We Need To Talk

The night was long and restless. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind would not shut down. Thoughts of tasks and issues I would face tomorrow kept racing through my mind. Fears and worries began to creep in. I tried to block them out by thinking of good things, but within a few minutes they were back. How fruitless all of this worry and fear is, I kept thinking. I'm accomplishing absolutely nothing. Finally I fell asleep.

Tired and weary I arise from my bed, glad that the night is over. Revitalized by a hot shower, the smell of coffee brewing, and toast popping, gives me hope of a new day. As I turn to flip on the television to catch up on the latest news, I sense a presence in the room. Curiously it is the same presence I have felt before, but managed to ignore. I turn quickly toward the source, but it is only the Bible lying on the table that attracts my gaze. As I continue to stare at it I seem to hear a small voice say "We Need To Talk". For a split second in my minds eye I can almost see Jesus Christ sitting there on the table. I rub my eyes and look again, but it is only the Bible. I try to move my gaze away from it, but again I can hear that small voice say, "We Need To Talk".

The fact that I was running late and I haven't eaten breakfast yet, snaps my mind back to reality, and causes me to re-focus my attention on the tasks at hand. As I rush toward the door, my breakfast half eaten, and my thoughts focused on work, I pass by the Bible still lying on the table. I give it one last glance only to hear again that same small voice, "We Need To Talk".

As I pull into my driveway, the work day behind me, I feel tired and stressed. I wonder what if anything I have actually accomplished this day. Has my life made any difference to anyone else. I keep wondering if this is all that life is about. Where do I fit into the "big picture", and does God have a plan for me? Entering the house, I can't help but notice the Bible still lying on the table, unopened. Again I hear that same voice coming from somewhere inside me......."We Need To Talk". Somehow I find it much easier to grab the remote and turn on the TV, than to open the Bible. As I scan from channel to channel, I'm no longer aware of that voice inside me. My attention is now focused on worldly things. Disasters, murders, acts of violence, and threats of terrorist acts fill my mind. Before I realize it I have filled my evening with watching TV, and doing other various tasks only to realize it is time to go to bed and start the process all over again. I know I should spend some time in the Bible, but I'm just to tired. I promise myself, I'll give God some time tomorrow.

What you have just read is a fictitious story.......... Or Is It! The obvious absence of spiritual power in the lives of most Christians, speaks to the fact that this may not be so "far fetched"! Maybe we are caught up in a cycle of worldly activities that have 'stolen' our time with God, and in the end leave us wondering, "Where do I fit-in, and does God really have a plan for me?

I'm Doing the Best I Can?

You may be thinking, "Ok, so I don't make time to read the Bible, but I go to church every Sunday, and listen to the pastor's message". "Why I even attend a bible study each week". Well that is like going to work two days a week, and expecting to get paid for five days. It doesn't work that way in the world, and it definitely doesn't work that way in the Kingdom of God. I know in my own life when I was feeling guilty about not making time for God, I would use the excuse, "I'm doing the best that I can"! But what I was really saying was "I'm doing the best that I want to do"! There is a big difference between the two. We know that we couldn't get away with that in the world, but as Christians we try it with God. Our only saving grace is because of God's love and long suffering toward us, we know that God will not 'fire us'. Otherwise many of us would have been 'out of work' a long time ago. We know that in our worldly jobs, we get out of it what we put in. The same is true in the Kingdom of God.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. Mark 4:23-25

This scripture is telling us that the amount of time we spend seeking God through his Word is directly related to the spiritual knowledge and blessings we will receive in return. It is one thing to pray and talk to God. It is something entirely different when God begins to talk to you through his Word. Yes God is saying to all of us "We need to talk". God has something very specific that he wants to say to you. It may not be the same thing he will say to me. There is no shortcut to this process. The only way you will ever know God's plan for your life is to spend the time in his Word, and allow him to speak to you. So doing the best that you want to do is not good enough. You will have to get up off the other side of your tummy and go to the Word!. If you do you will find God's love, faith and his will and plan for your life.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1,2

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Look Who's Talking!

It is true that the primary way that God will speak to you is through his Word. But there is another side to God's communication with his children that is not being taught by most churches. The story you read at the beginning of this article is more relevant than you think. Have you ever wondered where those thoughts are coming from? When you are being prompted to read the Bible or pray instead of doing some other worldly thing. Do you really believe that by nature you would willingly go to the Bible instead of doing your favorite pastime, whatever that is? Do you think that the devil is prompting you to go to God's Word? The answer to both of those questions would have to be, no! So then where are these thoughts coming from?

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Hebrews 3:7,8

Yes, it is God speaking to you through his Holy Spirit that dwells in you! The good news is, if you still 'hear' the prompting of the Holy Spirit, then your heart is not hardened. God is trying to get your attention! If you know you should pick up the Bible instead of the remote, then do it! God has something to say to you. What has that TV ever done for you anyway, except give you bad news. Look at it this way. If you were watching TV and the phone rings. You would immediately answer the phone even if it means interrupting your TV watching. Need I say more? God is 'calling'. He is trying to get your attention. He is saying, "We need to talk". Give him the time!

Time To Go Into Training

Your flesh or your old nature really does not want anything to do with God or His Word. If your old nature had its way, it would stay as far away from God's Word as possible. It just doesn't know any better. That is why the Spirit of God that is in you, is constantly at war with your old nature, "your flesh".

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:17

The only way you will ever win that battle is to feed your new nature the Word of God. As you continue to do this, you will notice that you are more and more inclined to pick up the Bible instead of the remote. This process of training your old nature or your mind is referred to by the Bible as a renewing process.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

You know the way!

There is only one way to reach God. There is only one way to understand God's plan for you. There is and will continue to be only one way to experience the Joy and Peace of God in your life each and every day. That way is through God's Word. When you consider that Jesus Christ is the Word of God, then the next two scriptures will point the way!

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

We all need to hear from God. Go ahead, you know the way. He has much to say, and will answer your prayers.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. Psalms 91:15,16