Words

I have been reading through Philip Yancey's new book titled "Prayer: Does it make any difference?" The book's main theme, not surprisingly, is prayer. But, in one of the early chapters Yancey devotes a few pages to the topic of "Does God speak to us?" While on topic, Yancey writes about going to a spiritual retreat the main purpose of which was to listen to God's small still voice speaking to each participant. What he discovered was not that God spoke to him in an audible voice or through any great and life changing event. Rather, Yancey said simply that "I heard no audible voice, and yet at the end of the week I had to agree with Brennan (the fella leading the retreat) that I had heard from God." Apparently, the events of the week, as Yancey and the others quieted their minds, slowed the pace of life, and earnestly sought the Lord convinced him that "God finds ways to communicate to those who truly seek God, especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static."

In the few days since I read these words, I have been mulling this whole "concept" around in the back of mind. I think I'm like most people who call themselves Christians: I want to believe I'm earnestly seeking God and that God does hear my prayers and that He does speak to me. And yet, when I really think about it, I'm hard pressed to come up with many (any?) times when He's done just that.

Last night I didn't sleep well. Several of us, me included, are battling colds right now. So, during one of my awake cycles I was overcome with a deep sense that I need to make some changes in my behavior. So, as I started to think about what those changes might be, I prayed to the Lord. The prayers weren't eloquent or verbose. Just simple "arrow prayers" I suppose with a sprinkling in of a number of on topic thoughts that were rolling through my head. Next thing I remember it sometime later - how much later I do not know - and I am awake after just having a dream. (Having a dream and remembering it are very rare for me. I cannot remember the last one I had.)

In my dream, I was arguing with Payton about something. At one point I told him that he was acting like a stupid boy and other unmentionables. Then, Janice pulled me aside and gave me "the look" and wanted to know what in the world I was trying to prove with treating Payton like that. She was right, of course, (even in my dreams my loving wife is 100% correct!) but instead of humbly accepting my medicine I lashed out at her and told her I didn't care for her advice nor was I gonna take back or apologize to Payton because "he was acting like a jerk and deserved" the treatment I was giving him.

When I got up this morning with Esther the dream was on my mind. It was disturbing, for sure, but beyond that I didn't see much significance. That is until a started reading my Bible. I picked up where I left off last night in James chapter 3. The subject of James 3? The untameability of the tongue. In part, it says, "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna). For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature). But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so."

At once I realized the significance of my dream. It is part reminder and part warning. It reminds me of the truth of Scripture (and in particular James 3) and the realities of my tongue. And, it warns me about the power of my tongue and the effect - both positive or negative - it can have on the people around me... particularly my kids.

Does God speak to us? Well, after what happened to me last night and this morning I would have to conclude "Yes, He does, if only we earnestly seek Him and listen for His voice".

Have a great day.

sf