Do I Want to Hear God Speak?

The question that faces each Christian: Do I really want to hear God’s voice and why do I want to hear Him?

As I examine my own heart, especially with my life-long propensity to perform for approval and recognition, how much of wanting to listen to God is ego-centric? Will I be seen as a strong Christian? Will I be recognized and approved of by man if I have a “direct line” to the Father? Will that encourage people to look to me for God’s answers?

My prayer is, “God, if there is a smidgen of this fleshly manure fluff on a subconscious level, purge me. I don’t want that. Rather, I desire intimacy with you because I know that you are the Source for life – the abundant life.”

Motives are important in anything we do. I want my motive pure – hearing from God to apply 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

The Bible also says this about God's Word: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Do I want to hear God pointing out destructive attitudes or behavior to me? That is not a fun experience. It will lead to discomfort, initially. More freedom later as I cooperate with God in cleansing and purifying.

There are many benefits in listening to God. We’ll look at some of those in Monday’s post.

God's Whisper

From horizontal listening we switch to the vertical. Does God talk to us? Can we actually perceive God communicating with us?

After walking with God for 62 years, I’m beginning to realize that it is possible to hear Him with my soul. ”My sheep listen to my voice…and follow me.” God does not typically speak in an audible voice, but he most certainly is speaking with us. The voice of God whispers directly into our soul, guiding , counseling and comforting us. Are we listening, or are we too busy talking? God will not scream at us to pay attention, so if we are too preoccupied with our own thoughts, His gentle voice will be obscured.

Our prayer time will beneft if it consists of listening as well as speaking. We need to attentively seek for that quiet, gentle voice and eagerly let it guide us. In quiet prayer, we are to ask God to reveal his will and then listen patiently for His response. The more often we do this, the easier it will become. However, if we fail to do this, we will miss out on the advice and direction God is offering. Worse still, our relationship will suffer, just as a marriage suffers when one partner simply refuses to listen.

This deterioration of our fellowship with God is a precipitous, though often subtle fall. If we chronically fail to listen to what God is telling us, it will get increasingly more difficult to hear His loving solice and kind direction for our lives. The environmental clamor of our own desires may cause such a racket that we will no longer believe that God even speaks at all.

As a follower of the Lord, we listen to Him. His Word. His words. And the fruit that flows from listening is the growth and spiritual maturity that leads to godly action.

More tomorrow.

Listen verses Speak

The New Living Translation lists the word “listen” 584 times. The word “hear” is listed 1480 times. A grand total of 2064 references. Contrast this to the words “speak” and “talk: 590 times. The old adage rings true, “you have two ears and one tongue. Act accordingly.”

The question arises, “What is so important about listening?” Listening seems not to be a natural strength of most people. Our minds are busy. Noise distracts. Goals consume our thinking. We’d prefer talking over listening. We think ahead to what we’ll say rather than pay attention to whom we should be listening.

Before we enter the mystical realm of God/man communication, examine with me briefly the horizontal – one human listening to another .

Listening is not just hearing, it is actively participating in the conversation with your full concentration, willing to put your response on hold.. Listening is an ability and a skill that can be improved on; all it takes is desire and intentionality. Focus.

When we are listened to, something in our mental processing becomes stimulated. Ideas grow. Creative thinking expands. We think more appropriately positive about ourselves. When I listen, people enjoy being with me because most like to talk, especially about themselves. Others do their thinking out loud and formulate ideas verbally. In listening I “co-create” with them. I learn about them to build relationship. I learn from them – their mistakes not to repeat, their victories to emulate.

As we listen to our friends, our spouse, to our parents, our children, to those we love and to those we prefer not being around, we benefit. An atmosphere of respect, trust and honor is created. In that environment, affirmation, understanding, appreciation and validation is fostered. When we are truly being listened to, our self esteem ratchets up a good notch or two.

When we demonstrate effort and commitment in our relationships, they flourish. When neglected or abandoned, they suffer and decline. Listening plays a significant role in building a relational connection. The relationship between a husband and wife is as good as their ability to listen. Leadership in the church is as good as the ability to listen.

The words that we hear are not as important as the care and effort put into them; the effect of listening is that the words are not all of the meaning of the message. The primary focus in communication is the hearer and receiver of the communication and how he receives the message. That means the care demonstrated in listening is usually more important than hearing the words. How we listen shows where our interests are and how important that person is to us.

It has been said that the true listener is much more beloved than the talker, and he/she is more effective and learns more and does more good.

In tomorrow's post we begin looking at the topic "listening to God."

Are You Listening?

I've been endeavoring to write "my" book on "listening" for myself, doubting it would ever be published. But I'm finding that to have a cohesive order, it's going to take a lot longer than I had planned. So some of the material in today's post may be repeat, in order to bring some continuity.


