The Monday Morning Devo for February 16, 2015
We are on a series of discernment. Learning to sense and discover what God is presently, saying and wanting for us.
Last week I posted on Instagram and Facebook that we should not just follow or do what God said, but we must follow and do what he is saying.
This is the essence of discernment and the essence of having relationship with a living God, and not just His written word.
The truth is, God is dynamic and personal and has concerns very specific for us today. And we must develop a hunger for fresh manna. We must expect his living word to penetrate our dull and distracted hearts and minds.
And so, today, I want to share one idea; and that is, God speaks to us through community, through our trusted friends who are similarly on the hunt for intimacy and revelation from Him.
There is a power in our Christian relationships that we don’t get from being super spiritual and solo and separate we are even with God.
Let’s look at two verses:
Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Hebrews 10:24-25: Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
These verse can mean, go to church, I take them a bit more literal and have learned to meet together with follow believers on the phone or over coffee… and in these conversations, at least with people of like pursuit, I find that God speaks.
For me, there are two requirements for this to work.
1. I have already been seeking to hear God. When a friend comes and says something, it’s a confirming word or confirming idea that strengthen some thoughts I’ve previously been considering and possibly procrastinating on.
2. Not every friend can encourage or share an encouraging word. Most are just living life, trying to manage and maintain. And this is not a problem or a bad thing. But if the person’s is always busy and stressed, they don’t often have margin or sensitivity to tap into what God is saying.
When Matthew 18:20 says, when two or three gather in my name, Jesus is there. This to me is displayed by subject matter of the conversation. When we can talk about Jesus– our common hunger or confusion for what he is wanting or how to best follow him. Only when the focus is on Him is he present and speaks through us.
And so my prayer for you this week, if you are wanting to know God’s specific will for you this season in your life, that God would lead you to connect to the right church service, or friend who can encourage you and affirm or highlight what God has been trying to get across to you.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, would you guide us to connect to the right people, who love us, love you and are carrying your confirming word. In Jesus Name, Amen.