Thought I Was Going to Blog About the Pastor's Message; God Had a Different Message

I was asked in May to write a blog for the church’s blog site. Since that time I have asked God, “Lord, what am I supposed to write about?” and His answer has continued to be, “You’ll figure it out.”  Even sitting down to write this, I thought I might know what I was supposed to write about.

I thought I was going to be blogging about Pastor Mitch’s sermon from last Sunday, June 10^th, and what God spoke to me during the sermon.  While I’ll be mentioning it a little later, it has transformed into something completely different as I’ve began to type.

Sunday, Pastor Mitch posed the question, “Are you eating from the right tree?”  Pastor Mitch did a great job of defining the trees; one tree being the word of God and what He says is truth, and the other tree being the tree of knowledge of good and evil—the tree of what the world says.

For many, I’m sure they were able to understand this just from this explanation. I’m not always like that. I found myself saying, “Okay, Lord. I believe Your word is true, so where am I missing it?” 

He showed me two examples where this applies. He said, “The wrong tree is the doctors telling you, you are sick and dying. I am the tree of life. The wrong tree is the world saying you’re poor and defeated. I am the tree saying you are prosperous and victorious.” The examples can go on and on.

I’m an analytical learner. I like details, examples, metaphors and visuals. This is the way God speaks to me.  He is either giving me check points, using examples in my life or visually showing me things and saying, “it’s like this”. His voice is always the same, but His tone changes. For me, it’s been patient, friendly, chiding, or humorous. It just depends on what He’s saying and how long He’s been saying it. Sometimes He’s my Father, and sometimes He’s just speaking as my friend.

 In church we’ve been talking about prayer lately, and how we pray. As a family, we have set times during the day where we pray; morning, meal times and bedtime. We use these prayer times to thank God for what He’s done, what He’s doing and what He continues to do.

If a problem presents itself throughout the day I thank Him for providing me His patience, strength and wisdom in helping me through the situation. If I get a prayer request from a friend or someone else I pray very similarly. I provide scripture to the person and let them know what I’m agreeing to believe with them on and that God receives all the glory for it. 

I’ve found myself asking, do I pray enough, and do I pray the right way. His response to me was, “Praying isn’t just ‘God help me; God, do this; God, do that, God, why won’t you do this; God, why won’t you do that.’ 

Prayer is communion with Me. It’s showing respect and knowing what I do for you and knowing what I’ll keep doing for you. As a parent, as an employer, as a person in a position of authority, or as a friend - would you want your children, employees, subordinates, or friends to continually bring all their problems to you for you to fix them? No. You want them to use what you have given them, use what you have taught them to solve their own problems.  If you have given your word on something, it’s okay if they remind you of it because you want them to know you care for them and they can depend and rely on you to honor your word. You want them to talk to you and share with you things they find important, just as I do with you.”  

He went on to tell me how much time I don’t even realize I am talking to Him and with Him just because it’s become a ‘normal’ part of my day. He told me it’s okay and He’s pleased, and that made me smile.

 At the beginning of the year, the Lord shared with me that I was being selfish by not sharing with others what he speaks and has spoken to me.  I made a commitment to share and have honored that commitment. 

Today, he wanted me to share that He speaks to each of us differently in a way that is most beneficial to each of us. There is no right or wrong way to hear from Him. If you are confused rather you’re hearing Him or not, He says if whatever he’s said, or instructed you to do or change is followed with a feeling of peace, it’s Him.

                                                     by: Jessica Carlisle