God is speaking.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear God as if, say, he were a friend across the table having coffee?

When you’re up against a big decision or even feeling a bit lost in life, wouldn’t it be great to have the creator of the universe, the one who knows everything about everything whisper a little direction or positive encouragement?

I think sometimes we expect God should boom at us in a commanding voice. Or maybe we feel as if his caring about us in any personal way is absurd—after all, if he is there, why would he want to speak to me? Perhaps we don’t really believe there is a God at all. The Big Bang Theory seems to handle the question for us, even if we’re not clear how the matter got there in the first place.

But what if God exists, does care and wants to say something?

To you. And me.

Remember the 1977 movie with John Denver and George Burns  titled “Oh, God!”? Theology aside, the film’s premise is that God wants us to know he is there.

He speaks to us.

Not only in a handful of movies, like Evan Almighty, but in real life. Yours and mine. He loves us. He wants good for us. And he tells us about it every day in a variety of ways.

It may sound a little crazy, but I hear from him every day.  No, I’m not some super saint with special powers and an “in” with God. But I take it seriously when he claims that we can ask him things, and he will answer.

For example, he tells us that if we lack wisdom, we have only to ask, and he will give it to us. The Bible reminds us that he thinks differently than we do, but if we choose to believe in him and acknowledge him as the one who saves us, we will be given “the mind of Christ” by his Spirit.

Sounds good to me!

If he spoke to Adam, Eve, Moses, Abraham, Noah, Mary and numerous others, why wouldn’t he speak to you and me? He longs for a personal relationship with us and that means communication, right?

Well then, how does he speak?

These are the ways I’ve heard him:                                                                     

1. Through creation—it never fails that while I quietly marvel at the ocean, a bird, trees or flowers, a new born baby or even my son’s ball python, some amazing revelation or connection to my life gets whispered into my thoughts.
2. Circumstances—so many times situations work out or don’t in a specific way that I couldn’t have orchestrated. Generally, this occurs when I’ve asked God for direction or to work out something that seems impossible. Like a window opening in a dark room, light floods in and a path is clear where nothing could be seen previously.
3. Other people—I make it a point to ask trusted people for advice. God can speak through anyone he chooses, not only those who believe in his existence. It amazes me how God uses another person’s words to answer a question or give me direction or encouragement. A deep sense of “rightness” settles in my heart. Often, God is the only one who could have known what I needed to hear.
4. The Bible—you knew that was coming, didn’t you? God says his word is alive and does things when we read it, share it and live it. I’ve experienced being in places of turmoil, confusion, lethargy and discouragement and felt prompted to read a particular section from the Bible. God transforms me as I let the words penetrate my heart.
5. God’s voice—yep, you read that right. I often hear him whisper to me. I want to hear him so I sit very quietly and meditate on how wonderful he is. I tell him how I feel about things. I ask him to help me, to speak to me, to guide me. I wait and listen. And he does. Not a booming voice, but a tiny whisper in my heart. Not an accusing, condemning one, but a peaceful, settling whisper.

He wants to be there for us. He has good things to say. I believe he wants to speak to everyone.  Why don’t you ask him?

Some verses for reference: James 1:5-6; I Corinthians 2:9-16; Matthew 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:8-11; 2Kings 19:11-12; Psalm 103