DOES GOD REALLY TALK TO US?

Somebody once told me that God speaks in 4 ways. While I really don't know that we can put a limit on the number of ways that God speaks it is helpful to know that he does. My goal in writing is not to try and describe God or limit the ways he can speak but I do want to share ways that God has spoken into my life that might help you when trying to answer the question. "What does God want me to do?"

God speaks when we LOOK BACK - growing up my dad always told me, "God is preparing you" but he would never say what God was preparing me for. I now know that Dad was right. Many things that have happened in my life that have led to something happening later on and the only way to explain the connection between the two is the supernatural workings of God. Nothing in life is wasted with Hiim. Just like a wake in a lake or a jet stream in the sky can tell you where a boat or plane is heading, looking back at what God has done in the past can provide great insight as to where he might want you to head in the future. What has God been preparing you for?

God speaks when we LOOK UP - Looking up, figuratively means looking to God through his word. His word is our instruction manual for life. Since God created the world it would make sense that he knows how things work best in it and what I awesome gift that he has lovingly given us key principles to live by in his word. If a decision you are thinking about making goes against the Word of God, it's the wrong decision every time! The Bible is full of men and women who ran into trouble after abandoning God's instructions on how to live. Proverbs 3:7 says, "Do not be impressed by your own wisdom, fear the Lord and turn away from evil."

God speaks when we LOOK DOWN - Look at your feet, what do you see? The ground you are standing on right now, your current place in life or you could call it your circumstances, can be very helpful in making decisions. Dreaming big is a great thing but we can get ourselves into a bind quick if we don't have a firm grasp on the reality of our current situation. Sometimes decisions about the future will be made solely based on existing commitments and obligations and this is a good thing. Taking into account your circumstances and the ground you're standing on when saying yes or no to something is extremely wise.

God speaks when we LOOK AROUND - Look around you for people who know you well and who you respect and ask for their input. Decisions made when friends and family aren't supportive are more times than not bad decisions that we regret later. Proverbs 12:15, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but the wise man listens to advice." Although it is hard at times to ask and listen to the advice of others, God has put people in our lives who have made mistakes in the past so that we don't have to. Surround yourself with older men or women who are wise in the ways of living with the Lord and listen to them. Proverbs 13:20 says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm."

God speaks when we LOOK INWARD - Psalms 139 reminds us that God knit each of us together in a unique and special way so that no two people are alike. He gave to each of us a unique combination of talents, gifts, desires and dreams. When trying to make a tough decision it's helpful to remember these things and look into the heart for passions and desires that God has given you. Do you know the blueprint of your own heart?

I think Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up best by saying, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and to not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Trusting the Lord with big decisions is difficult because it might mean moving forward when we don't have all the answers or waiting to move until God tells us to. In my own life God often speaks in a combination of the ways I've just mentioned. If you're ever not sure what God wants you to be doing next, keep doing the thing he told you to do last.

Live in STYLE!

On Mondays in my Chemistry class, I always give a verse of the week. Recently, after encouraging my students to live life with their eyes fixed on the Lord, one young lady asked this very thought provoking question. "How do you know if you're living that way Mr. Benac?" Many possible answers popped into my head, things like read the bible, or spend time with God, but none that I felt encompassed what it really meant to walk with God. I admitted my inability to answer and asked if I could dedicate the next week's thought of the day to her topic, she gracefully agreed.

During that week, my mind reeled with possibilities as I tried hard to identify the behaviors that a person walking with the Lord must have. To answer her question, I decided to don a pair of old plaid pants (similar to those in the picture above), and talk about living in STYLE. Here's the gist of what I said:

S-Studying the word. Jesus said in Mt 4:4 that "man does not eat on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." In the Bible we have the very word of God, protected and passed down through the ages. The growing believer knows that the word of God is the bread of life and it essential to spiritual survival in the same way that food is required for physical survival.

1 Peter 2:2 says that we need to crave spiritual food like a baby craves for milk and some of us need to posses a stronger desire for His word. Others of us need to graduate from the sippy cup to big boy food as mentioned in Hebrews 5:11-14. The Lord does not desire that you remain a spiritual infant for your lifetime, but wants you to grow into a bright light and messenger for Him.

I rarely, if ever, miss a meal during the day, but I have often gone days or weeks without sitting down to get any sustenance from God's word. No wonder our spiritual condition can feel dead or dry sometimes.
What kind of spiritual food have you been eating lately?

T-Telling your story. In Acts 26:15-18, the Lord tells Paul to "be a witness to the things I have and will show you." Paul tells the story of his conversion and the Lord's work in his life several times throughout the book of Acts and we should be no different. The Lord has given each of us a unique, wonderful story, one where new chapters are written everyday, and he wants us to share that story other people. We, like Paul, need to be a minister and witness to the Lord's work. Are you being a good steward of the story you've been given to tell?

Y-Yoked with believers. There is something to be said for finding strength in numbers and this is certainly true for the fellowship that exists among believers. Verses like Prov 27:17, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," and Ecc 4:12, "a cord of three strands is not easily broken," remind us of the benefits that can be found in the company of others. A yoke is a heavy block of wood used by farmers to secure their oxen to the plow. It was heavy and cumbersome, a horrible task for an ox alone, and for this reason two were usually used. Life can be cumbersome as well and it sure helps to have friends beside to you help you along the way. I think this is while Paul wrote the following words in Galatians 6:2, "carry each others burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.

Not only does being yoked to believers provide support and company, but also an opportunity to be sharpened by the faith of others. Just as tough competition in sports results in an elevation of performance, a great deal can be learned when you surround yourself with more mature believers. Find believers that you admire for their walk and learn all that you can.

L-Listening to God. There is a big difference between listening and hearing. You and I can hear lots of noises and many voices but we can only listen to one. Mt 6:24 says "that a man cannot serve two masters." There is great truth is this statement, because, in order to listen one master's voice, a person must disregard the voice of the other. I think people today hear the voice of God more often than they think, the problem is that they are not listening. What is God calling you to lately?

E- Enjoying life. Being a believer in Christ is not about a checking off a to do list or doing everything right, it's about glorying the Lord while enjoying the freedom and abundant life that Jesus talks about in John 10:10. Jesus lived and died so that you and I could enjoy freedom from guilt and fear, find meaning in this life, and have a model to live by. King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, gives us the following recipe for enjoying life:

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad consider: God has made one as well as the other." (Ecc 7:14)

"I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad." (Ecc 8:15)

"Go eat your food with gladness and drink your wine with a joyful heart...Enjoy life with your wife whom you love...Whatever you hand finds to do, do it with all your might." (Ecc 9:7, 9, 10)

Don't get so caught up in all that you need to learn and do as a Christian that you forget to enjoy the journey of each day.

Well, the kids at school made fun of my pants but I hope they will remember what it means to live in style.