Preparation
We are meant to live within an ongoing "walking and talking" relationship with our creator-God. For most of my life I only experienced one side. Looking back it was more like I gave speeches and God was supposed to be listening and silently responding to my requests. I was talking to God, all right, and I felt guilty if I didn't. In fact, there were times when it seemed to me that my prayer-speeches were just floating up there somewhere, refusing to interrupt in his day.

Even agnostics report talking TO God, but how many of us talk WITH God? In short have we learned to listen more than we talk, when it comes to conversations with our father-God? I can't tell you when it happened for me, but accepting prayer as dialogue has changed everything. Are you with me?

Jesus lived so that we can recognize his voice speaking to us. He is the Good Shepherd and we follow him because we know his voice. And we hear his voice.

Do you? Really?

Why is it that Jesus said over and over, "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." Why did he urge his followers to be careful how they listen? God hasn't stopped talking, but his people have trouble listening. From long ago, he promised this conversational communication would continue; he made us for it. Isaiah (58:9,11) predicted it, but we just don't expect it or we are so focused on our stuff that we miss his voice. The prophet says there will come a time... is it now?

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Do you have ears to hear? You are not alone!

It has been my experience that God speaks to us today in various ways: dreams, visions, angels, the Bible, the life of Jesus, crisis events, friends, family, anointed preaching, and the still small voice. As I was sharing that with Jake, he interrupted, "Ron, God may speak to you and he probably has spoken to others, but he's never spoken to me and he never will!"

"Oh, I think you're wrong, Jake." I took the chance of offending him, "I think for one reason or another, you don't expect God to speak. You have shut off your ears. So sometime in the future he will slap you up the side of your head to get your attention, then your ears will open. He has always been a communicator, and he hasn't stopped. His 'still small voice' still works. Somehow he is calling your name, right now. Open your ears."

It's a faith step for all of us.

Do you really believe God could speak to you? Should he speak to you? Would he speak to you?
Then listen to the voices around you, listen for the voice of the shepherd. You will know it when you hear it.

Inspiration
In Richard Attenborough's critically acclaimed movie Gandhi, there is a scene where the young Indian lawyer and a white preacher are walking and talking as they stroll down the boardwalk. For these two, just walking on the same side of the street was against the law at that time.

They were interrupted by an intimidating young bully who seemed ready to dish out a good old thumpin'. But the hooligan's mother intervened from an upstairs window and everyone continued on without further problem.

After a bit the preacher commented on how lucky they were that the young man's mother was watching. Gandhi responds, "I thought you were a man of God."

The preacher replies, "I am, but I don't believe God plans his day around me!"

Although that quote sounds appropriate, it's based on a total misunderstanding of God. I have friends who believe they honor God's greatness by putting him on this aloof and distant pedestal, but hear me here, it IS his greatness that allows him to plan his day around anyone he chooses... at any century he chooses...and speak with them in any way he chooses.

Motivation
So, let's muse a little: If God wrote you a note and left if in your mailbox, what do you wish it would say?

You are not alone, never alone. Nothing can separate you from his love, his touch, his voice... if you are ready to listen, to confess, to rejoice and follow the shepherd, he is already speaking.