SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE

 

                            SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE

            I was restless, seeking, searching for more of God.  Deciding to do a personal Bible study, I went to the Christian bookstore in Wiarton, operated by the leader of Women Aglow there.  She directed me to a booklet  “Alive in the Spirit” (I cannot remember the author’s name ), which I began to read. 

            One of the things I learned from the book was that prayer is a two-way conversation.  If I say something to God, He will respond.  As basic as this sounds, it was revolutionary to me at the time.  Up to then, with my solid evangelical training, I would read a chapter of Scripture, sensing what God was saying to me through that Scripture.  I would pray about my concerns, and wait in faith for God to take over in that situation.  But I had no experience of God ‘s actually having a conversation with me.

            Excited to try conversing with God, I woke up early the next morning and listened to hear what He would say.

            Here is what God had on His heart:

            “I wish My children would get along with each other.”

Whether applied to families, the church or the various races created by Him, He was almost plaintively appealing to His children to try to understand others different from themselves.  Like a mother, He loves and understands each one, and wants that one accepted and appreciated.  He grieves over the fighting and misunderstanding which go on when we think everyone should be the same as we are. A doer might have disdain for a dreamer, yet both are created by God for His purposes. 

            I was honoured that God shared His heart with me. 

            He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet, the birds hush their singing…(In the Garden, by C. Austin Miles)

            Since then, I have come to know His voice, and to treasure the intimate words of encouragement and love which He speaks to me alone.  No one else can set me free, with a healing word, from self-condemning thoughts about things done long ago.  No one else calls me “Curly”, the pet name my late husband Rien used to call me, with the same husbandly level of intimacy. 

            Having heard His loving voice, I cannot live without it.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government shall be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)