Listening has been one of my strengths. It is one of the blessings of stuttering. Can’t talk? Gotta listen! For a quarter of a century I made a living listening as a private practice counselor. I’m attentive to people. But I’m finding as I endeavor to “practice the presence of God” as Brother Lawrence described in the 1600’s, I’m having difficulty listening to God.

Oh, I hear Him through consistent Bible study/memorizing. I take heed to what people I respect teach me about God and what He says. I pay attention to circumstances, especially adversity, because God often speaks the most loudly to me in that manner. But to hear His voice? Not so sharp.

Hear His voice? Burwick, you must be kidding. You’ve counseled with people who hear voices - who think that God told them to do some outlandish behavior. They end up in the psych ward on mind-altering medication.

One precious middle aged woman, one who was in church every time the doors were open, thought she was the virgin Mary and heard her son Jesus tell her He was coming back to earth shortly so she should give away all of her possessions. Which she began to do until her husband hospitalized her.

Hear God’s voice? That could be tricky business. Is the voice I hear from God? Is it my own thinking? Is it a voice from the evil one masquerading as God’s tone? Is it like the “virgin mary” – voices to a confused mind? Can He actually whisper words to the listening ears of my soul? Is His voice audible or just nudges or impressions? Except for the motivation to an ever deepening intimacy with God, I don’t know if I would want to go there.

Then I was confronted with John 10:27 Jesus saying, “My sheep listen to my voice and they follow.” Jesus speaks. I’m to listen. Then I’m to obey. But I’m having a dickens of a time trying to hear His voice. I thought I was a good listener. The failure to hear God is what prompted the study of the word “listen” and the subsequent writing of this material.

Tomorrow: horizontal listening.

Discipline: Connection with God

“Don’t copy the the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what He wants you to do and you’ll know how good, pleasing and perfect His will really is.” Romans 12:2 NLT

One of the blessings of being a christian, walking with God, is the hope we have of not being stuck in an arena of dysfunction. I don’t need to continue life as a controlling person which pushes people away from me. I don’t need to harbor resentments that poison my mind and body, besides driving a wedge between another and me. I don’t need to be jealous of another’s success. Wallowing in self pity and languishing in an unhealthy self esteem need not have the effect of a permanent marker. God is in the transforming business. He does the perfecting as I do the connecting.

How are you doing connecting with God? The alarm system about which I have been speaking the last three posts is becoming an effective means of connection with God. First, it revealed to me a blockage in my connectivity with Him. “Don’t bother me, I’m busy,” was my initial reaction to the alarm going off every two hours. It was revealed that an obsession with finishing a project was hindering my fellowship, my sensitivity to listen to my Creator. Second, the alarm now triggers a joyous response of gratitude, followed by “is there anything you want me to hear from You now.”

It seems like discipline is my part in God’s transforming process. The discipline of responding to the alarm every two hours; of studying Scripture, of prayer, or Scriptural memorizing and meditation. The disciplines of worship, service to others, confession, fasting. These spiritual disciplines place us in a position to hear from God and respond to His message for us. We naturally take on the characteristics of the person we enjoy being with. This is our part in the transformation that is available to the follower of Christ.

The only concern about discipline in the christian’s life is legalism. Checking our activity off a “do list.” We don’t perform tasks to get God’s approval or to be a “better christian.” Our acts of discipline primarily place us in a position to receive God’s transforming power.

Listening, endeavoring to hear the quiet whisper of my Creator, is the discipline I’m focusing on now. At 69 years of age, I still need a significant amount of transformation. How about you? Have you tried the alarm system?

Alarm Connection

Maybe you easily connect with God in spontaneous ways throughout the day. I find myself thanking Him for a blessing; or, asking for help in some action or change of my attitude, rather consistenly all through the day.

But for me there was an intentionality missing. I’m intentional in my discipline of solitude early each morning but there seemed to be more for my communication with the Father all day long. This alarm system about which I have been speaking in the last posts is becoming very intriguing.

I’m finding that the alarm sounding every two hours is becoming an anticipated event that often begins with gratitude. And in the study I’m doing on Parkinson’s Disease, there seems to be a link between gratitude / joy to the production of dopamine in the brain. (The dissipation of dopamine is the chemical precursor for PD.) Thus it is possible that I’m not only enjoying more connection with God but could also be helping reduce the effects of PD. Interesting!

Nevertheless, the quest for developing a listening ear to hear God speak is moving forward. Are you experimenting with the alarm system?

The Alarm

The alarm system is becoming less “intrusive” and more anticipatory. Every two hours the cell phone alarm rings and in the hustle, bustle, noisey world, I’m reminded of God’s love and grace; how He wants to connect with me.

