God Still Speaks!
Are you listening?
Does God still speak to His people? The real question might be ... do you believe that He still speaks and do you take the time to listen?
More and more in my prayer time, I am taking some time to sit and listen. Recently, I heard a message that challenged me ... the speaker said that we go before the Lord and talk the entire time and then condescendingly we say, "Thank you, Lord ... I believe that I receive what I have prayed." then walk out of the room or continue talking without taking the time to hear what His answer might be. He wants to talk to us even more than we want to talk to Him but we run from His presence without listening. Why? Is it because we don't really expect for Him to answer us? Or could it be, that we are afraid to hear His answer because it might not be what we want to hear?
Recently, my daughter and I had to move due to the flooding of our basement apartment. The Lord had told me months ahead of time that the time was coming for us to move and that He was going to move us. Then cometh the flood ... our entire basement apartment under a foot of water. We had to move. Now, you may be thinking, "How terrible!" We are now displaced without a place to live. But God ... He had a plan beyond what we could see or fathom.
We temporarily moved in with our ministry leaders. We had the benefit of having our spiritual headship speak into our lives and pray with us about our circumstances. It is a beautiful thing when you are a part of a body that acts like the body of Christ is supposed to. Taking you in, stepping up to the challenge of supporting and helping you. Fasting and praying on your behalf.
My daughter and I asked God, where would you have us to be? The first place we went to visit was perfect in every way. We were overjoyed and had started decorating in our minds and then as we were walking around ... I heard the still small voice of the Lord say "No." As you can imagine, I was struggling within myself with whether or not I heard the voice of God. I mean why would He say no to such a wonderful place. As I am standing there quieting myself to hear, my daughter says, "Mommie, you know God said "No." right?" I said, "You heard that too?" God confirmed what I was hearing through my daughter. He then said, "I have something better for you ... just be patient."
Well, we continued to look ... place after place ... soft "No" after soft "No." Now, it has been a few weeks and despite myself I am becoming anxious. And I don't mind telling you feeling a little silly because I kept telling people God was saying no. At one point, I almost signed a contract when God said, "Before you do that read it carefully." It had a few unusual rules and regulations that were completely not the norm. I didn't sign it and went back to looking. I found another place that appeared to be perfect and then my little girl who hears God's voice clearly said "Mommie, God said "No." By this time, I am frustrated and I rebuke her because we haven't even been to see the place. That night, I am talking to our ministry leaders and my pastor says, "That's not the place." and his wife says, "There is danger there for you." Well, needless to say I repented to my daughter and cancelled the viewing.
In comes Promove, I decided to enlist the aid of a professional apartment locator service. Our rep was fantastic and found us several places to review. We went to the first place, and the answer was "No." We went to the second place and didn't hear anything .. so we toured and viewed. It was a definite "Yes." We were in awe of what God had for us ... and we praised Him that we waited. Our new home is like a resort on park land, surrounded by rolling hills and sitting above the Chattahoochee river. The complex has 7 pools with flowing waterfalls much to my daughter's delight. A new clubhouse with three levels opens in March. It will have an indoor basketball court, a social room with a fireplace, a movie theater, yoga, state of the art exercise equipment,and a indoor track for walking. They have a personal trainer on site that only charges $15.00 for a half hour session and they offer free sessions on the weekends. God showed Himself true to His word once again. The real kicker ... you would normally pay $1400 or more for an apartment in a place like that but we are only paying a little more than half that amount because they are renovating and we got a premium unconverted apartment. Our place overlooks the Chattahoochee with a sun room that faces the beauty of the trees, The leaves are turning and falling in this season and as the trees clear ... we will have a view of the river. And in the cool of the night, a fireplace to sit by as we sip our tea and worship God for the gift of our new home. Precious Lord, I give you praise!
I shouldn't be surprised ... He did say that He had something better if I would just be patient. He promised in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord plans not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future." He is not a man that He should lie. He also said, "I have good and perfect gifts for those who love me and are called according to His purpose."
It took a flood to move me to a better place ... Look at God!! Wonderful are your ways. Magnificent are your thoughts toward us. Thank God ... He does speak and if we listen we can be blessed with a gift from Him that is abundantly above anything that we can ever think or imagine. Lord, I worship you for you are my God and you love me with a love that overwhelms me.
Listen ... Can you hear Him? He has something that He wants to share with you ... Won't you listen?
