavens are the megaphone on which He gets our attention, then Scripture would be the cell phone He uses to send us “text messages” all day, everyday. When we read His Word, we are hearing His voice, just as plain and clear as if He was standing in front of us speaking. Each minute we spend time in that Word, we are interacting with Him, spending priceless time with Him, and are in the greatest of conversations with Him. The Bible is God’s love letter to each of us, and as we read that letter, we can hear Him speaking each word of that love to us. Pouring out His heart to us as He shares with us His encouragement, His strength, His insight, and His wisdom. Speaking to us a love so deep, that He would give everything to reach us, to protect us, and to spend eternity with us.
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:11). Each conversation He has with me, each word He speaks to me, carries a purpose and a plan that i know is so much greater than me. But despite the greatness of those plans, He includes someone as simple as me. And He shows me that the purpose for His plans were made with simple me in mind.
My God is not a quiet God, but a God who will speak to me as much as I will listen to His voice. A God who is always ready to share His wisdom with me. A God that despite all the chaos I see going on in the universe around me, is never too busy for me. I find myself so easily forgetting sometimes, my God is the greatest of multitaskers, He can get more accomplished in a single second than I can even think about doing in a whole day. He is able to give more of His time and attention to everyone, individually, on the face of this earth, than I can give of my attention to a single person. And with each conversation, with each second he spends with me, I recognize more and more just why He is God, and why I am not.
With each conversation He has with me, with each second He spends talking to me, I come to realize the wisdom He has to offer me. I can feel His words shaping me, and molding me, making me into a reflection of each of those words. I can hear Him whispering to me, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”(James 3:17). Each day as this world does it best to also speak to me, I hear the selfishness and envy in the world’s words. Calling me to put myself first at all cost, despite what that cost might bring to others. But as I hear His voice speak to me, I hear the calls of this world fading away, only leaving me to hear the pureness that His voice is calling me to. A pureness in His voice so peaceable and gentle, that it is slow to find confliction, but quick to lovingly show me ways to serve. A reason in His voice that leads me to see that my way is not always right, and helps me to see His wisdom being expressed in the words of someone else. A mercy and goodness in His voice that always brings me back to His ways, leading me to a sincerity that calls me to also lead others to His voice.
With each conversation I have with Him, I grow to appreciate each word of His Word a little more. With each word I read, with each prayer I share, I find myself walking step in step with Him. And soon I have come to realize, I cannot walk with Christ, without finding myself in a conversation with Christ. Each word He speaks to me comes to life, proclaiming louder and louder His love, wisdom, mercy, grace, and truth with each step. Drawing me closer into His arms with each word. I soon find myself realizing, there is no One I had rather talk to, no One I had rather spend time with. No One I would rather have a conversation with. And each day, I found myself living more and more for the moments when I can share a conversation with my Lord.
Praying you find time to talk to Him today.