God's Touch

[Laurie KRB]

His children are desperate to hear from Him, aren't we? We go to great lengths to hear an 'anointed' teacher or pastor, seek His word and wisdom in prayer, read His Word for insight...

And when we receive those small glimpses of Him, a prophetic word from someone we don't know, or a chance encounter with a divine inspiration, we cling to that for days, joyful that our Maker does communicate with us!

Why do we not hear from Him more often? Why are there "droughts", times when we long to hear from Him but don't? Why are there times when we truly don't know what to do that we cry out to Him and hear nothing?

I am convinced that the problem is on the 'receiving' end, and not on the 'giving' end. God has poured out Himself on our behalf, there is no mistaking the great sacrifice He has given for us!

And even though I don't understand what hinders my receiving of His word, His promises, I trust that He longs for me to receive them as much as I long to be close to Him.

God is Spirit and we are locked in flesh, bound by this physical world. So He works through us, by His Spirit, but physically also, to meet our needs, to touch our souls, to speak to our ears and our hearts.

"Love others..."

Why is this the great and royal command? I believe it is because that is how God touches many of His children, through the touch of others. We treat our friend with respect and love and honor and God flows through us to them.

We feed those who are hungry, and it is the expression of God toward them. When we comfort a crying child, we are a great force in that child's life, and as such we are allowing God's love to flow through us to reach them.

We may be someone's sole and only connection to God today. He may choose us to reach out to someone, to let His love flow through our fingers and our words to lift up a hurting soul, to touch an aching brother or sister.

Let's allow God's touch to flow through us today; He longs to touch His people and comfort the hurting.

Peace,

 

[walkin2e]

Amen! Good post, thanks for sharing!

walkin2e

 

[goldenviolet]

And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him. Isaiah 8:17

When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—Job 34:29

great post!

there is also a quite a few times in scripture where it is mentioned (Job, who we know was good; mentions it too), that God hid a truth or hid for a time. i am convinced, because God is so good to us; that during these times, He is waiting for us to draw near. like we need to get deeper... or need to be ready for a lesson for our spiritual growth.

whatever the reason for a spiritual valley;

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. Romans 12:12

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. Matthew 7:8

 

[Laurie KRB]

Thank you for your responses.

When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and told us that everything He has is 'transmitted' to us and that the Spirit guides us into all the truth, I believe that we are meant to seek Him and to find Him. "Knock and the door will be opened to you." Thank you for that verse, Goldenviolet. So many times I rest in that, just knowing that the door will open, and the answer will come. You're right, so often we grow as we wait, and develop spiritually.

But sometimes the answer is hindered. Sometimes because of us, being too young or new in the Word, perhaps, to understand. Jesus told His disciples that He had much more to tell them, but that they were unable to bear it!

Sometimes the answer is stopped or hindered for a time because Satan works against the children of God, to hinder our receiving.

When Daniel sought God, to understand, he prayed for 21 days without an answer! When they finally reached him, the angels said that the word had gone out immediately, but that they had been hindered in reaching him, that spiritual warfare was necessary for the answer to reach Daniel.

Although we may not always receive the answer immediately, I thank God that help is on the way... and know that we receive the promises of God through faith and patience.

May we walk in the joy of the Lord this day!

In peace,

 

[walkin2e]

I glad you posted about Daniel praying...Here is a true experience that happened to me:

God hears and answers the prayers of his children. Although the enemy works hard to prevent answers from coming, if you pray under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, you can be assured that your prayer was in accordance with God's will. I was facing some particularly difficult trials and I prayed for the Lord's help. That evening, I read the tenth chapter of Daniel where he was praying for 21 days about an urgent matter. An angel came and told Daniel that from the very first day he began to pray, his words were heard but a spiritual warfare ensued with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, the chief principality of Satan over that country. The angel had to call Michael, one which stands guard over Daniel's people (Israelites), to come help. When I read that passage of scripture and the first verse of Daniel, chapter 12, I realized I was in a battle. As I meditated on God's word, the Holy Spirit quickened me when I said, "By adoption, I am a child of Israel, Lord send Michael to help."

That night I drifted off to sleep and had a vivid dream. In this dream, I was fighting many demons. I was losing the battle and called on the Lord. I said, "Help me, Jesus, send Michael to help me." About that time, I saw a platoon (about 30) of soldiers marching towards me. They were dressed up in Army Blue Dress uniforms. The head one came up to me, rendered a hand salute, and said, "Michael reporting as ordered, sir." In my dream, I could clearly see his name tag and the Chief Warrant Officer Four (the highest warrant officer rank at that time) bars on his shoulders. I said, "Chief, I need help." He turned to his platoon and gave the command, "Round them up, boys." In short order, the demons were captured and herded into a white bus that had "PRISONERS" written on it. I woke from my dream and had sweet peace and victory in this battle. What a mighty God we serve!

