Category — Conversing with God

The term solitude is a bit misleading, for in solitude we do not seek to be totally alone, but alone with God. Solitude is one of the most intimate relational graces. We long for solitude because of the personal time we get to spend with the Lord in the absence of others and anything that distracts. Our desire for solitude with God flows from our love for and enjoyment of him.

From the preceding description of solitude we understand that to “be by oneself” does not constitute solitude. Instead, solitude is a deliberate retreat from others and distractions in order to spend time with God. Linda and I spend a lot of time with other people both socially and in ministry. But we both long for times of solitude with each other—when I’m there totally for her, and she for me. Our times of solitude with God are similar in that we want to be preoccupied with him and his presence with us without distraction. [Read more →]

Many of us have developed horribly flawed ideas about prayer. I know because I’ve been one such person! Some of us see prayer as though it were an elaborate incantation requiring a specific formula for it to work. Just a few weeks ago I heard a Christian man suggest that for God to hear us we must observe the right posture and say the right words.

Others of us have treated God like a genie in a lamp. We come to him in prayer, “rub the lamp” and expect him to perform for us. Still others view prayer as a contractual agreement and that if we meet certain conditions God must meet our demands. Such thoughts demean and belittle our holy, awesome, sovereign God! [Read more →]

We don’t typically view the study of the Word relationally, but more intellectually, scientifically, grammatically, culturally and historically. To be sure, all of those disciplines come to our aid in understanding the meaning of the text for the original reader and then for us. However, because the Bible is God’s Word—his communication to us—we cannot rightly approach the Bible apart from relationship with its Author. This viewpoint is not optional but foundational for studying God’s Word.

I would further add, that if we come to God’s Word with a purpose other than getting to know him better, we may be studying it for the wrong reasons. Even a life time of study will not unearth all the gems that God’s Word has to offer us. But those gems are not merely “nuggets of knowledge” but jewels of God’s character and works through which we can know, love and enjoy him better.

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Repentance is a core or basic relational grace that we need in order to reconcile a broken or neglected relationship. Whether we rebel openly against God, ignore him and go our own way, or continue to feed some sin—however small—our relationship with him will be damaged. The writer of Psalm 66:18 NLT declares, “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (NIV – “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”)

We must repent of sin in order to enjoy God. If we cherish some sin in our lives, we can only do so by pushing God out. No harmony exists between enjoying sin and enjoying God. If we enjoy sin, we become fearful of God—a fear associated with dread of judgment. We cannot dance with sin and enjoy God. [Read more →]

How do we follow Jesus? God wants to change us. His plan for us is to transform us—to make us more like him, more like Jesus in character. As we have seen, his Holy Spirit plays a central role in bringing about this life change as he lives in us and communicates with us. Living and walking and communicating in relationship with him is essentially what it means to be a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ.

So, how do we follow Jesus Christ? To answer that question let’s look at what Jesus told those who wanted to be his disciples. Jesus told his listeners:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 NLT) [Read more →]

What do we do with what God tells us? A couple of years ago a young man came to me in complete frustration and confusion about God’s leading in his life. Steve was totally convinced that God had told him to pursue a relationship with a certain young lady. (She is also a follower of Christ.) Steve’s frustration came when this young woman refused to enter into a romantic relationship with him. She simply had no such affections for him, nor felt God leading her the way Steve insisted God was leading him. This internal conflict went on for some months, during which I had several meetings with Steve.

Then one day, this young lady announced her engagement to another man and soon married. Steve was heart-broken over his loss, but even more difficult was his confusion and disappointment over God’s leading in his life. Did he or did he not hear God say, “Pursue this woman”? The outcome does not necessarily answer that question. And I could not tell Steve with certainty whether he had or had not heard God correctly or at all. [Read more →]

How do I recognize God’s voice? In 1 Samuel 3:1-14 we read the account of young Samuel’s first exposure to the voice of God. The Lord called to him and twice Samuel mistook God’s voice for that of Eli the priest. The text comments, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” (Vs. 7)
 
We hear many “voices” out there besides God’s. We often find ourselves lured by the voice of world—its philosophy, thought patterns and priorities. Others with whom we spend time influence us profoundly by their language, cajoling and opinions. The evil one rails on us by accusing, discouraging and casting doubt. Our own fleshly desires call to us to self-preoccupation, self-gratification and self-importance. Sometimes a foreign thought simply appears in our mind and we wonder, “Where did that come from?” [Read more →]

The Holy Spirit explains the Scriptures to us. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) The Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures to be read and understood. He delights in making himself known to us through his Word.

There are a variety of ways in which the Holy Spirit explains the Bible to us. Sometimes he gives us the ability to suddenly grasp the meaning of a passage, which had confused us before. Such an experience seems primarily cognitive in nature, but may have far reaching relational impact as well. I say that because we’re not merely seeking an intellectual thrill in understanding a new thing from the Bible. The Bible is very intellectually stimulating, but that’s a by-product not the goal. Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17) [Read more →]

The Holy Spirit transforms us.  On the face of it we may not think of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in us as relational and requiring communication. But if we reflect on what it is that Christ wants to change in us, we realize that the changes are predominantly character issues. God’s plan for us is to make us more like Christ in character. “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

The point is that these character issues (Christlikeness) have primarily to do with relationships—those with God and with others. Even a speedy review of key passages like Romans 12:3-15:7; Galatians 5:22-23 (the fruit of the Spirit); Ephesians 4:17-5:33; and Colossians 3:12-4:6 reveal that the nature of the transformation God wants to bring about in us is profoundly relational. As his children we are to imitate him (Ephesians 5:1). [Read more →]

The Holy Spirit enables us to think like Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Paul lays out an incredible truth for us. To paraphrase this passage, Paul says, “No other person knows my thoughts. In the same way, only God knows his thoughts. But since the Holy Spirit is God, he knows the thoughts of God. And God has given us his Spirit, so that we too can know God’s thoughts!” And then Paul summarizes with the bold statement, “We have the mind of Christ.” This truth is highly relational and highly communicative. This fact stands at the core of Paul’s assertion.

I think I speak for all followers of Christ when I say that we don’t always feel like we have the mind of Christ. We tend to judge the veracity of something based on our experience. When we don’t experience having the mind of Christ (or what we assume that is) we either argue that Paul must not have really meant that we have the mind of Christ. Or we conclude that we must have some deficiency that prevents us from knowing the mind of Christ. Either way, we assume we don’t really experience having the mind of Christ. [Read more →]