So, in just a few short days my attitude has changed from, “Don’t bother me, I’m busy,” to an acknowledgement of my love and gratitude to Him; or, the alarm triggers a thought to pray for somebody. At other times I have some space and can use that time to go over the passage of Scripture that I’m memorizing – currently Romas 12 (the most practical explanation of living out the Christ-life.) Usually I include the request to hear from Him.

I’m not aware of His speaking to me yet in that manner.
You might consider trekking this experimental journey with me in the quest of becoming a stronger listener.

Confession part two

Confession part two! If you read yesterday’s post, you saw my plan to connect with God on the hour every two hours – time set on my cell phone alarm system. You saw my ungodly response to the alarm, “Don’t bother me. I’m busy.”

It’s been 24 hours since, with the same plan – different outcome. A more humble person heard the alarm yesterday. Upon the alarm’s signal, my response was “thank you for your grace, Father. What part do I play in the stifled communication with you throughout the day?”

See, I feel good about my communication with the Lord during my dicipline of solitude where I pray, read the Word, journal, etc. But it is the spontaneous time during the day that I need to fine tune my ear to hear His gentle whisper.

I believe the Lord answered my question with this response: “Ray, you’re a responsible person. When you start a project, you stick with it until it is finished. That’s a good quality. But Ray, you can become obsessive in finishing your project. Let’s work on being more flexable – more abstract random. Your concrete sequential is making you inflexable and rigid. Being more flexable will lead to a greater sensitivity to my speaking to you and will give you a more discerning spirit to see the needs of others.”

Consequently, I’m learning a good lesson about myself in this quest for developing the skill, the art of listening. Can you relate to this?

Confession time

Wow! Did I have a rude awakening this weekend. I don’t want consistent contact with God throughout the day as much as I thought I did. Let me tell you about it. May my confession encourage you in the arena of LISTENING to God.

It began last week when my son told me of a speaker at his church that challenged them to do a 60-60. Every awakening 60 minutes for 60 days, experiment with meeting with God on the hour. If need be, set a wrist watch alarm for an hourly ring. On the hour ask yourself, “Is this what Christ would want me to be doing?” Or, some other quick connection with the Father.

I don’t have a watch with an alarm, so I tried the experiment without alarm. Zip. Nada. Nothing. Day after day, I forgot – even during this time that I’m studying “LISTEN, especially to God. So I confessed my failure to my son and launched on a new plan.

My cell phone has capacity to set the alarm six times throughout the day. I did. For every two hours. The result? The alarm would sound and my shocking response was, “Don’t bother me. I’m busy.” Can you imagine my chagrin, my sorrow, at having such a selfcentered reaction.
I thought I was desirious of a simultaneity with God (Thomas Kelly’s word for a constant growing awareness of God’s presence.) Here I was, too busy (in retirement even) to acknowledge God’s presence every two hours!

My prayer became and is, “Father, thank you for your grace, mercy and love that accepts me just like I am. I’m sorry for the ‘don’t bother me’ attitude. That seems so foreign to my conscious mind. What is going on? What is being revealed? Selfcenteredness? Self-sufficiency? Inflexable obsession with the present? I want to LISTEN to you – yes, even on the hour every two hours. When the alarm sounds, my prayer will be ‘teach me Father. What is my blockage?’”

I’ll hopefully be able to relate to you in tomorrow’s post what I learn today. Would you join me in some version of 60-60? If so, let me know at rburwick@mindspring.com. Let’s experiment together.

God Listening Wrap-up

We’ll wrap up today the topic of God listening to us. We’ve looked at many conditions in the past few posts. The last one:
ASK IN CHRIST’S NAME TO GLORIFY GOD
John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Ron Dunn in his book, Don’t Just stand There, Pray Something, teaches us that “every petition to God is formed in the context of three provisions: The will of God, the name of Jesus, the Glory of God. Nothing done in the name of Jesus would be contrary to God’s will or inconsistent with His glory. So it is correct to say that I can pray in the name of Jesus only when what I ask for is according to His will, and when that answer will bring glory to God. When my motive for asking is the same as His for answering, I’m on praying ground.” Dunn adds, “God takes the route that brings Him the most glory. On its way to better, it may drop by worse.”

My former pastor, Mark Goodwin, powerfully clarifies asking of God. “We must avoid two extremes: demanding God to give us what we ask and on the other hand, failing to ask God boldly for what we desire. Just as a child is not afraid to ask for anything, we too must carry our requests boldly to God. But we must trust his character, his heart and his integrity. Our Father truly knows best. Think about it. Paul asked boldly to be released from prison so that he could preach the gospel. God did not answer his prayer. Instead he gave Paul the desire of his heart – preaching the gospel – in a way Paul could have never fathomed. He had him write it in the form of letters so that MILLIONS would hear the message for generation after generation. Paul died not fully understanding why God had not rescued him but he died with great confidence in God’s character and wisdom.”

