GOD’S HEALING WORD FOR TODAY

“Cause me to understand the way of Your precepts, that I may meditate on Your wonderful deeds. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.”  (Psalm 119:27,28 NIV)

The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in, our listening here and now.

The questions therefore are: How does God come to me as I listen to the Word? Where do I discern the healing hand of God touching me through the Word? How are my sadness, my grief, and my mourning being transformed at this very moment? Do I sense the fire of God’s love purifying my heart and giving me new life? These questions lead me to the sacrament of the Word, the sacred place of God’s real presence. 

-- Henri J. M. Nouwen in “With Burning Hearts”

#5813

OUR MOST EFFECTIVE PRAYERS

Jesus said, “From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who He is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.”  (John 14:13-14 MSG)

Healthy relationships are nourished by good communication, and good communication requires listening as well as talking. Relating to God is the same way -- it involves talking to Him in prayer, but it also requires listening to Him.

Our most effective prayers are those that we pray after having first listened to God. Our prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a knowledge of God’s person and based on His principles. Prayers that stake claim on God’s promises are full of promise, but prayers based on presumption profit nothing. Prayers that stipulate “Thy will be done” rise to heaven. Prayers that ask only “my will be done” fall flat. Prayers that embrace the diving purpose draw the petitioner into communion with God. Prayers that entertain only selfish interests draw little response from God…

Godly men and women guard their behavior and pray in keeping with what God has said. They can then claim God’s promises, pray with confidence, and anticipate the answers with uplifted hearts. 

-- Adapted from Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men”

#5722

KNOWING HOW TO PRAY

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  (Romans 8:26-27 NKJV)

Prayer is worship. Our praying should be full of adoration, affection, and fondness for God. It is one of the best ways in the world to love Him.

Prayer is petition. We can ask anything -- even the most difficult things -- and know that God hears us. George MacDonald said, “Anything big enough to occupy our minds is big enough to hang a prayer on.”

Prayer is asking for understanding. It is the means by which we comprehend what God is saying to us in His Word.

Prayer moves what we know from our heads to our hearts; it’s our hedge against hypocrisy, the way by which we ring true.

Prayer focuses us and unites our fragmented hearts. We have a thousand necessities. It’s impossible for us to simplify them and integrate them into one. We should pray with David, “Give me an undivided heart” (Psalm 86:11).

Prayer is all these things but it is more: it is the means by which we fit in. It is the way God aligns us with Him and enables us to collaborate with Him in complete union and oneness. Seen in that way, prayer is more like listening than anything else -- being quiet in God’s presence, waiting on God until we know what to do. “If you pray the work,” Mother Teresa said, “you will know what to do.” 

-- David Roper in “A Beacon in the Darkness: Reflecting God’s Light in Today’s World”

#5704

ATTENDING TO THE SPIRIT

“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." (Acts 16:6-10 NIV)

Attentiveness to God’s Spirit requires deeply receptive, prayerful listening. Practicing the art of attending to the Spirit involves us in contemplative listening. Such listening is quite distinct from the various ways in which we generally listen to another….

It is holy listening, rooted in silence. It seeks emptiness in order to be filled with the Spirit. It is permeated by humility. Such listening assumes the Spirit is active among us. So it makes space for that movement. It is primarily receptive, patient, watchful, and waiting. Yet, it does not fear action when action is called for. Such listening is generously flexible, hospitable, and warm. It embraces the widest possible spectrum of life’s beauty and pain. It acknowledges the creation of all people in the image and likeness of God…. While in one sense a gift, such listening is generally cultivated over the years as we prayerfully attend to the Spirit in our own lives and as others listen to us in the same grace-filled way. 

-- Wendy M. Wright in “Companions in Christ: Participant’s Book,” Part 5

#5626

CHOOSE YOUR SIDE

“But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things [Jesus] did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.”  (Matthew 21:15 NIV)

After this episode, people could not ignore Jesus or be indifferent to Him. They had to take sides. Either Jesus was a subversive radical who must be restrained (death is an effective restraint), or He was someone to be listened to, believed, and followed.

Today, indifference is common because people are not listening to Jesus’ words. When Christians tell the real story, there is no middle ground. Either Jesus is God’s Son, the world’s Savior, or He is a befuddled, perhaps demented, imposter.

Today listen, believe, and follow -- while there’s time -- before Jesus comes to clean the area of false religion one last time. 

-- From the “Life Application Bible Commentary -- Mark”

#5555

DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”  (Psalm 37:7a NIV)

We are an industrious people. We always want to accomplish something. The idea of doing God’s will sounds exciting. Once in a while, someone says, “Don’t just stand there… do something.” Sometimes individuals or churches are so busy carrying out plans they think will help achieve God’s purposes that they don’t bother to find out what He actually wants. We often wear ourselves out and accomplish little for the kingdom of God.

I think God is crying out to us: “Don’t just do something. Stand there! Enter into a love relationship with Me. Get to know Me. Adjust your life to Me. Let Me love you and teach you about Myself as I work through you.” A time will come when action is required, but we must not short-circuit the relationship (Psalm 37:7). Your relationship with God must come first. Out of your walk with God, He accomplishes His plans for our world. 

-- Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude King in “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God”

#5508

THE MASTER’S VOICE

“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,… I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.”  (John 10:14,16)

The mark of a sheep is its ability to hear the Shepherd’s voice.

The mark of the disciple is his or her ability to hear the Master’s voice.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.”  (Revelation 3:20)

The world rams at your door; Jesus taps at your door. The voices scream for your allegiance; Jesus softly and tender requests it. The world promises flashy pleasure; Jesus promises a quiet dinner… with God.

Which voice do you hear?

Let me state something important. There is never a time during which Jesus is not speaking. Never. There is never a place in which Jesus is not present. Never. There is never a room so dark… a lounge so sensual… an office so sophisticated… that the ever-present, ever-pursuing, relentlessly tender Friend is not there, tapping gently on the doors of our hearts -- waiting to be invited in. 

-- Max Lucado in “In the Eye of the Storm: A Day in the Life of Jesus”

#5447

THE STILLNESS

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  (Psalm 46:10a NLT)

Once Mother Teresa was asked, "When you pray, what do you say to God?" She answered, "I don't say anything; I listen!"

Intrigued the inquirer asked, "When you pray, what does God say to you?" Mother Teresa's answer was, "He doesn't say anything.  He listens!"

It is in such listening that we hear the soft, still voice that, paradoxically, says nothing.  But the stillness in such times of prayer moves more powerfully than an earthquake, a hurricane, or a raging forest fire. 

-- Tony Campolo in “Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God” 

#5441

LISTENING TO THE MASTER

Joshua Bell is perhaps the world’s finest violinist.  His parents knew he was something special when he was only four years old and he stretched rubber bands to his dresser drawers and played classical tunes on them, adjusting their pitch by pulling the drawers in and out.

As an experiment in 2012, he played -- unannounced -- in a metro station in Washington DC.  The people who conducted this experiment were warned by experts that a crowd would certainly gather; they might need extra security.  Surely many people would flock to this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Joshua Bell brought his 1713 Stradivarius violin -- which cost millions of dollars -- and began to play the six most beautiful songs in his repertoire.  The world’s greatest violinist playing the world’s greatest music on the world’s greatest instrument.

But no one stopped.  A thousand people walked by.  You can see it on video.  Children would tug on their parents’ sleeves, but the adults were too preoccupied.  One woman alone recognized him and stopped to listen.  She gave him a bigger tip (twenty dollars) than the other thousand people put together.  They were in a hurry, hurrying past Joshua Bell because they had other things to do.

Jesus said, “To what can I compare this generation?... We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.” (Matthew 11:16-17)

The Master is still playing, but listening is optional.  Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. 

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want To Be: Becoming the Best Version of You” 

#5408

AN OPENING TO GOD

“Be still, and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10a)

For as long as I can remember, I have not feared silence but welcomed it as a source of spiritual deepening. Like other people living in the world, I’ve grown accustomed to the noise in my place of work, to the raucous sounds of the city, to the inner disquiet stirred up by busy thoughts and earnest projects. Silence can be an escape from the functional responsibilities and physical demands of listening and conversing with colleagues, friends, and family members. But it can also be an opening to God. 

-- Susan Annette Muto in “Pathways of Spiritual Living”

#5366

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, AND TRUST - Part 1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea… ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’”  (Psalm 46:1-2,10 NKJV)    

The Psalms are a tapestry of human emotions. The poetry of prayer weaves together anger, fear, joy, longing, despair, praise, and passion. This verse sums up God’s response to those prayers. Its truth is the thread of peace and comfort that runs through the entire book of Psalms, as well as the rest of the Bible -- and the life of every individual who walks with God. God’s answers to those who are emotionally troubled is brief and straightforward: stop and remember Who is on your side.  

-- From “100 Favorite Bible Verses”

#5219

A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE

Jesus said, “As for everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  (Luke 6:47-49 NIV)

No words ever written or spoken can compare with those of our Lord… Perhaps you’ve lost sight of this.

If you’ve been running low on faith, maybe it’s because you’ve been listening to the wrong people. With talk radio and television blaring 24/7, with a record number of magazines in prints, with thousands of publishers spitting out scores of books a year,… we live under a Niagara-like torrent of verbiage. But how many of those words are truly worthy of your time and attentions? How many are going to impact your life in any meaningful way? Not that many, I’m afraid.         

But one thing is sure: our Lord’s words are packed with power and, given the chance, will make a dramatic difference in your life.  

-- Mark Atteberry in “Free Refill: Coming Back for More of Jesus”

#5213

LISTENING TO THE SHEPHERD

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and My sheep follow Me.”  (John 10:27)

I believe God talks to us. Have I heard God speak to me in an audible voice? No.

Sometimes He speaks to me through Scripture. Sometimes He speaks to me through the words of a song, through reading or a sermon, through a quote of advice or admonition, through the honesty of a child, from a billboard or a bumper sticker, through a conversation with a family member or friend.

He always tells me things that are in line with His Holy Word. He does not always give me all the details. His information is always correct. When I follow His directions I will make no mistakes. He brings to pass everything He says.

