Converse by A. Allan Martin

Today zillions of people are talking to You all at once. Heartache. Elation. Frustration. All coming at You in hundreds of different languages. . . millions of different ways. At noon, I came to You along with our entire nation, asking You to "Bless our President, Congress, and all our leaders with supernatural power." And yet, it's awkward. Because You don't speak up; You're not like my wife, my friends, my colleagues. You speak different.

Sara* says it well for me:

"Hello Lord, it's me Your child. I have a few things on my mind. Right now I'm faced with big decisions, and I'm wondering if You have a minute.

Chorus: Right now I don't hear so well and I was wondering if You could speak up. I know that You tore the veil so I could sit with You in person and hear what You're saying, but right now, I just can't hear You.

I don't doubt Your sovereignty, I doubt my own ability to hear what You're saying and to do the right thing, and I desperately want to do the right thing. [chorus]

Somewhere in the back of my mind I think You are telling me to wait, and though patience has never been mine, Lord I will wait to hear from You. [chorus]"

Waiting is the hardest part. It makes me anxious. It's then that You mention, "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me. And My peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Me." [Philippians 4:6,7 NIV paraphrased]

You're right. I don't understand it. You're always right.

Christine* says it well for me:

"The people said this desert never ends. We have no bread our throats are dry. Our heads are heavy and our feet need rest. Has He left us here to die? And we've forgotten all His words. As if we never heard. We take our hearts and turn away.

Chorus: But He is not silent. He is not whispering. We are not quiet. We are not listening. He sends a lifeline. We keep resisting Him. He is not silent. We are not listening

We wander through this world in disbelief. Shake our heads at every tear. Searching endlessly. For some relief. Has He left us dying here? But we've forgotten all His words. Pretend we never heard. We take our hearts and turn away. [chorus]

We take our daily bread. And after we've been fed. We take our hearts and turn away. [chorus]"

So today, I'm turning towards You.

Time for me to be quiet...

I'm listening. [really]

ENCOUNTER: How is it between you and God?

 

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*Sara Groves' song "Conversations" and Christine Dente of Out of the Grey's song, "He is Not Silent"