Does God really speak to people?

Do you believe that God speaks to and through his people?  I do, and I’d love to tell you why.

Recently, I wrote a post about 5 Christian Blogs that Will Encourage Your Heart and Strengthen Your Faith.  In it, I made the statement, “God doesn’t just speak to his people.  He speaks through his people.”

Those words were tweeted a few times, and someone on Twitter asked me to demonstrate the fact that God does, in fact, speak to people.

Now, to be honest, I didn’t notice the tweet until some time after it had passed through the feed and off into obscurity.  (I will still NEVER be a better blogger.)  For that reason, I never responded to the tweet, but I have been thinking about it.

I wondered if some of you wanted to ask me the same thing.

Why Do I Believe God Speaks to People?

Do you wonder if God really speaks to his people?  Are you unsure about our ability to hear his voice?

I can point you to any number of accounts from the Bible to back up my claim, but the thing is:  I believe the Bible is true.  You might not.

So, without using Biblical examples, how can I share why I believe God speaks to and through people?

My conclusion is that all I can offer you is my own experience, my testimony, if you will.  After all, even though I have believed the Bible for many years, it’s the day-to-day experiencing a relationship with Christ that has caused my faith to grow.

So, I’d like to offer a few examples from my own walk of faith, hoping they will encourage yours.

God Speaks – We ask.  He answers.

When I was in college, I worked one summer at Gulfshore Baptist Assembly.  One of nearly 100 summer staffers, I spent my days answering phones and greeting visitors in the lobby.  In the evenings, I often participated in the worship services of the various camps held there.

It was 1997 and hands-down one of the hardest times of my life.  My parents had just divorced after a long, drawn-out separation, and I was still reeling from having my world turned upside down.

One night, after a particularly painful visit home, I found myself sitting on the pier, looking at the clouds in the sky and praying that God would speak to me.

I had been planning to attend law school after graduation, but over the past several months, my heart had begun to change.  I felt like God had other plans for me.  I prayed and told God that I would do whatever he told me, one step at a time, but I begged him to make it very clear.  I felt like it was crazy to think God wanted to use me.

“Have someone speak to me and tell me to do what you’ve said.”

I got up from the pier and walked to the auditorium. When I entered, the worship leader was singing a song.  As soon as I walked in the room, he stopped singing and said, “You know, if you feel like God is telling you to do something, even if it seems crazy, you should just do it.”

He went back to his song and didn’t say another word.  I told the Lord I would go wherever he sent me.

God Speaks – It’s Not a Coincidence

He sent me to Kenya, a place I’d never dreamed of going.  While I was living there, I found myself in my one-bedroom flat one night, alone and frightened.  I can’t tell you why, but I was terrified.  All I could hear outside was what sounded like gunfire, and I had no idea why or what to do. (Mobile phones hadn’t yet taken over Kenya, and at the time, it was easier to drive to someone’s house than to call them on the phone.)

I locked myself in my bedroom and prayed, “Lord, let someone be praying for me.”

Over and over again.

Finally, around 3:00 a.m., my fear subsided, and I went to sleep.

The next morning when I checked my email, I received several messages from a friend.

The first said, “I don’t know why, but I really feel like I need to pray for you today.  How are you?”

The next, “I am praying for you.  Is everything ok?”

And, finally, “I have stopped everything else and am praying for you right now.”

The last message was sent at almost the exact time I finally fell asleep.

I was in Kenya.  My friend was in the U.S.

Only God can do that, y’all.

God Speaks – He Promises Peace

I don’t need stories from the Bible to know God speaks to his people.  He has spoken to me.

When I was sitting on that same pier that same night, I looked up at the cloudy sky and, with a broken heart full of the fear of always being abandoned, I said, “See.  I can’t even see the stars, which always spoke to me of you.”

I complained to God, and do you know what?

At that very moment, one cloud moved, one star shone, and I felt like God said, “The stars are there even when you can’t see them, and so am I.”

I didn’t hear an audible voice, but peace filled my heart.  I came to understand firsthand what Jesus meant when he said, “But the Advocate, 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.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  (John 14:26-27)

I could go on and on, telling you about:

• my husband and how God brought us together
• when I had a miscarriage and how God gave me comfort
• confirmation and encouragement from women around the world.

What about you?  How has God spoken to or through you?  How do you recognize his voice?  What would you say to someone who asked you to demonstrate that God speaks to people?

I would love to have you join us for Encouraging Word Wednesday this week!  Leave a link or two below to your recent faith-filled posts then visit one or two other bloggers and encourage them today!

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