I am amazed and humbled to realize that an awesome, omnipotent, sovereign God would want to communicate with me. But that’s one of the reasons He created us: He wants us to have fellowship with Him. People have tried to explain how to hear the voice of God. In my opinion, nobody has been able to describe it fully. I believe God’s sheep know the Shepherd’s voice by faith. 

-- Thelma Wells, quoted in “In This Quiet Place: Discovering the Pleasures of Prayer”

#4963

THE HEART’S GREATEST DESIRE

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”  (Psalm 37:4-5 ESV)

What kind of life does my heart want?  I find no easy answers to that question, but I know the answer means giving up the fantasy of always moving forward and allowing instead for seasons of dormancy.  And it is always time to listen.  Perhaps the heart's single greatest desire is to listen attentively to the voice of God … My heart wants the kind of life that leaves room for God… 

-- Elizabeth J. Canham in “Heart Whispers” 

#4934

PAUSE, WAIT, AND LISTEN

 “Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.”  (1 Kings 19:11-13a NKJV)

We must listen for God day by day. We must keep an ear open to our neighbor, an ear to our hearts, and a third ear to God.

Faith is a journey led by God. We pause, wait, and listen for the Guide who speaks more often than not in a still, small voice that requires careful, patient attention. 

-- J. Marshall Jenkins in “A Wakeful Faith” 

#4916

 

LISTEN FIRST

“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.”  (Proverbs 22:17-19 ESV)

Attentiveness to God's Word and will is the ground from which all fruitful service in God's name grows. The resoundingly clear priority of the spiritual life is to listen first; then to obey what we hear.

-- Rev. Marjorie Thompson in “Leading from the Center Newsletter” 

#4849

A RECEPTIVE ATTITUDE

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

This solitude of heart goes beyond the domain of the withdrawn monk, hermit, or recluse. It acknowledges the importance of carving out time and space in our busy life to be alone and silent, to wait with a receptive attitude upon God. 

-- Judith C. Lechman

#4848

A HEART-CONNECTION WITH GOD

"Be still, and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10a)

God will give us a fresh vision of Himself each day if we take time to be with Him, if we will approach Him with a quiet and expectant heart…

True life change is the result of extended periods spent sitting at our Lord’s feet, listening to His words, and seeking His face. “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always,” Israel’s poet said (Psalm 105:4). We cannot convince ourselves of His presence; we cannot make our hearts believe and make our eyes see. He must make His reinforcing presence real. “If you seek Him, He will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Something very significant happens through these established times of worship: we begin to gain a heart-connection with God. We come to love what He loves. We come to hate what He hates. We come to think what He thinks. We come to see what He sees. We begin to concern ourselves with His concerns.

-- David Roper in “A Beacon in the Darkness”


#4763

THE VOICE OF OUR GUIDE

“Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”  (Psalm 119:105 NLT)

My friend Danny went spelunking in the caves of Iowa.  The man guiding took him deep underground, then said he would lead Danny through a passageway into a spectacular chamber.  The passageway was small enough that Danny had to stoop at first.  Then as it grew still smaller, he had to get on his hands and knees.  Eventually the only way to go forward was to lay on his back and push his body forward with his feet.  Then the ceiling was so low that when he inhaled he could not move at all!  He had to stop, inhale, and exhale, and only then was his chest low enough to allow him to move.  By this point it was physically impossible to back out.  If the passageway had gotten any smaller they would have lain there and died in that cave.

Danny is a sky-diving, mountain-climbing, hang-gliding thrill-seeker, but there in that cave he felt sheer panic.  He was terrified.  He tried fighting his fear, but he kept picturing his dead body moldering in the cave.  Finally, he told his guide he was about to lose it, and the guide said, “Danny, close your eyes and listen to my voice.  I will keep talking, calmly, and guide you through this.  We will be okay.  I have been here before.  I will get you to the other side.  But you must listen to my voice.  It will not work for you to let your thoughts run wild.  Just focus on my voice.”

Danny did so.  What freed him from panic and fear was not trying hard to quit thinking fearful thoughts.  It was listening to another voice.

What voice do you listen to when you’re in the cave and it’s dark, when the ceiling is low and you can’t back out?  The Spirit longs to flow in our minds all the time.  One reason why people have found memorizing Scripture helpful is that it helps us listen to the voice of our guide when we are in the cave.  We set our minds on those thoughts that equip us for life.

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want To Be”


#4653

PRAYER IS A RELATIONSHIP

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”  (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

Prayer is not a one-way conversation where you simply recite everything you want God to do for you. It is a two-way fellowship and communication. You speak to God, and He speaks to you. Prayer also includes listening. In fact, what God says to you in prayer is far more important than what you say to Him. After all, God already knows what you’re going to tell Him, but He has amazing things to reveal that you don’t know.

Prayer is a relationship, not a religious activity. Through prayer, you adjust to God; God doesn’t adjust to you. He wants you to pray, but He doesn’t need you to. You, however, need to pray because of what God wants to do in your life during your prayer time.

When the Holy Spirit reveals a truth to you in prayer, He is present and actively working in your life. This kind of prayer is a divine encounter.

-- Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude King in “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God”


#4615