This week, my team had the opportunity to help out with Makarios’ teen spiritual discipleship, which provides a lesson/activity for high schoolers three days per week. My teammate Paula created a lesson to teach each of the three days (and she rocked it!). One of my favorite things about Paula’s lesson was her ending: listening prayer on who God says we are. After listening we were supposed to write down some things to share with the group and remember later.
When you work in ministry, it’s really easy to assume the role of a facilitator instead of a participant. It’s especially easy to check out when you have already heard the exact same lesson once or twice before, and think you already know the takeaway from the lesson. But God asked me to participate in Paula’s listening prayer during every class this week. Day to day, it seemed to me that not much had changed in my life and walk. Yet to my surprise, when I asked God what He thought of me, He gave me completely different things.
On Monday, God told me that I am allowed rest and promised rest. He told me that I am allowed to be imperfect, because His power is made perfect in weakness. God told me that I am held and protected by the Creator of the Universe.
On Wednesday, God told me that I am the apple of His eye. He told me that I am on His mind. He has the entire universe to think about, but He gives thought to me. He told me that I am resilient and strong, but it’s okay if I don’t feel that way.
On Thursday, God told me that I am a bearer of His joy and a light of hope. He told me that despite being doubtful and imperfect, I am called and used by Him.
When I was learning to listen to the Lord, and honestly recently, I thought that God didn’t speak to me. I didn’t think I was allowed to enter the throne room and speak with God. I thought that God’s words were few and far between- that He was silent more often than not. I didn’t know I could just ask Him questions: I thought I just had to wait until He said something to me. At our last debrief, I shared this with one of my friends. He came back to me and said that God told him, “I always want to speak to my people.”
God has every right to be silent. He’s the God of the universe. There may be some times that He doesn’t want to give me an answer. If I asked God, “when am I going to die?” there is a good chance He wouldn’t answer me. But when it’s to edify, remind us of Biblical truth, or create deeper intimacy, God does want to speak to us. Sometimes we just can’t hear him, and sometimes we aren’t listening at all.
“God doesn’t speak to people anymore- that was only in the Bible.”
“God doesn’t speak to me.”
“Hearing from God is only for crazy spiritual people.”
“I’m not worthy to speak to God.”
These are all demonic lies- straight from the enemy. I cannot emphasize that enough. The enemy wants to cut off your communication with the Father first. What is a close relationship without any communication? When we deny ourselves communication with God, it’s that much harder to combat lies, walk in wisdom and righteousness, and discern areas for evangelism and miracles. God, by nature, is a communicator. He has new things to say to us every day. Sometimes He will speak out of the blue, but other times He waits for us to initiate the conversation.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
Satan’s lies may seem loud but if we really listen God’s voice is louder! Thanks for this reminder! And thank you for sharing your heart! Love you sweet girl!