As a single woman, I find myself feeling alone and wanting to talk with someone quite regularly. I have called family and friends when this need arises, yet there are times when this seems quite inadequate. So I turn my voice heavenward and talk to God. I have been known to talk to him just as I would anyone else that is in the room - for in fact, He is.
During a recent time of loneliness I was sharing my heart with Jesus about my lack of contentment and loneliness without a husband। He spoke to me in the words of a Poem he placed on my heart and in my pen (computer keyboard). I originally called the Poem "Lord, Is It True?" But in the last few days I have re-named it, "A Single Woman Talks to God."** I have included it here so that you see you aren't the only one who feels lost and alone.
A Single Woman Talks To God
Lord, is it true?
That You chose me to walk this single life?
To work out my daily walk with no man
And me, not a wife?
Lord, is it really true?
Lord is it true?
That on You I can depend
That You will be my Husband
Closer than my closest friend
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That I really am Your wife
That You carry will all my pain and strife
If I but lay down my life
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That no matter what befalls
You will answer all my calls
And no harm can prevail
Unless it is Your will
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord is it true
That all things work out for good
And I'm covered, protected, by Your blood
If I follow close to Your side
Forever in Your will to abide
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That You have chosen me; I haven't chosen You
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, Thank You!
~ Leigh ~
This is just one example of how I talk to God। I have been known to yell at Him while playing my radio or stereo real loud to try to cover up my shouts, or to cry my eyes out in a tirade or pity party. God expects us, nay rather, encourages us to share our deep inner feelings with Him ALWAYS. If we leave those feelings bottled up inside of us we will soon be just like a soda bottle that has been shaken - soon those inner feeling will come exploding out of us; and usually on some unsuspecting, and undeserving, person. God knows exactly how we feel in our inner most heart of hearts, but He also knows how to speak to each of us in a way that we can understand and can bring us to a place of release, relief and contentment. I don't know about you, but I am way ready for a place of contentment and relief.
Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5: ‘... be content with such as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ Jesus puts us in our place by telling us that as long as we are HIS children, we are to be CONTENT. He gives no but/if statement or conditions that would give us "permission" to be discontent. So, if we are feeling discontented, we need to ask Him where we are missing the mark; we must not be doing all that He has for us if we are feeling blue, lonely or whatever term you use for your lack of contentment.
Maybe you have completed an assignment for Jesus and now you are feeling like you are missing something. Again you need to talk to Jesus, take time for a debriefing before taking on a new assignment. Remember when the astronauts are brought home from their mission in space, or when a military unit returns from deployment, how they are placed in seclusion for a few days to allow for their Commanders to gather information about their assignment? We as Christians are ‘Soldiers of the Lord' and as such we also need a time to be debriefed by Jesus before we are sent on our next assignment. This time of debriefing is for us to learn what we have done for God in this last assignment and a to learn what this assignment has taught us or what we should have learned through it. If we don't take this time for debriefing, we could become a ‘spiritual burnout.'
A spiritual burnout is not easy as easy to spot as career burnout। She/ he is likely the busiest person in the family/church, running from one assignment to the next with hardly a breath between; and has a hard time saying ‘No' when ever asked to lend a hand, take on a project or task. I know this person; she is me. I am always running from one task or assignment to the next, and usually doing two or more at the same time. Then when I have run amuck for two, three or six months, I end up banging my head against the wall, sometimes literally, wondering what I am supposed to be doing, or crying because I can't do anything right. Yes, I am usually doing all that I can to please the Lord and to grow in the spirit - but without the time between assignments that I need, I defeat the whole growing season I am trying to cultivate in my life and Christian walk.
Psalms 46:10 says; ‘Be still and know that I am God...’ God was telling the children of Israel that no matter what natural disaster or threat of war was lurking right outside the door, they were to stop and see what God was going to do to help them through it. Also Isaiah 40:31 says; ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.’ This verse tells us we need to wait on Jesus and He will strengthen us. This is just what I was talking about, that time of debriefing is waiting before Jesus, calm and expectant, to let Him strengthen you. To allow Him to show you what you have accomplished in the assignment or what you needed to learn from it. But this time of waiting is not a period of doing nothing; it is fraught with action - service and conversation - you giving of your self totally unto Jesus by your actions and in your words.
So how do you wait on the Lord while waiting for the Lord to speak? Spend time in the word and prayer। But not your daily God bless mom, dad and uncle John, or please heal sister Gertrude or Brother George. It is a simple conversation, just as you would your best friend. Quietly wait for Him to speak to you, into your heart and mind - or through His word. All of this can be done while you are going about your normal daily routines.
Wash dishes and sing praises to Jesus. Sweep the floors and pour out your heart to Him while sweeping up the dust bunnies under the fridge. Clean the bath or fold the laundry while you quote scripture verses you have been learning. This is all a part of your service to Him while you wait for Him to speak to you. And He will always speak to you in the manner that gets through to you the best. He speaks to me in songs and poetry when He is building me up. When I am in trouble He uses His correction rod - a [figurative] piece of lumber that is 8"x 8" and about 10' long - but it usually does the job of getting my attention and my eyes back on Jesus and off myself. Then we can start on the communication process all over again and get to the heart of the matter, because I have come to the place where I can listen to His voice once again. So I take the time to really listen to ALL He has to say.
Talking to our Lord is a very valuable time of sharing our feelings, learning new things, finding out how we have grown and getting our new assignments from Jesus. All of these things are very important to each one's growth and development in our walk of Faith. Take time to talk with and to Jesus. Cultivate your conversations with Him in all areas, and He will find more and more times and places to speak with you every day!
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