God's Voice + My Listening 💜 = Romance

 

On the heels of last week's blogpost, I ran across this quote (above) from Oswald Chambers. 

If you missed last week's post, you can read it here to catch the context.

Chambers wrote much, and often, about learning to live with an open ear to God's voice, and to respond in obedience to it.

Somehow in all the years I've used his devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest, I missed what follows the listening (you can sign up for the free daily devotional on this link).

The part that tells me when I get into this habit, "life will become a romance." 

So, I took some time to let this settle into my soul. 

Our family is in a season of romance with multiple engagements, weddings, and newly formed marriages.

It's absolutely lovely in every way.

(from last weekend's wedding)

When I think of "romance," my mind tends to drift toward the Hallmark movie definition that looks like: find the right person → fall in love → figure out the obstacles that must be overcome → fix your hopes and dreams on one another to fulfill your greatest desires for the happy-ever-after-forever-that-follows.

However, I'm fairly certain that's not Mr. Chambers' idea.

His definition falls more in line with the traditional one I found on Wikipedia:

Traditionally, romance is defined as a state of passionate attraction...a feeling of mystery and excitement. Historically, the word originates from medieval tales of chivalry, referring to stories of adventure and deep-seated love that are "remote from everyday life..."

That concept burns within me as it pertains to my relationship with Jesus.

I long to meet Him, like Moses, at burning bushes. 

Or, like the two men on the road to Emmaus, who, following their conversation with Jesus, found their hearts burning within them. 

(I definitely want the burning heart over a hard heart...)

I want the adventure that leads to deeper passion for my Lord. 

The mystery that comes with faithfully following after Him.

To always say, "This one thing I know - life with Jesus is NEVER DULL!" 

However, to have that, I must start with a wholehearted, HABITUAL, prayer: 

"Speak Lord, your servant is listening." 

So, as I often do, I'll be taking a "sabbath rest" from my typical weekly blog-spots simply to take my own advice, and listen for God's voice to me over the next few months...

The time I generally take to pour into these writings will go into personal listening, writing, and reflecting. 

So, as I did last year, I'll be taking the summer off...and, if I hear the Lord say to continue, will return to this space around September 10th. 

A special thanks to those who've faithfully followed. 

I pray you, too, find romance with Jesus.

What Would a Spiritual Oximeter Reveal About My Prayer Life?

I've been pondering two words this week that have shown up quite often in my Old Testament readings. 

"God said..."

To be fair, sometimes it's recorded, "The LORD said..."

But, "a rose by any other name" (right?).

I've read those two phrases so many times through the first half of the Scriptures, I checked to see how often (the word-nerd in me wanted, no needed, to know).

My ESV records 1645 times (and, of course that doesn't count when pronouns are used or other ways to address God).

My point:

God spoke then.

A LOT!

He speaks now.

And, He has not fallen silent.

It's usually a quiet whisper.

So, we need to listen carefully.

Ask any theologian

What is prayer?

And you’ll get the simple answer:

A conversation with the Almighty 

I know that answer, 

But do I HEAR those words?

Because,

what I act on most is the talking part...

(I like to do the talking),

Then forget that God has something to say back to me.

But, conversation implies

Back and forth

Communication. 

Me to Him

Then me stopping

Turning my ear

Opening my heart

Opening my hands

Receiving in return.

Throughout the Scriptures

God spoke in various ways:

Through ordinary men

Visiting angels

Anointed Prophets and priests 

Judges 

Visions

Dreams

Special circumstances

The Law

Miracles

But, in these days

He speaks through

His Son

The Word made flesh

The Logos

Full of grace and truth 

Jesus is the Word

God’s final Word 

And through His written Word, Jesus presses a timely Word into my heart. 

The eternal Word speaks personally.

(The Logos has a Rhema)...

Applicable to me.

Mine to hold.

To comfort.

Guide.

Sustain.

Hold onto when most needed.

How do I hear His Word?

Through the Word...

I'm learning just how important it is to pray with my Bible open.

Praying is more like breathing than speaking.

I breathe in God's Word

I breathe out in Prayer.

His truth fills my mind.

My prayers return to Him.

Probably that's why my prayers can seem a bit exhausting...

I'm doing all the exhaling.

Talking.

Asking.

Pleading.

Processing.

But, very little breathing in.

Very little listening.

Very little receiving.

I need more oxygen.

We are hard-wired to breathe.

In.

Out.

Receive.

Respond.

Listen.

Speak.

The same is true in prayer. 

So, if I feel like I'm running low on spiritual oxygen...

I open the Word.

Sit quietly before the Lord.

Listen.

Breathe deeply.

If there were such a thing as a spiritual oximeter, what would it reveal about me today?