this blog
This week I ponder the question, “does God hear us”?
This week’s flashback song is “Words” by Missing Persons
Do you
hear me
Do you
care
Do you
hear me
Do you
care
My lips
are moving and the sound’s coming out
The words
are audible, but I have my doubts
That you
realize what has been said
You look
at me as if you’re in a daze
It’s like
the feeling at the end of the page
When you
realize you don’t know what you just read
What are
words for when no one listens anymore
What are
words for when no one listens
What are
words for when no one listens it’s no use talkin’ at all
I might
as well go up and talk to a wall
‘cause
all the words are having no effect at all
It’s a
funny thing, am I all alone
Something
has to happen to change the direction
What
little filters through is giving you the wrong impression
It’s a sorry
state, I say to myself
What are
words for when no one listens anymore
What are
words for when no one listens
What are
words for when no one listens it’s no use talkin’ at all
Do you
hear me
Do you
care
Do you
hear me
Do you
care
Let me
get by
Over your
dead body
Hope to
see you soon
When will
I know
Doors
three feet wide with no locks open
Walking
always backwards in the faces of strangers
Time
could be my friend
But it’s
less than nowhere now
Less than
nowhere now
Less than
nowhere now
Now
Perspective One: a sole
seeking words from Jesus and not being able to hear a response. To be completely
honest, I think this is most believers on most days. We ask and ask, talk and pray
and often times we hear nothing.
I remember laying in bed one night, reading my bible looking
for a word to calm my troubled mind. I was so weak and, in such discomfort,
(during one of my chemo cycles), I just wanted a word to let me know it was all
going to be good. I said (out loud) “God
just give me a word.” I closed my eyes, flipped
open the bible and pointed to a scripture. I opened my eyes and read “Give
thanks to God”. That was my word from
God, give thanks. I will admit I was a
bit offended that in my pain, God was asking me to praise him. I let the word
sit in my head and then I melted it down to my heart and I gave thanks to God.
Sometimes we ask God for things, and we expect to see or
hear that exact thing from God. That is not how God works. He doesn’t and has
never done things on our terms, everything is done by his will and for his glory.
Perspective Two: God also is waiting to hear from us. In the
verse “I might as well go up and talk to a wall, ‘cause all the words are
having no effect at all, It’s a funny thing, am I all alone, Something has to
happen to change the direction, What little filters through is giving you the
wrong impression,” I can see God sending us messages to all day, every day. They are in
forms we may not recognize, songs, signs, license plates, a stranger walking
by, he will use anything. But we, as
humans are very thick in the head. We ignore things, we tunnel vison our lives
to focus only on what we deem to be important (phones, computers, tv, etc.). And if we are only getting our “daily God word”
from limited sources, or misleading sources, we may very well be getting a limited, bewildering impression of God.
If you listen to some preachers, you may believe you can go
outside scream out loud (pray) that you need a new car and expect one to be in
your garage. Yes, some spiritual leaders
have twisted the word of God to be like some sort of “Santa Clause”. When those people go through something
bad, they have nothing firm to hold on to.
After all, Santa does not bring disease, he brings gifts and happiness. Therefore they will eventually spend a lot of time angry and confused because they did not get what they thought they were promised.
So, WHAT ARE WORDS FOR IF NO ONE LISTENS?
Truthfully, I seek daily the word of God. Sometimes my exterior distractions prevent me
from receiving the true words. I have to read, read again, listen to it via
audio word, write about it, research it – all of that just to get the true word
of God.
God never said we will not suffer. He never said we would
not go through trials. He knows we have questions and that is why he gave us his word and his promises. He promises us, in his words and through the sacrifice
and resurrection of his son Jesus, that our troubles and pains will all end one
day when we are reunited with him in Heaven. And for some of you that may need to hear this - he tells us don't be vengeful, do not hate, for true justice and vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will right the wrongs of this world - ONE DAY!
If you don’t listen to the word of God, you can’t expect to
receive the blessings of God. The bible is not just an overwhelming large book
of names you can’t pronounce and words that you need a dictionary to
understand. The bible is God’s book of love and promise to us. Just so you understand how important God
believes his word is and how he sees it as a key to our lives, think about the following:
1. The ten commandments were given to Moses 3 times. That’s
right God so wanted us to know them he gave them to us 3 times. He orally gave
them to Moses and Moses shared them with his people. Then Moses goes up to the
holy mountain and God (THAT’S RIGHT GOD) cuts stone and carves out the commandments
on stone tablets and gives them to Moses to set inside the Arc of the Covenant.
Moses then drops and breaks them – and God at this point wants to basically
wipe away mankind. Moses begs for forgiveness and God has him carve out the
stone and etch in the commandments. So that is THREE times that God gives his
words to his people. So, he obviously wanted them written down and studied.
2. God’s words are not for God; they are for us. God loves
us so much that he willed man to write his words down for us to have for
generations.
3. Jesus read and studied the scrolls (word of God) and emphasized
how important the actual words of God were and are.
4. If you study the bible, you will come to understand that
most of the 12 disciples of Jesus were “most likely” not very literate (or I’ll
say they didn’t have much education to write). Most of the writers were scribes
or assistants (Luke to Paul, Mark to Peter, etc.). Now, educationally speaking,
Paul was a learned person, as he was studying to be a religious leader. Jesus
used Paul’s “gifts” to spread his WORDS!!!! I am positive that if we had a
complete history of those that were persecuting Jesus’ followers, we would find
MANY – yet Jesus used the one that had the ability to read, write and TEACH!
To sum up, yes God can hear you. God wants you to hear him.
Use your words to speak to him daily. Use your quiet time to hear him directly.
He wants a relationship with you. He wants to talk with you.
Next week, I’ll tackle the question “Does he See me?”
Check out a mission that is close to my heart that provides
critical spiritual guidance to women. I am so happy to be a part of this
ministry:
Vessels for God
https://www.vesselsforgod.com/
This week’s links:
Song – “Words” by Missing Persons 1982
https://genius.com/Missing-persons-words-lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IasCZL072fQ
Understanding the words of God
Have a blessed week everyone,
April
Food for the soul..... Thank you
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