I request of God at this point of my life, the good gift of healing from Parkinson’s Disease. He is currently saying “no.” I trust that His plan for me to have PD is a greater gift and it will accomplish His purpose for my life and bring Him more glory then if He healed me. I can accept that and rejoice (98% of the time) because my “ask, believe, receive” is directed to God’s loving care to give me His best gift.

As I close out the topic of “God Listening,” may I summarize with this final conclusion: “Ask, believe, receive” is directed to God’s loving care to give me the best gifts, NOT belief in His giving me specifically what I am asking of Him. What I am asking may not be God’s paramount plan for the moment. As I’m walking in intimacy with God as described in John 15, I know more clearly how to pray and with right motive. Thus, I request of Him, persistently, expecting to be answered according to His will, realizing that He knows what is most excellent regarding that particular petition. An added benefit of my persistent prayer is the effects of being in His presence, molded in His likeness. “…how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans.15:13

Have a great weekend. Back on Monday with our challenge to listen.

God, Are You Listening

Was God listening to me when I prayed for healing of my stuttering and I wasn’t healed? Some might accuse me for harboring sin in my life and that blocked the healing. Others have told me I just didn’t have enough faith. My interpretation, as mentioned in the last post: God gave me the best gift of stuttering rather than the good gift of fluent speech.

I look at my Parkinson’s disease in the same manner. Is the gift of Parkinson’s a better gift at this time then healing? As I’ve asked of God for wisdom regarding this. It seems that He is telling me to accept the "valley venture" and see the value of what I'm experiencing.

1. As I keep a positive attitude, I can have a positive influence on others to trust God in their challenging circumstances. (You may not have PD but all of us have some kind of adversity.) This positive attitude is not based on the “power of positive thinking” but on God’s promise in Romans 8:28: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
PD, though humiliating and debilitating, is being worked by God for my good and the good of others.

2. It deepens dependency on God for that John 15 intimate connection (branch and vine). "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

3. My pace has slowed dramatically because of PD, which made taking care of my 92-year-old parents more acceptable, (who lived with us for a time.)

4. PD shaking often signals a stress focus: not at peace, a tension, an inadequacy, a self focus.

5. PD is definitely a humbling agent. I shake. I walk funny. I’m very slow moving. Memory is fading. I lose my balance. My wife is physically stronger than me.
James 4:6 … Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
And Proverbs 22: 4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. And Micah 6: And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The dictionary defines humility as “to show awareness of one’s short comings…deeply respectful.” Through awareness of weakness, one turns to God more quickly.
“…My (Christ’s) grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
A teachable attitude is one by-product of humility. One never stops learning and growing who possesses a teachable attitude.

6. In a moment of contemplative prayer, God spoke, saying to me: “I am breaking and purging the idolatry of performance orientation for approval.” Since boyhood I have compensated for feelings of inferiority by performing – being the best I could be at music and sports especially, and later in my coaching and counseling professions. Nothing is wrong with desiring success, for wanting to do well. In fact Colossians 3:23 states, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
I thought I was working for the Lord; however, it has become apparent that my motivation was contaminated with, “Hey, world, notice me. Tell me I’m okay. Approve of me.” The idolatry of performance orientation for approval is not only stressful on the body and mind, but it also negates the “working for the Lord.” I inadvertently wanted glory for myself. Isaiah 48:11 God says, I will not yield my glory to another.

7. The James 1:2-4 character building is in process.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
As I accept PD with a joyful spirit, character qualities mature.

8. PD has aided my desire to have a more in-depth prayer life.
Many Christian leaders say that the most important thing a Believer can do is to pray.

9. It is a testing of my faith. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

10. PD makes me hyper-sensitive to what is going on within me – greater awareness of destructive thoughts, attitudes, emotions, a lack of trust in God. I’m more quickly motivated to resolve the negative happening within.

11. The PD stripping of strength and energy makes my need for intimacy with God more consistent and significant. Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Mrs. Charles Cowman addresses the significance of exchanging our weakness with His strength in “Thankful for the Thorns” from Streams in the Desert.
"The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here It is: Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength… for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite.
Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him.” --A. B. Simpson

“George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."

12. Without hope it is easy to become depressed and sick.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
I don’t have a certainty that God will respond to my petition to heal me. He may. He may not. When the PD symptoms worsen, I sometimes get discouraged. If I allow myself to maintain that attitude, I become depressed, which adds to the biological depression that is associated with PD. My only hope is found in Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Knowing God loves me and wants the best for me is my hope.

“The God of hope.” And because of that hope in Him, I can experience ALL joy and peace AS I TRUST IN HIM. The source of all joy and peace is the God of hope producing in me an overflowing hope, not only by my choosing that mind set, but BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

My prayer often sounds something like this: “Father, I’m discouraged. Even the mistake-ridden typing of this material with a lethargic left hand is frustrating. You’ve given me no indication that you will heal me. The progression of PD is sometimes overwhelming. Hopeless. However, I want to remind myself that as I place my trust in You, You are my hope. You desire to fill me with joy, peace and an overflowing hope, not by my power of positive thinking but by the power of Your Holy Spirit. In my own strength I am powerless (hopeless) to accomplish this. You are able, Father. Thank you and praise your glorious name.”

13. Then, there is heaven. Though I don’t have a death-wish, heaven is becoming more appealing. Colossians 3:1-2 states, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Paul reminds us in Philippians1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…
The tendency is to not think about heaven when all on earth is going well. When we do think of heaven our thoughts are often best summarized by John Eldredge in The Journey of Desire. “Nearly every Christian I have spoken with has some idea that eternity is an unending church service. We have settled on an image of the never-ending sing-along in the sky, one great hymn after another, forever and ever, amen. And our heart sinks. Forever and ever? That’s it? That’s the good news? And then we sigh and feel guilty that we are not more ‘spiritual.’ We lose heart, and we turn once more to the present to find what life we can.”

My objective: think about the glories of heaven, but focus on living with and for God now.

What is your adversity? Your challenge in living? Are you doing what you can to change the changeable and trusting God to use the unchangeable for your good, the good of others and for His glory? That attitude certainly removes a lot of intrinsic stress!

Conditions for Petitionary Prayer

Back to the study of “listening”, in particular: God listening to us. Instead of accepting all the promises of asking and receiving carte blanche – resulting in bitterness and cynicism when God doesn’t respond to our prayer of petition – we’re learning there are conditions to that kind of prayer. We’ve looked at a few. More today.

FOR FRUIT- BEARING
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

The context of this petitioning passage is fruit-bearing – productivity in conveying the truth of the Gospel. Winning folk to Christ. Building disciples. Encouraging Believers in their walk with God. A condition for God's ear is "contagious christiaity."

BELIEVE
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Taken out of the contextual totality of Scripture, this verse has formulated the doctrinal background for what is called the “Word of Faith” movement. (They are sometimes nicknamed the “name-it, claim-it” group.) The extreme view goes so far as to say, “If you desire a new Cadillac, name it. Believe you’ll receive it. You will obtain it if your faith is strong enough.”

The end result of this doctrine is potentially devastating, as demonstrated by a friend who was a member of a “Faith” church. His mother was dying of cancer. Everyone in the church was praying believing prayers for her healing. She died. My friend was criticized for not having enough faith, which caused the death of his mom. This harsh judgment was debilitating to him and also caused him to distrust God even for his own salvation

Belief that God is able to hear and respond to our petitions is a requirement.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Belief is important; however, there are many more considerations in making requests of God.

NEED FOR WISDOM
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

This verse follows three verses challenging the Christian to be joyful in tough times because of the potential for character growth.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing
of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish
its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

This passage seems to be saying that God wants us to ask Him for wisdom regarding the tough times. Not “Why me, Lord?” but, “What do you want me to learn? How do you want me to grow through this challenging time? What is the value of this valley venture?”

My PD continues to progress. I’ve been anointed with oil and prayed for. The 700 Club has prayed for my healing. I’ve tried various treatment methods. God has chosen not to heal me at this point.
Will He not touch me, following the pattern of prayer for my stuttering? I wanted to teach, coach, counsel and relate to people most effectively without that embarrassing speech pattern. God chose not to give me that good gift of fluent speech. As mentioned previously, I still stutter. But, He gave me something better – dynamic results of stuttering.
Ø If you can’t talk, you listen. I developed the skill of being an effective listener – a quality most helpful in my quarter century of private practice counseling.
Ø Stuttering was very painful emotionally. I understand emotional pain. I could relate quickly and deeply with my counseling clients. That empathy made me a stronger counselor.
Ø Stuttering created a deep dependence on God for even the basics of speaking. It helped deepen my fellowship with God.
Ø I’ve been commended for my courage in speaking, which inspired others with challenges to positively persist.
Ø Character building can be refined through pain. Stuttering provided a format for growth of character.

Recall that promise we looked at previously in Matthew 7:11
“…how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.”

God gave me the best gift of stuttering rather than the good gift of fluent speech. And I believe that 98% of the time! :-)

Why This Blog?

“I’ve read many of your blog writings the past months. I don’t understand something; why do so many people to whom you are speaking seem to be in such trouble? Your writing seems to assume many prolems among your readers, be it anger, fear, insecurity or any number of failures and shortcoings, especially in regard to one’s God experience.

If this is true, why aren’t Christians able to figure out by now, how to live normal, ordinary, meaningful calm lives? I don’t undersand all the insecurity, or the need for such constant self scrutiny, or maybe even self absorption…” And the writer of an interesting and challenging email this week spoke more to the subject.

