When you read the Bible, you will find countless times through out the history of the world where God responses to the prayers of man. And countless times and in various ways God has spoken or communicated with man. So, what each of us may wonder today is, Does God really hear me? Can I hear from God? I believe the answer is yes to both. God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. The "failure to communicate" is on our part. The correct questions to ask are: Do you talk to God? Do you listen to God?
Each believer has the Holy Spirit of God. So, we are not alone. Again, the verses in the Bible are very plan and clear that we are to be communicating with God, and He is listening. And if we draw near, and acknowledge Him, He will be near to us, and direct our path.
I have one ( two part ) personal example I'd like to share. When I was 18 years old I heard from God and did not listen ( I had a strong feeling that I should NOT go to the place I had in mind alone ). I ignored this strong feeling that included clear thoughts of what I should do instead, and proceeded on the path I had chosen. I was riding my bicycle across town through a very "ruff" part of a large city to look for a cheap car at a large Swap Meet held every weekend. Along the way I stopped to witness to some children. Telling them about the Free Gift of Salvation available to all who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. In the middle of telling them, a "big" kid ( actually another 18 year old such as myself ) came to see what I was doing. He asked me questions like "why was I there?". I told him I was going to buy a car. He asked me if I had the money to buy a car right now. I naively told him yes ( and I did about $ 500 cash with me ). He was nice enough to tell he had a friend who had a car for sale, and he could show me. After showing me a car, you took me to a near by apartment complex. And when I knocked on the door where the owner of the car was suppose to live, my helpful new friend proceeded to put an arm around my neck and start to choke me. He asked where was the money. I was totally shocked. I could not believe I was being mugged. As I was not willing to turn over my entire life savings to this mugger, he continued to question me, and then started searching me. I found myself very much "in the flesh", and my attitude and speech was ungodly. He found some money in my wallet. He found some more in my little note pad. He had me take my shoes off to search them. This went on forever ( maybe 5 - 10 minutes ). He never found the bulk of my money ( $ 400 I had hid in my Bible ).
And then.... I remembered to pray. It was pretty simple. Something like "God I need help". Now this is the cool part....
Within seconds a small boy comes around the corner and to see what is going on with me and my new friend. I ask to please go tell his mother to call the police because I am being robbed. The mugger pleads with the boy to do nothing, since he knows him. The boys runs off screaming for his mom. The mugger is now afraid, and I am able to get free from him.
I could see after these series of events, how God had clearly tried to prevent me from being there. And I could see how He came to my rescue when I remembered to rely upon. Prior to this incident, I had an attitude that I was "untouchable" or "bullet proof". That no harm could be fall me, since I was a child of God, and a Disciple doing His "work". I did not understand the "relationship" that God wanted with me as an individual. See, I thought I was in God's Army, and thereby protected by the rest of the troops ( which includes Angel's... that is another story I can tell later ). I guess I thought God was the leader, and He was always off in some important meeting dealing with "more important" issues. Now I know God is capable and desirous of a one on one relationship with each and everyone of us.
Let me finish this story with a time years later, where I remembered to pray as my first response to a situation of danger.
I was 31 years old. Living in a small town now. Small towns don't have too many "ruff" places, but they do have "ruff" people. You could run into your "enemies" just about anywhere or anytime. I had one such enemy. He had been told things about me that were not true, but he believed them. And one day he "caught" me at a convenience store buying a few things ( milk, soda, bread, etc ). He confronted me, and asked me to "step outside" because he wanted to "talk" to me. I offered to talk right where we were ( I knew he would be talking with his fist, if we went outside ). He did not like my response. He pushed me hard enough to make me drop some of the groceries I was holding. It was at this moment I realized I was in a dangerous situation and I needed help. I did not seek anyone in the store, I "called upon the name of Lord", and He helped me ( I think I say, "Jesus please help me, I need You" ). Immediately it thundered ( I'm not making this up, it was one of those afternoon thunderstorms in the area ), and the lights went out for about one second. This flustered my aggressor ( his name is Danny Payne, and I have prayed for him over 100 times over the years ), and then a woman clerk yelled at him to get out of the store. I was "saved". And I kept asking the Lord to protect me every time I'd see that guy's truck somewhere in this small town. He never came near me again.
Moral of the story. Listen if you feel God is trying to direction your path, and most importantly: always, and all the time, seek Him. He is near, and He is big, and He loves you. He is waiting to hear from you. That's right YOU!
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