Enjoying the Presence of God by Jan Johnson

Author:Jan Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
ISBN: 9781631467394
Publisher: The Navigators
Published: 2016-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

QUESTIONS IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP

Posing questions to God is an important part of our relationship with Him. It goes against what we’ve learned in our culture about being self-sufficient. We’re supposed to find the answers ourselves—dig up facts, make evaluations, and produce a bottom-line solution. But as we become companions of God, we realize that human knowledge is finite and limited. We admit we can’t find all the answers and that God’s input gives light and heat to otherwise mediocre accomplishments. Submission to God is never easy to learn, but when we start asking God questions, we embark on a radically different way of life.

Early in his career, King David of the Old Testament was good at “inquiring of the Lord.” Once when the Philistines encamped as if to attack Israel, David inquired after God for a response. The commonsense answer was obvious: attack, or at least be ready to defend Israel. Yet when questioned, God told David not only to attack but also to circle behind the Philistines and attack in front of the balsam trees because “as soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army” (2 Samuel 5:23-24). How exciting it must have been to participate in something in which God, your companion, goes out in front of you and does the heavy work. Going out of the way to ask God questions focuses and refines the commonsense answer and fills it with God’s power and purpose.

So at any given moment, we may launch two or twenty questions into the air—Is this a wise purchase? How can I be a better friend to my aging mother? How should I approach this business associate who intimidates me?

The question, What do I need to know? may be answered several ways. God might make new information clear or simply help you figure out exactly what information you need to search for. Other times, God reminds us of what we already know. Once when I found myself wanting to avoid a certain friend, I asked God, “What do I need to know—that I probably already know?” A few days later when I was teasing my husband about watching too much football on TV, he said, “What about that saying you like—‘I clean up my side of the street and you clean up yours’?” His words stayed with me and reminded me of the wisdom I needed with my friend. Her views on social issues were different from mine and, to be quite honest, I wanted her to change her views! But her opinions were her “side of the street.” My side of the street was to speak up when appropriate, but not to change her mind.

Another key question to ask God is, What next? Instead of drifting with no goals or striving for self-imposed goals, we may ask, What shall I turn my attention to next?

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