My response to him was: My life passion is helping people become free from hang-ups and emotional baggage. I spent a quarter of a century doing that professionally. Consequently, my blog would normally have that flavor.

Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
King David said, “Search me O God – free me from unknown sins

There can be too much introspection – naval gazing – that is unhealthy. I find fewer people doing that than those who ignore and deny the inner man
Personal growth comes from seeing what needs growth and establishing a gameplan to precipitate that growth.

“Why aren’t Christians able to figure out…”. Because I find very few Christians who do more than go to church once or twice a week. Their discipline of solitude is woefully miniscule. Consequently there is very little integration and personalization of Biblical concepts and very little knowledge of the power of the Holy Spirit to initiate and sustain growth.

You are right. Some people get overboard with introspection and become the “big me.” Like everything in life, balance is key. I like the tripart perspective: look in – look up- look outward (serve others).

Much more could be said about these matters, suffice it to say that as we spend time in Scripture, knowing God and knowing ourselves and applying God’s Word to our lives, there is greater healing, greater freedom and greater purity in reaching out to serve others. To that end I’ll keep writing.

Prereqisites in Petitioning God - 2

The part we play in God listening to us:
BECOMING A CHILD OF GOD.

DEVELOPING INTIMACY WITH HIM.

MAINTAINING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
“If our hearts do not condemn us.” No unconfessed sin. No guilt. A clear conscience sets the stage for a greater confidence in approaching God. Confidence literally means “boldness or freedom in speaking.” Ask and receive BECAUSE of obedience and pleasing God. The next verse summarizes God’s commands:
“And this is the commandment, that we should believe
on the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another…

Believe, love and do what is pleasing to God. If we are following this guideline, it is more difficult to ask amiss, which leads us to the next prerequisite in petitioning God.

ASK WITH RIGHT MOTIVES
James 4:2-3 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Selfishness, sometimes so subtle, is the basis for many of our asking of God prayers. Hedonistic, pleasure oriented attitudes will not produce the blessing and hearing of our Father.
Care must be taken here. God may answer “yes” to a selfish prayer but the consequences may be disastrous. For example, God’s plan was for Israel to be guided by prophets. Israel wanted a king so that they could be like all the other nations.

Psalms 106:15 describes the results of Israel’s answered prayer. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
That’s why we couch our petitions with “if it is Your will.” Let’s examine that next.

ASK IN GOD’S WILL
1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask— we know that we have what we asked of him.

The epitome of asking according to God’s will is heard in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, struggling with all the angst of going to the cross, agonizingly prays, “Father, I’d prefer not going through this crucifixion” (the suffering of physical pain and death, the suffering of carrying the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders, plus the separation from God the Father), “nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done.”

A question to ask ourselves in petitioning prayer, “If I’m not sure of what God’s will is, do I have that yielded spirit of Christ, ‘If it is not your will Father, I accept that.’”

My prayer for healing of PD is couched in the phrase, “If healing me will bring the greatest glory to You, please heal me. If the results of PD will somehow bring You more glory, are ultimately for my good and the good of others – Your will be done.”

Are you catching a glimpse of the conditions in petitioning God? More in tomorrow's post.

A PREREQUISITE FOR ASKING OF GOD

We’re studying the topic “listening.” Currently looking at how God listens to us and what our requirements are – the first, being a child of God.

In a sense, all created humans are God’s children. However, the Scripture speaks of an intimate relationship – child with Father. John 1:12-13 describes this connection:
“Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not
of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

To become a child of God involves turning from self and receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life…born again. Born of God.

A request passage that links the asking of “your Father in heaven” to the recipient child is seen In Matthew 7:7-11:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Our Father in heaven yearns to give good gifts – the best gifts – to His children who ask of Him.

Prerequisite #2: Not Only A CHILD, But Developing INTIMACY WITH CHRIST
We’ve all experienced times of seemingly unanswered prayer; so is there an attitude of prayer, a position from which I pray, to more wisely make request of God? John describes a prerequisite in John 15:7 - Intimacy with Christ
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

My pastor, Kent Conrad, is profoundly convicting and inspiring when he shares the following perspective on petitioning God.

“I believe that a great context for working through questions about petitions is a John 15 relationship with the Father. When I am abiding or remaining in intimate relationship to Him, my perspective is changed. I find great delight in asking the Holy Spirit to usher me into the throne room of His Presence.

"When I am confused about what to pray, especially concerning unsaved loved ones, I ask to hear the intercession of Jesus for that individual. It is amazing how many times as I quietly abide in His Presence, I will have thoughts about the situation that have never before occurred to me.

"We have to be careful with this but I have found that the Lord delights in my interest in His intercession. I am convinced that He knows where the leverage points are in the heart of each of us. Through His prevenient grace He actively is at work in the hearts of those that we love.

