A few weeks back I caught a television interview with Bill O’Reilly, who was promoting his book about Jesus. The reporter leaned forward and said with a hint of sarcasm, “You say God talks to you. Do you really believe that?”
“Yes. He does,” O’Reilly said.
Ugh. In that instance, a grand opportunity fell through the metal grating of the national stage. I can’t say I know a lot about O’Reilly and I don’t listen to or watch any talk shows. But what I so badly wanted him to say was, “I’m not special. God talks to all of us.”
Whenever someone famous says God speaks to them, it’s implied that the Great I Am only communicates with those who have special red-phone connections to the heavens.
That’s not the way it is.
I believe the Lord speaks to everyone. Both saints (I don’t know any, do you?) and sinners. The secret behind receiving a divine message is simple, but not so easy.
- Open your heart
- Make time to listen to the Greatest of All
- Break down walls you may have constructed that separate you from the Divine
The last tip is the most difficult of the three to implement. Most of us either don’t have the confidence to believe the Almighty would address us or have been taught that God, perched on his throne in the sky, doesn’t have time to speak with us.
It wasn’t until my mid-40s that I realized I hear the voice of the Divine. Half of my life had sped by and I’d never considered that God would even try to communicate with me.
Yes, it had taken a dramatic turn in my life to make me ready to consider this possibility. And, who knows what heartache I could’ve avoided if decades earlier I’d just followed those three steps.
God communicates with us in many ways. Perhaps it’s through that Bible verse you’ve read a dozen times before, but carries new meaning the thirteenth time you scan it. Or perhaps it’s through a profound thought that appears unbidden in your mind. Or maybe, God will just speak to you, radiating a majestic love unlike any other.
You are important enough to warrant the Great I Am’s attention.
Recognize that you are as special as the Bill O’Reillys of the world.