Lesson 7
Prepare Your Heart To Talk To God
by Robert Pedersen
This belief may seem counter intuitive but here it is:
“I know the ways in which God speaks”
Here’s a real communication killer.
It’s pretty easy to develop this attitude.
Perhaps you’ve felt close to God in the past. You felt like God spoke to you.
How would you expect God to speak the next time?
Probably in the same way right? Maybe in the same place?
Maybe your church has taught you how God speaks. You have a certain expectation about God speaking.
An example might be: “God speaks through the preacher and since the preacher says you shouldn’t eat chocolate then God says “You shouldn’t eat chocolate”".
Obviously the options are endless – and all are limiting.
Here again is the constraint of the finite attempting to comprehend the infinite.
If we really believe in the greatness of God we must let go of the expectations that He is going to show up only in the ways we think!
Remember: According to your faith be it unto you.
Are you limiting God by a limited faith or belief?
Probably.
That’s pretty much true for all of us. Me included.
I’m constantly finding areas where I limit God and you will too.
That’s good because then you can choose to remove that limit – it doesn’t really exist anyway except in your own belief system.
Can you allow God to speak how ever God chooses to speak?
Allow God to say whatever God desires to say?
That requires a degree of openness that most people are afraid of.
That degree of openness is exactly what is required for great communication with anyone.
Scripture reference:
Matt 15:10-13
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and
understand.
11 What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him
‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is
what makes him ‘unclean.’”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you
know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard
this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has
not planted will be pulled up by the roots. (NIV)
People were offended by the words of Christ because he didn’t speak that which they expected.
The religious leaders of the day found that Christ spoke the words they expected the least.
He called himself the Son of God and they were offended.
He healed and they were offended.
Most everything Christ did offended someone until those very religious, righteous people crucified him.
So here’s the key: Don’t get caught up in expecting God’s voice in a particular way.
If you do, your expectations will dramatically limit what God can communicate to you.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks a lot Bro. Robert for the tips on listening to God. I have been really blessed. May God bless you abundantly.
I have learned that God is yearning to speak to us but we are busy with other stuffs of life and putting the blame on him.
Dear friends may we do our part as God has already done his part.
Once again thank you Robert.
Thanks for taking a look at the lessons! I’m glad you feel they were helpful.
It’s amazing how we make grand assumptions that God isn’t speaking or doesn’t want to speak to us – and we do nothing to invite His presence or put ourselves in His presence – but then it’s hardly our fault. Most of the so called spiritual teaching we’re exposed to doesn’t really help us in this regard.
Blessings,
Robert
How do we take the limits off? I suspect, that the answer has something to do with growing our faith?
Nick,
When we let go of our expectations, notions and ideas about God we’re removing the limits. If you really think about everything you’ve previously thought or been taught about God – you’ll discover they are limiting.
Can we just let God be without trying to define God? When we get into deciding what makes God happy, angry, etc – all the human emotions – we’re limiting again. Most if not all of that stuff is our attempt to understand the infinite through our very limited understanding and experience.
When we humble ourselves before God we’re saying to God “All my thoughts and ideas about you are nothing and I wait for your thoughts”. That’s the way I see it.
Regards,
Robert
Robert, thank you for these lessons,you see i began to read them and i must admit, i uses to think God spoke to you the same way all the time, and that he did not actully talk to you like i would my children, well after reading your lesson, i opened my heart and aske God to speak to me daily, well he does and one day he spoke to me and it scared me because, what he said was something i had never thought he would say to me, i had been going through something , and i aske God if it was of him, well he told me “let me work on him, before i work this out” i was kinda of frightened, at first, but i called a friend of mine and she said , you asked him to speak to you, well he is encouraging you, to keep the faith!. so thank you again.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
When we let go of our expectations around what and how God speaks, we open the door to His unlimited possibilities!
Dear Robert,
Thank you for the seven guidelines to communicating with God. I happened to stumble on your sight as i was looking for information, on what is out there about communicating with God. I was refreshed by your writing and background, that you came from what i will call here, the institution called church. I believe that what God is doing right now is calling us to have the expression called church (as seen in Acts) and not what we do every sunday morning! Also am glad to note that, everytime we want to do want God is leading us to do, we shall definately find opposition, thats given, but hey even the bible says in Mathew 10: 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’[e] 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
I have more that i can share on this, as God leads, lets see how this goes.
