In the journey of faith, cultivating a relationship with God is most important. It reigns supreme over religious-looking actions or religious-sounding words. God beckons us, calling us deeper into His depths, into the realms of conversational intimacy with Him, where dialogue with the Divine is not just about voicing our needs or desires but about fostering two-way communication. This week, I am drawn to reflect on the profound beauty of conversational intimacy with God, an aspect of spiritual life that mirrors the deepest human relationships, including the cherished bond of marriage.
Listening as Much as Speaking
Imagine, if you will, a marriage where communication is one-sided. I've been married for more than 30 years, and I cherish my relationship with my wife. But how good do you think our relationship would be if all I ever did was talk and never listened? Or if all she ever did was talk? (I am resisting the urge to make a joke about that...).
Of course, it wouldn't be much of a relationship at all.
So, I talk and I listen. Really listen. Sometimes to the point where I do something different than what I had in mind if her idea seems better than mine--and sometimes even when it doesn't. That's part of being in a deeply committed relationship. The essence of our relationship's depth comes from this mutual exchange, this dance of dialogue where each voice is heard and valued.
Similarly, our relationship with God flourishes not when we monopolize the conversation, but when we also pause to listen. It's not merely about talking to God but talking with God.
The Truth That Sets Us Free
Jesus told us that we would know the truth:
Jesus's invitation to know the truth—and the promise of the freedom it brings—is pivotal. Listening to God, we can be freed from the cultural bondage and sin and garbage that so easily ensnare us.
Another time, Jesus points out that He is the truth:
This statement is not just a declaration of His identity but an invitation to a relationship grounded in dialogue. How can we know the truth that sets us free if we don't listen to His words, if we don't engage in a conversation that involves both speaking and listening?
Hearing God's Voice
So how are we to hear God's voice? It's not as easy as hearing the voice of a loved one or a friend, is it?
Well, not exactly, but it's not impossible, either. For example, in my faith journey, it has been rare that I hear God's voice directly and audibly. However, there have nonetheless been several ways that I hear from Him regularly--His responses in our ongoing conversation:
- Being in His Word Regularly: The Bible is, to me, God's love letter to humanity. It's where He speaks to us, offering wisdom, comfort, guidance, and love. The more I immerse myself in Scripture, the more I find it speaking to the current preoccupations of my mind, providing answers or offering new perspectives. This is one of the things I love about the Daily Audio Bible, which I've mentioned on several occasions--it's a very accessible way to engage with God's word each day. To say this has been life-altering for me would be an understatement.
- Through Others: Often, it's through the words or actions of others that I sense God's voice—sometimes from fellow believers, but not exclusively. There's a divine orchestration in how the right word or deed from someone else can be the exact message we need to hear from God at that moment.
- Reflecting on Life's Events: Taking time to reflect on what has happened in my life and seeking God's perspective on those events often reveals His hand at work. This reflection leads to moments of realization, where it becomes clear that things turned out not as I had insisted in my prayers, but in a way that was ultimately better. It's in these moments that I feel I truly "hear" from God, reminding me of His sovereignty and care. And reminding me that He speaks to me even when I'm not listening very well.
The Dance of Dialogue
This conversational intimacy with God is akin to a dance—a step forward, a step back, a moment of pause—all in rhythm with the Divine. It requires our full participation, our willingness to engage, to listen, and to respond. It's in this sacred dialogue that we find the heart of our relationship with God, a relationship where every word spoken and every silence shared is a thread weaving us closer to the fabric of His love.
In embracing this dance of dialogue with God, let us remember the importance of balance—of speaking our hearts to Him and opening our spirits to listen. For in the give and take of this heavenly conversation, we find the truth that liberates, the guidance that directs, and the love that sustains.
This made me think of a poem I published on this site several years back. I'm including it here, in case you'd like to give it a quick read:
Pas de Trois
(Invitation)
I wander down
The street, accepted by
Few, but mostly
Not.
There is noise in one big
House, noise and
Light, laughter.
Music that makes me think of
Something I lost a long time ago.
Outside, I can't help
Looking in.
The door swings
Open, I glance away
Embarrassed for being
Caught peeking.
"Come join us," calls
A Voice to anyone
But me.
But there is nobody else around.
"Yes, you!"
I shuffle toward the
Open door, the Light,
Stumbling toward what,
I do not know.
Three figures dance a
Random dance, or
So it first seems.
I stand at the edge, drawn
By warmth of Light, by
Laughter and Love.
A pattern emerges, complex and
Choreographed, yet elegant with
Undying beauty.
No one leads, each defers to
The Other Two, fluid grace.
I've no idea how it works but
It does, the music plucking at my
Soul--yearnings, long-forgotten dreams.
Life was meant to be like this.
I laugh, a childish sound, and they
See me,
Know me,
Love me anyway.
"We've been waiting for you to dance your part,"
They tell me.
"I don't know this dance," I say, and yet I
Find myself joining in.
Clumsy, I fall and ruin
The dance but they
Catch me like it's part of
The routine, and
Still we dance.
There are no rules to this dance, only
Love and Light and laughter and
Music that is no longer haunting.
A divine dance, a celebration.
You come in too, there's
Always room for one more.
David K. Carpenter
Copyright © 2016 by David K. Carpenter
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