Giving authority to a child above his level of maturity is dangerous. If we understand this principle in the natural, why would we not believe God understands the same thing? Understanding and recognizing God's voice is a wonderful gift; it is also one that increases and develops as we walk with Him. Our seasons change and each new season brings us to a new level of commitment, birthed out of what he did for us in our last season.
Early on in my walk with God, I became involved in a prayer and Bible study with a group of other young Christians. Some of us thought we could empty the hospitals, raise the dead, rebuke every demon on earth and leap tall buildings with a single bound; all with one word from our anointed lips. I remember one outing to the local nursing home when one of the guys tried to get every aged person there up and walking. It was downright embarrassing to watch. These folks were in their 90's. They were feeble, sickly and just plain tired. But there he was anyway, commanding them to walk. Most just looked at him, but the sad ones were those who tried their best to stand, only to fall back into the wheelchair.
Of course God could have easily spoken through this person and cleaned out the nursing home. But - my question is: 'did God speak to that end at that particular time?' Apparently not, since we left them sitting where we found them. Many with a little more disappointment in their day, instead of an increased understanding of God's love. Perhaps this guy's relationship with Jesus was not quite equal to the level of his enthusiasm?
Often when I think on my relationship with Jesus, I am able to compare it to my marriage. I know my husband and most of the time I understand what he wants when he asks something of me. Thinking back, however, I realize it hasn't always been this way. I remember times when we were first married that I needed an interpreter for many of our conversations. Of course it wasn't always what or how he spoke as much as how I heard him.
Down through the years, with God's help, I have been able to sort out a few things in myself that caused me to misinterpret my husband's meaning. At this point in our marriage I often find myself acting as an interpreter for him to other people. If you are married, you probably know the drill: "what he meant to say was etc etc..." Hmmmm...I wonder at what point it went from asking what he meant to explaining what he meant????
Listening, really listening to the heart that is speaking makes all the difference. I can now more easily decipher what my husband means because I have learned more of his heart. Isn't that how it is with the Lord? The longer we know Him and the more time we spend with Him, the more we are able to hear the intent of his heart. As we grow and mature in Him we get past thinking we know everything and start to realize we must listen closely to the heart of God in his words. Slowly, we realize that God really is Love. We begin to understand just a little of his reasoning and his motives.
Personally, I believe the better we know Him, the more authority he allows us in prayer and declaration. Of course, if we really want to know him better, we must come deeper into surrender. To do that, we must fall deeper in love with Him. Can we really surrender to someone we do not love? Someone we don't know?
Again, I think of my earthly marriage. The more time I spend with my husband the deeper my love for him grows. The more I love him and understand his heart, the more I trust him.
It always comes back to that, doesn't it? God is Love; and because He loved he gave his Son. The same should be true of every action we make on his behalf. Every gift; every offering; every move made for him should always be birthed in Love.
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love." I Co 13:14
Enjoying the season and making memories....
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