{"id":895,"date":"2011-10-16T16:44:36","date_gmt":"2011-10-16T20:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.bottlerockettheology.com\/?p=895"},"modified":"2011-10-16T16:44:36","modified_gmt":"2011-10-16T20:44:36","slug":"when-god-speaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dave.dlscott.info\/?p=895","title":{"rendered":"Let God “read” his Book to you …"},"content":{"rendered":"

It just leaps off the page when my “Dad” reads to me …<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all know how special it is to read a book to our children. \u00a0I can remember as a young boy my dad reading the “Sunday funnies” to me. \u00a0So great. \u00a0The “funnies” as we called them came to life.<\/p>\n

Sometimes our Abba Father does that. \u00a0As we read his holy book, his Spirit who lives in his children, “reads” to us. \u00a0Personal. \u00a0Intimate. \u00a0Father and son. \u00a0Daddy and daughter.<\/p>\n

God talking …<\/strong>
\nI am speaking of the words of God coming from God. \u00a0He speaks to us if we allow him to do so, if we quiet ourselves long enough to hear what he actually says.<\/p>\n

This is different than mere Bible reading or Bible study. \u00a0This is setting ourselves down before the presence of God and listening with the intent to honor him with our response.<\/p>\n

This is when the words of our Bible will be delivered to our hearts by the Spirit of God his own self. \u00a0That’s what I’m talking about.<\/p>\n

And I stand amazed that God does this for me, his former enemy. \u00a0And I worship.<\/p>\n

This is a read-your-Bible-promo post …<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some things that grabbed me as I read this week, leaped off the page and sunk into my heart. \u00a0Things that made me smile deep inside and thank and praise God.<\/p>\n

God’s word does that if we let it. \u00a0And, yes, I’m talking to you. \u00a0Do you give God the opportunity to leap off the pages of Scripture and grab your attention and usher you before his presence in eternity?<\/p>\n

Plain language – Are you reading your Bible? \u00a0And if so, are you listening and bowing as you read?<\/p>\n

When God speaks …<\/strong>
\nThese are the times when the things we already know become new, when words written with ink on a page live and breathe in our minds and hearts, new insights wash over us as we are in process – reading faithfully, responding reverently.<\/p>\n

In other words, God speaks.<\/strong>
\nThat is what is supposed to happen when we read his holy words. \u00a0You think he might have had a plan? \u00a0Hello. \u00a0God speaks to us. \u00a0He has been doing this since the creation, since he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. \u00a0Had volumes written down so we could know what was on his mind and hear his voice.<\/p>\n

It isn’t always flash and excitement …<\/strong>
\nSometimes, maybe often, we plow through the holy text, doing our duty, following the discipline we have established over the years. \u00a0It is not all leaping and grabbing, so don’t pretend it is. \u00a0No. \u00a0Do not pretend God is speaking to you if he is not.<\/p>\n

If it is not sincere, then it is not divine …<\/strong>
\nDrawing near to God with our lips is one for the “really bad idea” category. \u00a0Our hopes and dreams stay within the confines of our humanity. \u00a0We can come up with some really good ideas, just not God’s ideas. \u00a0So we don’t see our lives in the context of the divine.<\/p>\n