In Times Like These
Just last week, I read a post from https://ladylynchlifemoments.blogspot.com. Vicky is a long-time friend and we worshiped at the same church years ago. With life changes, we have both moved on to other churches--she has married and has a beautiful family, now; and, I am in "Moses mode", as I've come to think of my current state. There was a time when this extended period of not knowing would have given me great anxiety, but time and getting to know the Lord better has helped me to relax and trust His timing. He knows what He is doing, and is not concerned (in the least!) that I am now 54--even if I am (age-aware). His purpose for my life, is right on track.
About Vicky's post. I asked if I could share it with those of you who read this blog because I believe her points to be God-inspired and important to share. I shared with her that I found them to be "powerful" and "most apropos" in this most chaotic climate that we now find ourselves both nationally and globally--even among Christians. Many Christians find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide--but see it as not only political, but spiritual and moral, as well. That greatly raises the stakes...the emotions, the debate and even (unfortunately) the divide. It seems, we still haven't learned how to "agree to disagree". We don't know how to express and discuss opinions without anger or accusation--or assumptions about the mindset of others who share a different view. I can love and respect you, and still vehemently disagree with you--and even (hopefully, be allowed to freely, without worry) express how I feel about our current issues; and the converse should also be true.
Two very important points stood out in the post: 1.) BE STILL; 2.) BE SILENT. That really settled it for me. I took that as a sign that it was time to settle down, be quiet, PRAY, and watch. There isn't a need for me to say anything else. God is in control, no matter how things appear. Now, don't get me wrong--I still engage in a lively debate with the newscasters and their guests on CNN and MSNBC, but, it's pretty harmless!
The rest of the message, I want to share to share with you (with Vicky's blessing) are these 3 bullet points:
Let's
look at how the Lord appeared to the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19). Now,
Elijah was a man of God that did many exploits. Yet, even with his
anointed positioning, he had a level of sensitivity to measure the
direction and source of God's voice. He did not take every decibel and
label it as a word from the Lord. That's a mistake prophets are
currently making. They are taking every action, every observation, and
running with a prophetic message of what God is saying. But, Elijah knew
how to assess God's voice accurately. For instance, when Elijah went to
stand on the mount before the Lord to hear God speak, the Lord passed
by with a great and strong wind. Although it felt powerful, Elijah
didn't start jumping up and down proclaiming a message from God. God
didn't speak through the wind, and Elijah waited. After the wind came an
earthquake. While that is powerful also, Elijah didn't pronounce a word
from the Lord. God didn't speak through the earthquake, and Elijah
waited. After the earthquake came a fire. Once again, that is powerful
as well, but Elijah didn't pronounce a word from the Lord. God didn't
speak through the fire, and Elijah waited. Finally, after the fire came a
still, small voice. YES! It's in that minuscule moment that Elijah
discerned God's voice and moved accordingly.
As prophets, without clearly hearing God's voice, your cognition is limited to your current knowledge, values, and experience. Please do not box God into your angle(s), because honestly, your finite understanding cannot keep up with God's infinite agenda. So, when you think God is speaking one way in these turbulent times, there's a strong likelihood that you are wrong. Again, I caution you to take a moment of stillness and silence .
Those last two words bring me to my last point.
3. Even though many scriptures call for God to not be silent or still (Psalm 83:1), we must accept that stillness and silence are valid forms of communication between God and humanity.
I don't plan for this point to be long. I only have three scriptures that are not exhaustive to demonstrate this point.
"Be STILL, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." ~Psalm 46:10
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye STILL, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you." ~2 Chronicles 20:17
"Even fools are thought wise if they keep SILENT, and discerning if they hold their tongues." ~Proverbs 17:28, NIV
In summation, prophets are valued historically and scripturally. However, I hope this post can enlighten someone about the importance of being precise, and the detriment of not speaking accurately. Analogically, it's like taking a bowl of salt, dropping one grain of pepper, and saying that the bowl only contains salt. It may look like it's true, but it's not. Even though the content primarily contains salt, the addition of pepper changes the composition. Also, if pepper keeps getting added incrementally, it continues to alter the content of the bowl. So, to those who are prophets, please do not change the composition of God's Word and present it to us like it's God's unadulterated truth.
Thanks again,
Vicky
About Vicky's post. I asked if I could share it with those of you who read this blog because I believe her points to be God-inspired and important to share. I shared with her that I found them to be "powerful" and "most apropos" in this most chaotic climate that we now find ourselves both nationally and globally--even among Christians. Many Christians find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide--but see it as not only political, but spiritual and moral, as well. That greatly raises the stakes...the emotions, the debate and even (unfortunately) the divide. It seems, we still haven't learned how to "agree to disagree". We don't know how to express and discuss opinions without anger or accusation--or assumptions about the mindset of others who share a different view. I can love and respect you, and still vehemently disagree with you--and even (hopefully, be allowed to freely, without worry) express how I feel about our current issues; and the converse should also be true.