"When I begin to see how He is working it brings great relief and excitement to my troubled heart. I then feel the privilege of praying for what I believe He is interceding for. The partnership that I feel with the Lord is very rewarding.

“Intimacy with the Lord is such a blessed privilege. I get so frustrated with my pettiness in not pursuing it all the time. When I am uptight and distracted I have a great possibility even probability of praying for the wrong thing with the wrong attitude. When I allow the Holy Spirit to quiet my mind and heart, when I humbly ask to be in His Presence everything begins to change.”

My prayer response to Kent’s challenge, “God, my mind constantly wanders during this kind of contemplative prayer. Speed the day that my intimacy with you can be as authentic and focused as Kent describes.

Petitioning God 2

My daughter Gretchen's picture of a Florida sunset.
Oswald Chambers had an interesting perspective on prayer in My Utmost For His Highest. "Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" ( Matthew 6:8 ). Then why should we ask? The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray, but it does not always come in the way we expect, and our spiritual irritation shows our refusal to identify ourselves truly with our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove that God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s grace."

God listens to His children, wants our communication, but doesn’t always give us what we desire. What else does God say about asking of Him?
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Present your requests … Notice the graphic contrast here. To fret, worry, fear, get uptight – to be anxious is natural but not necessary. The peace of God guards heart and mind – that is what is available. The Lord’s best plan is for His children to enjoy the peace of trustingly presenting requests (that which could result in anxiety) and leaving the results up to Him.

Peace of mind comes not from getting desired outcomes, but from trustingly making our requests known to God.

Every time we trustingly present a request, we are reminded that He is our Abba PaPa, wanting the best for His children. My peace of mind doesn’t come from God healing me of Parkinson’s. It comes from the knowledge that as I make my request known to God, He is in charge of providing the best results for me. (This, however, doesn’t negate my responsibility of taking medication, exercising, reducing stress and eating right.)



Again, Peace of mind comes not from getting desired outcomes, but from trustingly making our requests known to God, knowing that He is listening and that He is in charge of providing the best results for me. PRAISE THE LORD!



Tomorrow: a prerequisite for petitioning God. My comment link isn't working. So if you have a comment to the posts, you can use my email address: rburwick@mindspring.com.

Persistent Communication with God

We’re talking “listening.” Is, does, God listen to our petitions? Sometimes it seems not. Consequently we can become passive and lethargic in our communication with Him. Christ taught regarding persistent prayer in Luke 18 – the story of the determined widow who received because of her relentless requesting of the judge. Jesus is challenging us to be persistent with our requests.

My prayer partner, Dan Eichenberger, points out hidden values of unrelenting prayer. “Persistence is a powerful force that does several things I had not intended when I first engaged in persistent prayer. I desire answers and results. God desires my presence with Him. Persistence keeps me in God's presence; a place where I can be molded and changed into His likeness. It becomes a tool God uses to change me. Persistent prayer reaffirms my dependence on God, acknowledges His existence and sovereignty over life and deepens my intimacy with Him.”

I’m reminded of Andrew Murray’s comment: “I must believe in His infinite love, which really longs to have communion with me every moment and to keep me in the enjoyment of His fellowship.” Psalms 16:11 is the basis for this view. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Much is written on the many aspects of prayer. Let’s explore more of petitionary prayer – asking of God - and learn together what God says about making our requests known to Him.

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT ASKING OF HIM
Jeremiah.33:3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

God is speaking to an individual, Jeremiah, imploring him to call on God so that he could effectively prophesy to the Israelites. Some would interpret this to mean the asking injunction was designed only for Jeremiah. However, much is heard of God giving special wisdom to seekers today which is corroborated in the New Testament, James 1:5,
“If you lack wisdom, ask of God, who gives liberally…”

As a young college basketball coach, I needed God’s wisdom on how to pray regarding my stuttering. I stuttered profusely, even throwing my jaw out of sinc trying to get a word out.
In a basketball game, each team has five one-minute time-outs allotted. I would sometimes get stuck on a word during a time-out. Consequently, not much strategy could be imparted in that short time frame. (Stutterers don’t stutter when they sing. One time I was stuck on a word during a time-out and one of the players, grinningly proclaimed, “Sing it, Coach.” His teammates broke up with laughter. The ice was broken. Fluency returned.)

My Pentecostal friends would tell me, “Ray, God’s not healing you because you don’t have enough faith. God wants to heal you if you’ll only believe.” Non-Pentecostal friends would say, “Ray, your positive attitude regarding stuttering is an inspiration to us. You challenge those of us who are fluent to speak more for the Lord. I hope God doesn’t heal you.”
For healing. Not for healing A dilemma. How do I pray?

Desperation drove me to Cascade College’s prayer chapel one Saturday morning. My prayer was, “God, I’m not leaving this building until you give me wisdom on how to pray. I’d sure appreciate freedom of speech. Healing would be fantastic but your will be done. Teach me how to pray. Do I pray for healing or do I pray for the ability to accept my stuttering?”

