Conversations with God

    The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. ~ Psalm 145:18-19

    Hey gorgeous people! So, throughout my 8 years of being a christian, I have prayed and prayed and tried and tried to get an answer from God. I wanted to hear from Him. Because after years and years of praying to Him nonstop, you kinda feel like it's a one sided relationship.

    But now, I've recently been experimenting with different ways to have a conversation with God. Now, quick vocabulary lesson:

Conversation ~ a talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged.    

  

  Now, the definition of the word exchange :) 

Exchange ~ an act of giving one thing and receiving another in return. 

  

  Did you see that? IN RETURN. Now, I'm not begging God to give give give, but what I am saying is that in order to have a conversation with God, you must listen as well as speak. So, on that note, let's get into how to communicate with God. Both talking, as well as listening. 

    There's many ways to go. First of all, find somewhere quiet and private. Some ideas are your bedroom, your closet, church, or even a library. If you're not comfortable writing anything down, and you want to just talk freely and openly, you can just sit and talk to God like that. I would recommend writing down both your words and God's in either a notebook or your phone if you're not comfortable with pen and paper. 

    Now, to make this as simple as possible, I'm going to break it into 4 steps.

  Number 1: Write down what you have to say. This part is real simple. Just jot down how you are doing, (God wants to know!) questions you have to ask him, and how you feel. I definitely suggest asking a question because it seems to get the conversation going. Your question could be as simple as, What do you have to say to me today?" or a question based on the personal issues in your life.

      Number 2: Be still. This one can be either simple, or extremely difficult. Try to jot down all of your thoughts and worries that bubble up to the surface. Clear your mind, and if thoughts keep cutting into your time with God, ask God to quiet your thoughts. And if they simply won't budge, take a second to take care of them. Deal with the problems in your head. Say, for example, I'm trying to listen to God, but the thought, "I don't know if I did well on my chemistry test." keeps popping up into my head, I will think, "I did my best, and know I'll forget the rest." That quiets the thought and sets it aside. 

    Number 3: Fix your eyes on Jesus. So, if you're constantly thinking about a chalupa at Taco Bell, while trying to listen for God's voice, you're not seeking him. Jeremiah 29:13 says, You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. So if you're not seeking him, you won't find him. Simple as that. Try picturing him across from you, like a friend you're talking to. Don't overthink it, and don't worry about it, just fix your eyes on Him. Easy. Last one, 

    Number 4: Listen for spontaneous thoughts. So, you're sitting there, mind quieted by God, eyes fixed on His face, If God has something to tell you, He WILL tell you. God isn't human. He doesn't struggle to do anything. So if He wants to get a point across, He will. And it might be in ways you don't expect. If you never hear anything during your times with God, continue to meet with him, but look at other areas of your life. Is there a person God seems to be speaking through? Now, the last point I want to make is that when you meet with God to talk, your mind should be focused on the fact that you came here in the first place, that you're sitting and taking the time to soak up his presence. He doesn't have to say anything. Just being there is enough. And I think that's it! Just trust your gut and don't worry about it. 

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7

Any questions? Leave them down in the comments below. Share your story!