Thursday, July 21, 2011

PATH TO QUALITY INNER CONVERSATION


“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” (Ps 4:4)

When the angel came to Mary with the news of her giving birth to Jesus, Mary wondered “…How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). When Peter answered Jesus’ demand to let down his net for a drought he said “…Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing…” (Luke 5:5). Also at the time when Zacharias was told by the angel of God’s intention to give a baby and even at his old age, he replied “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” (Luke 1:18). We may also recall when the angel met with Gideon and called him man of valor (Judges 6:13-15). All these were examples of expression that arose through inner conversation. And perhaps you are reading this material and you wonder how the Word of God sent to you will gain higher voice over other issues and opinions troubling your mind; then join me in this thought for a change experience.

Often times we find yourself between different opinions at a time of trying to follow what God’s Word says. We found God’s Word sounds to us too good to be true. Here it’s far easier for us to believe the verdicts and suggestions of our lawyers or doctors more than what the Word of God says to us. I believe the reason is due to what kind of word we give most of our attention to per time.

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.” (Prov 4:20-21)

Let’s consider the word “attend” in the light of the service of an “attendant” or a “waiter”. An attendant is a person escorting or providing services to another individual. He/she waits on you until your request is made. And whenever you need a service, he is always nearby for your beckoning. What kinds of words you “attend” to most of your time is what determines what comes closer to you. Your attention will always determine your direction. This is why most of the time; God loves to fully secure your attention before He starts speaking His Word to you (Exo. 3:4).

One good reason why God wants you to keep His Word close to you and attend to Him all the time is so as for you to find a good “partner” to converse with at a time of taking major life decisions. And note that every such word that find a place of rest or attention in your heart as “partners” are what eventually turn out to be your beliefs. Likewise when we give ourselves most to the words from the world, we found the same kind of word surfacing as beliefs inside of us and having effect on our what kind of choice we make.

Man’s mind is the platform for his reasoning, while his heart is a synergy of his mind and spirit. Whenever a man hears God’s Word, the first place the word settles is in his mind. It’s in this place that conversation arises between the spirit of the man himself, together with his beliefs (those words that have already gained root on his mind) and the newly heard God’s Word. This conversation is what determines the allowance to be given to this ‘new’ Word in gaining entrance into your heart.

“My son, attend to my words…keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them…” (Pro. 4:20-22)

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Ps 119:130)

Whenever the Word remains in the mind without entering the spirit (heart), it simply turns the recipient to only a hearer and not a doer. Such Word can easily be displaced by any other stronger conviction (Matt. 13:20,21).

Every entrance of the Word into the heart of man makes it easy for him to comply with its dictates since such word has also gained root in his spirit. Your mind is simply a battle ground for conversations, while whatever gains entrance into your heart will definitely direct the affairs of your life because it has come to where the issues of life flows (Pro. 4:23). No one doubts or struggles with light at it arrival; every darkness and confusion leaves on their own accord. This now makes it easy at this point to find direction in line with God’s will as your conformation is now with His Word (Rom. 12:2).

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