Bless you.
Leah
Leah,
Welcome to BeStillKnowGod! Glad to have you and thanks for sharing your insight!
I think the opposition we often see from our own family is a reflection of the doubts and confusion we have in ourselves about our own direction. It’s difficult to clarify ones direction at times – especially when you’re finding your way as we so often are in this life.
My experience has shown that as I gain clarity the opposition diminishes – and maybe it’s because others finally begin to recognize that there’s no point in fighting with me – that they’re not going to change my mind.
I have found peace on the other side of the sword if you will! And while family may think I’m crazy we’re not fighting about it!
Perhaps it is the willingness to face the sword of opposition from family and friends that proves our conviction and allows us to have peace on the other side.
Blessings,
Robert
Hello Robert,
Thank you for these lessons. I have been a christian for many years and have felt I was not hearing from God for the past many years. After a 7 day fast from all alcoholic beverages, I believe I get what you are saying. Before the fast I was extremely worried that I had offended God and the offense was the reason I was not hearing from Him. I began wondering if drinking alcoholic beverages was a problem. On the 4th day of the fast, (which purpose was to reveal hindrances preventing my effectiveness for God), He showed me that I am not a drunkard (abusing alcohol) and not to worry about that. I was very surprised being I had convinced myself that it was a major hindrance in my relationship with God. What I received from God during the fast was also surprising: Do not take offense and do not give offense. If I take offense ask for forgiveness and pray God forgives the one who gave the offense whether intentional or unintentional. If I give offense, whether intentional or unintentional, ask for forgiveness and ask God to forgive the one who took the offense. The second instruction I received from God was: Do not rely on others for guidance, rely on God alone. Finally, the 3rd instruction I received was: Do not worry. Before the fast I was limiting God, during the fast I was hearing from God.
Susan,
Thanks so much for sharing your amazing experience!
Awesome!
Robert
I just feel like a little child after reading all your course and feel that I have to start again. Have been fed on the scripture -few there be that are saved- and taught that I had to continue within the sect to experience being saved. I’m so thankful that at long last, I have the desire to leave this very limiting and self righteous sect but still respect their sincerity in their belief. There is much to think about in your 7 lessons and I want to read them again and again and get the full understanding.
I like to share this with everyone, I asked God to talk to me on how to communicate with him and how should I understand His way in about half an hour before I found this article. He did answered me! I am so happy to share this with everyone here as am surrounded by atheism friends who doesn’t believe in God. Now I feel that I want to talk to him about everything and He difinitely answer me in some ways.. Thank you Robert for this amazing article.
Leanda,
Thanks for sharing! And welcome to BeStillKnowGod!
Don’t be too hard on your atheist friends. They’re like that for a reason. It may be that they just don’t believe in religion or at least in religion’s traditional teaching about God.
I don’t either and I suspect some folks would call me atheist. Labels only mean what we make them mean. Usually they’re far short of reality!
I’m glad you were led to my site and hope you continue to enjoy and share!
Blessings,
Robert
Ann,
Isn’t it wonderful? Feeling like a child is a good place for all of us!
With regard to leaving the sect – you’re already gone at the soul level. Physical attendance will become more and more meaningless until it is so pointless that it becomes ridiculous to continue. Then you’re free without attachments.
Allow the truth that sets you free to grow within you until the time is right. The leaving will be less traumatic and very natural – arising from growth instead of criticism and fault finding with the organization.
And of course you hit the nail on the head – always respect others for their beliefs. They are controlled by them just as you and I are. They’re not right or wrong, they’re just beliefs.
Blessings,
Robert
Robert you have a lot of wisdom and great clarity of thought. You are so right about leaving the sect. I’ve already left in my soul and am now free. I’ll know when the physical time to leave comes. Thank you for your help which I feel that I needed very much.
You’re right, you’ll know when it is time. Nothing will keep you!
The best is ahead!…. and you’re welcome!
Thanks for your openness on this site. Don’t be a stranger!
Robert
Thank you Robert for these 7 sessions. I Have been striving all my life on how communicate with God.
Thru your seven lessons Things have been made so much clearer now. God will always be the main thing in my life,we just have to ask and he will guide us. Thank you so much . Ed and may god bless you.