After a time of reading Scripture, praying, and weeping, it seemed as though God spoke in a near audible voice, “My beloved. I’m not going to heal you of stuttering. I’m going to heal the causes of your stuttering.” And God has been “working” on the insecurities and other emotional issues underlying the malady the past 40 plus years.

God wants His children to call on Him for wisdom. He listens, though at times it feels like He doesn't. More tomorrow on God's listening to His children.

Does God Really Listen 3

A reader of yesterday’s post writes: “I know God cares but I am left wondering what prevents him from allowing a positive response to my request. AT the age of 14 I started to pray about the lady that some day would be the wife He wanted for me. I am now 71 and I still do not have the person of my request. She teased me into believing she loved me and wanted to be my wife but the lady I brought home from our honeymoon has never filled that relationship. Am I to believe that I ask amiss or that I am unworthy of such a gift or what?

MY short response to the writer is: ask her what happened? “Have I turned you off by some behavior or attitude; or, have you unfinished business with emotional baggage toward your daddy that is getting displaced on me?” Dear writer (you haven’t given me permission to use your name so I won’t use it here), I'd like to hear back from you after asking your wife that question.

Now for a much longer answer to the writer that will take a few posts.

Have you asked of God for a special miracle, maybe more than one time? Nothing happened. Like me, you maintained relationship with God but became somewhat cynical thinking, “God will do what He wants to do so why pray for a miracle?” Frustration and resignation have reigned supreme.

Ole Hallesby captures the essence of frustration with God in his book, "Prayer". He states, “We can endure a great many things with a calm mind if we can see the reason for, or the purpose of, our frustration (suffering.) It is that which we cannot understand and which therefore seems meaningless that irritates us and makes us rebellious more than anything else. For that reason no aspect of God becomes a stumbling block to us more easily than His inscrutability (mysteriousness).”

Consequently, our asking of God can produce great confusion when it seems He is not responding. Our petitioning prayers can either become laced with a passive, negative resignation – “God, here is my request but you’re going to do what you’re going to do anyway.” Or our attitude can be one of hope and expectancy in God’s ultimate sovereign, loving care though we at the time don't see the results we desire.

We’ll continue to explore the general topic of "listening," the specific topic "Does God listen to us," as we address persistent prayer in tomorrow's post.

Does God Really Listen 2

“God, would you heal me of Parkinson’s Disease (PD)? It is both so debilitating and humiliating. Are you listening to me?” This prayer began the initial probing of a host of Scriptures that basically promise, “Ask and you will receive…You have not because you ask not.”

Will I be healed of PD because I have asked of God? I’m not aware of any sin blocking that prayer. Will God listen and grant my request?

You may or may not have PD, but everyone faces some challenges during their lifetime. It may be another disease, or relationship turbulence, or the heartache of a loved one who has gone astray. Diverse are the troublesome situations that make us wonder if we are just stuck in circumstances (manure happens), or are we living beneath our privileges as portrayed in the Bible? Is there a higher plane, not trouble free but more God-power packed?

Blind eyes made to see. Crippled throw away crutches. Even dead raised to life. These are not just ancient Jerusalem News Tribune reports. Such phenomena is currently reported by the editors of Campus Crusade for Christ’s Jesus Film publicity. Are miracles just for “Third World” countries exposed to the Jesus Film? Are Jesus’ words, “Ask anything in my name and the Father will do it for you,” a carte blanche promise to all who are believers in and followers of Jesus Christ? Is God really listening? Are we living beneath our privileges?

A smidgen of angst exudes as I recall many past experiences of asking-believing-receiving – not. It didn’t happen. So, obviously there was something wrong with me. Self blame. Guilt. Guilt would turn into frustration. Frustration to cynicism. “God, don’t you really care? Why don’t you keep your word? Or, is it me? Where am I at fault? Am I asking wrong? Why pray?” Not a pleasant experience.

Explore this with me tomorrow.

Does God REALLY Listen

Communication with our Abba Father. The vertical conversation is stifled if we are packing some known sin in our lives and not being repentant. Yesterday’s post used Old Testament verses to support this thought.

The New Testament would verify with the significance of a clear conscience. First John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

Two chapters later, John reminds us of the importance of realizing that God listens to us when we make requests to Him in line with His will.
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

This has been a real source of consternation for me and for many others. I’ve asked God for certain things that would seem to be in His will. I’ve petitioned with a clear conscience. And ZIP. NYET! NADA! It made me wonder if God really listens to me. Or, was there sin in my life tht I didn’t realize? I became quite cynical and angry at God for seemingly setting me up for high expectations and then pulling the rug out from under me. Have you ever felt that way?

Let’s discuss this in our next post.