They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 (NLT)
“How can I hear God speak? When I read the Bible it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.” Said my new friend as we sat sipping our lattes under a starry sky last night.
Leaning forward, I answered, “When you go home tonight, before you open your Bible, say this to God: ‘God will you help me understand what I’m about to read in Your Word.’ Then, read until you feel Him stir your heart.”
“Stir my heart?” My friend interrupted.
“Yes, I can’t describe it better than that. Keep reading until you feel you have been affected by an insight or understanding. Sometimes you only have to read a couple of verses. Sometimes more. But don’t read like you’re studying. Read asking God to illuminate your understanding. Then, when you feel moved, stop reading and say: ‘God, thanks for helping me to understand Your Word. Now, help me to incorporate this understanding into my life.'”
“So, it’s that simple?” He asked.
“It’s that simple. And it’s that hard because you’re going to have to humble yourself to ask God for help. The Bible is a spiritual book and it requires spiritual insight to understand it.” I answered.
After nearly three hours of warm conversation, our lattes and our evening had run out. But my new friend was still full of questions.
“I feel like I have more questions now than when we first started talking.” He sighed as we both got up to leave.
“Good.” I replied. “I didn’t come here to give you answers. I’m sure I don’t know all the answers to your questions. But I do know how to ask God. That’s what I’m praying for you tonight. That God will speak to you.”
This morning I received an email from my new Starbucks friend. He wrote, “You won’t believe this, I tried what you said last night and started reading the book of Matthew and God spoke to me. I mean, I actually felt a deeper understanding. I can’t wait to get together and talk with you about it!”
I can’t wait either.
Hey Gary,
I’m enjoying reading the blogs from our home in Russia.As it’s getting colder here,just wondering about Hawaii? May God continue to speak into your lives. Good word, good reminder of listening to His voice.Love you guys! M&H
Hey Mark, Wow, I’m sitting here in a conference with Wayne Cordeiro and my quads are killing me. We met with him at 5:45 AM for a two mile run at Ala Moana park. I’m learning a lot even though I’m here suffering for Jesus in Hawaii.
I love you my friend.
Gary