 “There is a word in that … !” Colossians 4:2-5Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. [NKJV] I used that expression “there’s a word in that”, yesterday in our email, but then realised that there is a word to be given in “there’s a word in that.” So much of what we are shown, so much of what we experience has a word from God in it if we have the right spirit within us to recognise the Lord speaking. I used to tie myself in knots wanting the Lord to speak to my heart before eventually realising that He was speaking every moment of every day, except that I was drowning out His voice with my own. I have been listening to the audiobook of Billy Connolly’s autobiography ‘Windswept and Interesting’, and he describes a period where he would be thinking about someone he knew but had not seen in a long time, only to meet them very soon afterwards. It disturbed him and he went for counselling about it. I found that fascinating, and although I would attribute such experiences to The Lord moving, Sir Billy did not. Reading the detail of his early life, we can understand why Billy has turned his back on faith in God, and yet we can say that The Lord has manifestly moved in his life in many ways. The Lord shows us many things and we are often unaware that it is He who speaks. My email mentioned the distractions and interruptions which keep me from what I would consider more important tasks. For example it took me an hour from starting to write to sending this mornings email. The work — writing the meditation — was done the night before, but the easy task of letting folk know about it seemed thwarted at every turn. Why? There could be many explanations, from my state of anxiety to the belief that it is the result of spiritual attack. Balderdash! It is nothing more than being out of the Spirit. If I am walking in the Holy Spirit then things happen … but … Those things I seek to accomplish might not happen any quicker, or be better said, or even be what I felt to say. The truth is that if I speak for me, the words will fall on stoney ground, but when The Lord speaks through me, His purpose will be realised. It is not for me to decide. As a friend and anointed man of God once said, “I never know the result of what I preach. It is not for me to know. We must let God have His way.” The interruptions and distractions can be God having His way, holding me back from untimely rushing forward. Of course, it could just be me allowing irritation to get in my way! Either way, the Lord is teaching me in that thing. ‘Meditate on these things’LUKE 8:11-15 NKJV Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Click on ‘download file’ below to hear the audio presentation.
“The Word of God is Source and Seed” — Christopher Prestia (vocalist and pianist) Good Shepherd Lancaster A HOLY COMMAND: Oswald Chambers on Love |
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