Spiritual Director · September 20, 2016

Affirm #7

It’s happened to me a number of times in the past. I’ll be walking through a convenience store and I notice some salesperson is staring at me as I walk by. I know better than to make eye contact with them because I also know as soon as I do they’re going to want to engage me in a conversation and want me to buy something.

Well it happened again the other day. I was just walking through the aisles of a store, not looking for anything in particular but really looking for my wife, when a young good looking man stepped in front of me and asked if he could help me find whatever I might be looking for you. My first thought was, “Hey, I didn’t even make eye contact with you!” My next thought was asking him if he knew where my wife was, but instead I simply told him I didn’t need any help.

Then the sales pitch came. If I would have just ignored him that would have been rude. And since I answered his question he believed he had the right to ask me another question. His question: “Do you have satellite or cable TV because we have a great deal and can save you a lot of money.” I told him that wasn’t possible. He kept going with his sales pitch, until I interrupted him and told him there was no way he could lower my bill because I have an antenna and my TV watching in free. He politely excused himself realizing I was a lost cause.

I thought of that incident as I was reading Job 33 today. A young man named Elihu says this…
“God always answers, one way or another, even when people don’t recognize His presence.” Job 33:14 MSG

Have you ever wondered what channels God uses? The number one way that God speaks to us is through the Bible. That’s why we should be reading the Bible every day. God’s will is found in God’s Word.

God also speaks through godly Bible preachers and teachers. Have you ever been in church or at a Bible study and felt like the preacher/teacher was speaking directly to you? In that moment, God is speaking directly to you.

God also speaks through other Christians. He even speaks through you. If you’ll stay in tune to Him and learn His Word, sometimes God will use you to say things to people that He wants to say to them. It’s not something especially reserved only for pastors; God speaks through every believer at different times.

God isn’t limited in any way in how He speaks to us. So here’s my word of encouragement for you today: Know this… God is speaking all the time, but we must listen. Tune in to God, and He’ll lead you where He needs you to go and do what He needs you to do.

Father,
Speak with me today. Help me recognize Your presence in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Rev. Dr. MM Marxhausen

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Mark was Spiritual Director for VdC from 2016 to 2019. He's written many of the devotions, especially the Devote and Affirm series, found on this website.