A CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 15 July 2012

Hi all,

Today’s Scriptures are mainly about hearing the voice of God. Our meditation looks at this and an example is included in the “poetry” section. It was written in 1986, so is not exactly “hot off the press”. But it does show what I mean by hearing His voice.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 15 July 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	A CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD
“Did you hear what I said?” I suppose most of us have heard this from our parents at one time or another. “Don’t you understand English?” was another comment, particularly from my father. “Do you think I’m talking to myself?” Strangely enough, this is what my Mother said to me on many occasions. Talking about this with friends, I quickly learned that this was normal behaviour by parents to their children. Furthermore, I used the same expressions with my own children as they were growing up. As a grandfather it is not surprising to hear my children using the same words or their modern equivalent to their children. On reflection it seems we all have a tendency to be selective listeners. As children, when things are to our advantage we listen and react immediately. If Mom or Dad said something like, “anyone for ‘seconds’”, it was understood immediately. There was no problem with statements like, “Its pocket money time” or, “Who wants to go to the bioscope tonight”? Then there was no problem with my understanding. To be honest I suspect that if my parents had said the same words in Mandarin, Inuit or Hindi, they would have been instantly understood.. But if the words, “It’s your turn to wash the supper dishes tonight” were spoken, my hearing problem was as acute as it was instantaneous. Children have an almost supernatural ability to understand what is being said. But, only “favourably inclined” words are registered. It seems that God has much the same problem with His children. We seem to have this extraordinary ability to receive blessings gracefully and instantaneously. But when it comes to a rebuke for something we have done wrong, we immediately blame the devil. Some years ago there was a comedian who said, “the devil made me do it” every time he did something questionable! Shortly after committing my life to Jesus Christ, my selective hearing of His voice began to manifest in ways not thought possible earlier. I learned early on in my Christian walk that prayer was meant to be a dialog with God and not my monolog to the Almighty and He probably didn’t listen anyway. This view was exacerbated by the fact that I didn’t really expect Him to answer me. It was a number of years before it dawned on me that If I asked the Lord a question, He would answer me. Incidentally, there is a huge difference between questioning God and asking God questions. To question God implies that you are challenging Him. We stumble into this very often. We say something like, “Why are there so many sick people in hospital? If I was God, I would walk into the hospitals and heal everybody.” The implication is that you can do a better job running the universe than He does. Never do that. It’s challenging God and could lead you into a lot of trouble. But you can and may ask Him questions and it’s likely that He will answer. Today’s poem was written in that style in 1986. There is one difference here. Not only have I recorded my prayer to Him, I’ve written down what I believe His answer was. Was I on the right track? Well, my questions didn’t challenge God. They were merely statements of how I was and what was bothering me. The “answer” is what I believed God was saying to me at that time. I have found this method very fruitful. Have a look at the poem and see what you think. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			3 Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.' Job 34:3 NLT 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Put the spirits to the test to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 NIrV 24 Don't be nit-pickers; use your head--and heart!--to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right. John 7:24 MSG 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 1 Corinthians 10:15 NLT 16 Let Christ's word live in you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct each other wisely. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with thanks in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 NIrV 29 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2:29 GW 15 Spiritual people evaluate everything but are subject to no one's evaluation. 1 Corinthians 2:15 GW 24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Mark 4:24 TNIV 2 "I see what you've done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can't stomach evil; that you weed out apostolic pretenders. Revelation 2:2 MSG 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIV 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." John 10:3-5 TNIV	My Prayer:- Father God, please listen as I come to You and pray. Lord, I long to really mean each syllable I say. Grant me understanding, to follow after You, And always be obedient, Your sovereign will to do. Father it's appalling ........ my insincerity: In truth, I long to do the things which You require of me, But laziness and slackness and other forms of ease, Seem to overwhelm me and keep me from my knees. Father, I implore You. Hear my contrite prayer. Please Lord, come and guide me. Direct me anywhere, That You, Lord, in Your wisdom, desire me to go. But Lord, my supplication, is more of You to know. Jesus, be my Master. I long to crown You King; To worship and adore You and all my praises bring. I long to serve and bless You with all my earthly frame; To bow down low before You and magnify Your name. Jesus, You are precious; more valuable than gold; More beautiful than diamonds; Your worth cannot be told. For, if the entire universe were placed upon a scale, The value of what You are worth would make it all look pale. The Lord's reply:- "My son, don't be ambitious and chase after those things, That, only by My Spirit, a real achievement brings. No! Just relax and concentrate on doing what I say; Settle down to listening and wanting to obey. My child, please always realise that those things which I plan, Can only be accomplished by a simple, honest man. So, if it's complicated and bound up very tight, It's probable I haven’t been your partner in the fight! Often I would intervene and tell My people, 'Pause'. Don't gallop into battle, unless it's for My cause; Don't be so determined, that what you think is true; That everything that I have said, does not apply to you! It's only the dogmatic that can never ever change; Who stand like a fanatic and other men estrange, From wanting to be truthful and following My way, Living out a Christian life on each and every day. So exercise intelligence in all the things you do; By using as your standard, The Word I've given You. It's very, very simple no adult nor a child, Ever need to 'miss it' and by Satan, be beguiled. So, never act in ignorance and never act in haste, Or all the consequences by you must then be faced. Concentrate on listening and with My Spirit, flow, And you will never 'miss' My way, no matter where You go." Jim Strickland Written - 1986