Two very important points stood out in the post: 1.) BE STILL; 2.) BE SILENT. That really settled it for me. I took that as a sign that it was time to settle down, be quiet, PRAY, and watch. There isn't a need for me to say anything else. God is in control, no matter how things appear. Now, don't get me wrong--I still engage in a lively debate with the newscasters and their guests on CNN and MSNBC, but, it's pretty harmless!
The rest of the message, I want to share to share with you (with Vicky's blessing) are these 3 bullet points:
1. There is too much calamity to accurately discern God's voice.
God
is not a liar (Numbers 23:19). He is not speaking to so many different
prophets and saying so many different things. We have to give God more
credit than that. Prophets, during such mayhem, please do not force God
to speak. Additionally, do not try to be God’s mouthpiece when God is
choosing to be silent. How is this backed biblically?
Take
a quick look at Job. The Bible classifies Job as a "perfect and upright
man" (Job 1:1). God was confident in Job's character and permitted
Satan to afflict him. With Job's initial shock of his trials, he and his
friends remained in each other's company for seven days and seven
nights, without uttering one word to Job. During one affliction after
another, Job desperately wanted God to speak in the midst of his
situation (Job 30:20). Well, it wasn't until chapter 38 that God finally
decided to respond to Job; but, He didn't do it calmly. God spoke out
of a whirlwind, or storm, and He spoke for a long time. At the
conclusion of God's discourse, I can honestly say, "Job couldn't handle
the truth." Hearing God speak caused an interpersonal revelation that
humbled Job - how he saw himself, how he saw God, and how he saw his
circumstance all changed.
What
God wants prophets to know is that He executed His plan for Job's life
and didn't feel obligated to speak to Job in the midst of his chaotic
situations. So, please stop trying to represent God in the midst of all
this turmoil we are experiencing in America, before and now, with the
aftermath of the election. Let God be God all by Himself.
Furthermore,
if you profess to be a prophet, please ask yourself, "Am I ready to
hear what God is saying? Can I handle the weight of God's word?" Before
you answer, I ask you to consider this statement. If God really spoke to
you the way He is feeling, it would be an earsplitting noise that
shocks your auditory senses. How is that biblical? Well, let's look at
what happened on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-18). When God decided to
speak, He instructed the children of Israel to get ready. This was an
instruction for both their outer and inner condition. If anyone touched
the mount, they would die. So, preparing to hear God's voice and
experiencing His presence, was an event that required a level of
sacredness. Truthfully, the Church in America, has lost that level of
reverence when approaching God. Here's the part that prophets need to
know about hearing God's voice during this time. On Mount Sinai, God
used thunders and lightnings, the voice of the trumpet; and the people
trembled. If God used that same method today, can you really handle all
of that noise in your natural ear? I can almost guarantee you that you
can't. Do you have a godly fear of God's voice to tremble like the
people on Mount Sinai? Only you can answer that.
As
we've seen the use of natural phenomena, let us continue with that
theme for my second point, as to why prophets need a moment of silence
and stillness.
2. God is coming in different directions/ways, because His move is multi-faceted. Don't assume you know how God is working.
As prophets, without clearly hearing God's voice, your cognition is limited to your current knowledge, values, and experience. Please do not box God into your angle(s), because honestly, your finite understanding cannot keep up with God's infinite agenda. So, when you think God is speaking one way in these turbulent times, there's a strong likelihood that you are wrong. Again, I caution you to take a moment of stillness and silence .
Those last two words bring me to my last point.
3. Even though many scriptures call for God to not be silent or still (Psalm 83:1), we must accept that stillness and silence are valid forms of communication between God and humanity.
I don't plan for this point to be long. I only have three scriptures that are not exhaustive to demonstrate this point.
"Be STILL, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." ~Psalm 46:10
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye STILL, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you." ~2 Chronicles 20:17
"Even fools are thought wise if they keep SILENT, and discerning if they hold their tongues." ~Proverbs 17:28, NIV
In summation, prophets are valued historically and scripturally. However, I hope this post can enlighten someone about the importance of being precise, and the detriment of not speaking accurately. Analogically, it's like taking a bowl of salt, dropping one grain of pepper, and saying that the bowl only contains salt. It may look like it's true, but it's not. Even though the content primarily contains salt, the addition of pepper changes the composition. Also, if pepper keeps getting added incrementally, it continues to alter the content of the bowl. So, to those who are prophets, please do not change the composition of God's Word and present it to us like it's God's unadulterated truth.
Thanks again,
Vicky
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