May I call it a "conversation?" Definitely. I think most people would define a series of words passed between two parties expressing a thought of common interest, 'a conversation'.
To understand what I'm referring to, you must also realize I'm speaking to something I can not see. Most people these days would say I was losing my mind, or something to that extent.
God speaks to everyone, I'm sure, in different ways. So many refuse to listen. Therefore they will say this can not happen. To know that He does speak to us is very important.
Most people in spending time with God in prayer never get passed these:
Why? Why God?...Help me Lord!...How long?... What's taking so long?....Have you forgotten us?
Here is a good question for you. Do you or have you forgotten your children? Of course not. You can't forget them! They always seem to be there, tugging, pleading, asking the annoying questions.
Why? Why mommy? Why daddy? Why can't I? How? Where? When? Why? What? I know you get really tired of it sometimes. But truth is you love them anyway. We don't deliver to them every time they come whining to us, though, do we? No we don't! We want to see if they can show some signs of appreciation before we deliver too much. Some of us have a problem though. Many times we give in too quick to their every whimsy and it's not something they need. Truth be told it would have been better if we had said 'no' sometimes....But I'm getting off subject...sorry...
Our Heavenly Father loves us even more than we love our own children. We wonder how can that be but it's true. He sees us reaching out like little children, arms outstretched, always wanting something selfish for ourselves.
Maybe it is time we go back to the scriptures and learn what the Father says about worship and praise and what He wants for us.
We as a church, and individually have many needs. We are always searching and asking for all kinds of things. Mark 10:13-16 tells us to come to the Father as children.
Our Father continues to show us how if we search the scriptures, in Psalms 100 says "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God. It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good and His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations." Psalm 100:2
One of the first real conversations I ever had with the Lord after my conversion and sanctification, was as a busy wife and mother, trying to survive in a crazy world. I make a sad note here is I wish I had not waited so late in my life to come to the knowledge of what God really wanted for me. I had done all the things you are taught in the church. Followed all the rules, manual, ten commandments, and all I could do humanly possible to be what God wanted. At this point, realizing after being a Christian since youth, in a pastors home, that there was more. I had missed out of the best.
My first experience with this "conversation" as I call it, was a rough time in my life. I had many other times that would have seemed worse by the worlds standards, like two car accidents, one of which kept me in the hospital for Thanksgiving and Christmas when my boys were just babies. But I'm talking about one of those times that no doctor, medicines, cures, remedies could help.
One evening in my feeble attempt to have a private time with the Lord, fighting sleep and so out of it, I said "God I feel so bad. I know I don't spend the time with you that I should. When I do spend time reading scriptures or trying to pray, I fight sleep or can't keep my mind on it, for all the other "stuff" clogging my brain. Help me Lord, I want to spend more time with you, but I need you to tell me how. Lord I can't promise the same amount of time or the same time each day. I'm not getting enough sleep now. Can't get everything done. How do I do it?"
Then..it was like all kind of lights went on in my mind. The Lord helped me to see that my early morning hours were my Best Time. Early hours we are more alert. We know God wants our best. So I said "Lord I can't get up early all the time, but Lord when you want to talk with me, please, wake me up."
The Lord did exactly that. Approximately two weeks later I was awakened at 3 am WITHOUT an alarm clock. I felt a tap on my shoulder and my name was heard. Three times I heard my name. Needless to say, my reply was "Yes Lord I'm listening." I heard Him say "Come to the living room." When He calls, I suggest you answer, "YES".
I definitely recognized that call and got up and obeyed. My concern was what was wrong, why at this time. The Lord reminded me I had asked Him to wake me when He wanted my attention. "Yes Lord I meant it. What do you want of me?" Jesus said, "I want you to sing to me."
My first thought was, "sing" at 3 am? I'm gonna wake everyone up and that wouldn't be good if you know what I mean. Three men awakened at 3 am by my singing...They probably would want to lock this crazy person up. Anyway....
Immediately the Lord reminded me that singing was "praise" and that He had missed my praises to Him and was starving for my affection.
In that moment He began to teach me. I was learning what David meant when he said, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, Come before His presence with singing, enter into His gates with thanksgiving....I began thanking God for everything even down to the running water in the kitchen sink...wasn't going to leave anything out. Most of all thanking Him for coming to earth, dying for me....giving me eternal life....I was definitely in the court with praise.
I praised Him everywhere and everyway possible at 3 am. There is not enough time or space here to tell all the ways I praised, but here is a portion:
All hail King Jesus. All hail Emanuel, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Bright Morning Star. Throughout all eternity I'm going to praise Him.
Forevermore I will reign with Him. Lord there is none like you. No one else can touch my heart like you do. I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like you. I was made to praise You. I was made to praise You.
I was made to glorify Your name in every circumstance to find a chance to thank You.
I was made to love You. I was made to worship at your feet and to obey You Lord. I was made for you. I will always praise You. I will always glorify Your name in every circumstance. I'll find a chance to thank You. I will always love You. I will always worship at Your feet.
I will obey You Lord. I was made for You. I worship You, Almighty God, there is none like You.
I worship You, O Prince of Peace. That is what I want to do. I give You praise for You are my Righteousness. I worship You Almighty God. There is NONE LIKE YOU!!!
At this point our conversation was coming to an end after 3 hours. I was not tired. I had been uplifted. I do not have the words to adequately express how I felt. I did not want this time to end. In truth this feeling stayed with me all day. No situation could detour me. I was going forward with a new attitude Jesus was the love of my life and He would be with me through life. He had prepared for me in efforts to be with me in the hereafter. "Truly" He said, "I will never leave you."
How comforting that is. Giving my life to Jesus and learning to LISTEN HEAR OBEY and TRUST HIM in ALL THINGS, has been the best thing I have ever done in my life.
We have not begun to praise Him the way we should. Don't leave your praises in the closet. I pray God will give His people more praise and worship 101 lessons. The scriptures say we will be praising for all eternity. Let's start praising Him now. Hopefully more than 5 minutes on Sunday morning between prayer and song.
GOD HELP US!
Lord, let us learn how to lift Your name more.
We give You thanks, praise and glory forever
We look forward to future "CONVERSATIONS" with You.
Be thankful and bless His name. Blessed be the name of the Lord. He is worthy to be praised and adored. So we lift up holy hands in one accord....singing. Blessed be the name....Blessed be the name...Blessed be the name of the Lord FOREVERMORE!!!