I must say Josh's post back in June with links to two articles on the Pyro site really messed with me. I forget when I read them exactly but they shook me up so much I decided "What is the point praying if I don't understand what it is/is not and I don't know what to pray about?" Thus it has been at least 2-3 weeks since I have prayed on my own. (I have prayed with Randy, Katy, and ya'll, albeit confusedly and half-heartedly.) The biggest thing is that I am still so tired all the time that to even think about thinking about it all stresses me out so I avoid the topic and the act entirely. Deep down I know that's not good.
So finally today I read a post that was listed in the comments of this article Josh posted previously. It was very refreshing and can be found here. I still haven't prayed because I've been too busy (which I know is a totally lame excuse). But I am encouraged that the times I have heard God speak in a still, small voice have not, in fact, been negated, nor that I am some freak for having these experiences.
I am curious--have any of you heard from God in ways other than scripture? I will say most of the time it IS in scripture that He speaks to me with a still, small voice bringing this or that scripture to mind in response to a plea, question, etc. But when I was debating whether to stop breastfeeding God distinctly said, “Do what you need to to enjoy your daughter.” Not audibly per se. But clear as I’m sitting here. ¿Y tú?
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Andrea, that "rebuttal" post of sorts was a good find.
ReplyDeleteI had not thought much on the authority half of things. But I had noticed that where I largely disagree with the pyro post is on the issue of gifts of the spirit.
I don't mind if he wants to define prayer as only the talking part, not listening. But he holds that God doesn't speak, but through his word, because the gift of prophecy has ceased with the closing of the canon (or perhaps with the death of the apostles. I'm not sure "when" he says it happened). I'm also not ready to bite on "if you hear from God, you must be a prophet."
I think this issue of two-way communication is a touchy subject because of people's experiences.
On the one hand, those who have experienced a "dialogue" from God, or an answer when they've asked God something, feel like they are being challenged or invalidated when people say "no way, God doesn't reply."
On the other hand, those who pray but have not experienced a "reply" also feel frustrated when they hear again and again that prayer is "two way, so you better listen up." Are their prayers invalid?
Either side you can get the message that you're doing it all wrong, and that's downright discouraging.
Personally, I do believe God has directed me, and "spoken" to me through my thoughts and circumstances at times.