Be blessed, walkin2e

 

[Laurie KRB]

I glad you posted about Daniel praying...Here is a true experience that happened to me:

That night I drifted off to sleep and had a vivid dream. In this dream, I was fighting many demons. I was losing the battle and called on the Lord. I said, "Help me, Jesus, send Michael to help me." About that time, I saw a platoon (about 30) of soldiers marching towards me. They were dressed up in Army Blue Dress uniforms. The head one came up to me, rendered a hand salute, and said, "Michael reporting as ordered, sir." In my dream, I could clearly see his name tag and the Chief Warrant Officer Four (the highest warrant officer rank at that time) bars on his shoulders. I said, "Chief, I need help." He turned to his platoon and gave the command, "Round them up, boys." In short order, the demons were captured and herded into a white bus that had "PRISONERS" written on it. I woke from my dream and had sweet peace and victory in this battle. What a mighty God we serve!

Be blessed, walkin2e

Awesome! I have no doubt about our warfare or about winning. Here's another powerful glimpse into what is going on just out of sight:

2 Kings 6 (ESV):

11And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" 12And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." 13And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Suspecting treason, the king wanted to know who was telling his war secrets. He was informed it wasn't any of his own men, but that it was just Elisha the prophet, who knew things (by the power of God) beforehand, so the king set out to find and destroy him.

Seeing themselves surrounded, Elisha's servant ran to him and fear, asking "What are we going to do?!" But Elisha, calmly I'm sure, said "There are more on our side than on their side." In other words, "We can't lose. See for yourself!" And his servant caught a glimpse into what was going on in the spiritual realm and saw that they had way more power on their side and they weren't in any danger from the king or his men. Angels in chariots of fire were on their side -- that beats men on horses any day, right?!

Not only are we in a war (like it or not), we have already been assured of the victory!

But we must use the weapons God gave us, especially the Sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. Paul, in Ephesians, wrote that we take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And we must make the decision to walk by faith, assured that His Word is Truth, no matter what it 'looks' like in the physical. (Easier said than done, of course.)

I agree with you, that we must pray in the Spirit, guided and directed by His Word in order to achieve the victory!

But Paul also said that Jesus ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession... we cannot lose!

Thank you so much for sharing this dream and victory!

In faith,

 

[BLUEEYEANGEL]

MyLiLyInMyValley, thanks

 

[sladeonline]

Great word...He longs to speak to us more than we long to hear from Him...

 

[sladeonline]

If we can only sit in His presence

 

[Laurie KRB]

Great word...He longs to speak to us more than we long to hear from Him...

I agree! He longs for fellowship with us and He loves us with a pure love we probably won't really understand (or be able to return) until we get to see Him. He sent His Son to die for us because He "so loved the world" and chose us as His elect, chosen children to be in relationship with.

Isn't that cool?!

 

[EarthMomma]

Dear Laurie,

Thanks for a thought provoking post, and insightful replies. I've enjoyed it. When we are truly seeking an intimate relationship with God, we draw near to Him, and He draws near to us. I think sometimes we need to concentrate on loving Him, being intimate with Him, rather than seeking words or answers. Often that is when we really feel His presence, and that presence brings such joys, the seeking pales in significance.

I so agree that the problem is not on the "giving" end. And that faith is the key: trusting that God wants our closeness more than even we do.

I am convinced that the problem is on the 'receiving' end, and not on the 'giving' end. God has poured out Himself on our behalf, there is no mistaking the great sacrifice He has given for us!

And even though I don't understand what hinders my receiving of His word, His promises, I trust that He longs for me to receive them as much as I long to be close to Him.

...

"Love others..."

Why is this the great and royal command? I believe it is because that is how God touches many of His children, through the touch of others. We treat our friend with respect and love and honor and God flows through us to them.

We feed those who are hungry, and it is the expression of God toward them. When we comfort a crying child, we are a great force in that child's life, and as such we are allowing God's love to flow through us to reach them.

We may be someone's sole and only connection to God today. He may choose us to reach out to someone, to let His love flow through our fingers and our words to lift up a hurting soul, to touch an aching brother or sister.

And you have highlighted a most important way to draw near to God, that of loving others! There is no better witness. And no better way to show God your love than through loving others.

Sometimes, in perceived droughts, we can learn from the Word what it really means to "wait upon God," the hopeful expectation that comes from active participle type of faith. Nothing builds that hope more than giving and receiving the love of others in these times.

He has equipped us with all the spiritual weapons we need, and the power to use those weapons in the determined belief of victory. We know that. And that knowledge is enough for now, at least for me, because for now, I will only know in part. Therefore, I am joyful in rainfall and in drought, knowing I am in His hands.

Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma