Psalm 22:1-2'' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
Maybe some of you are going through a hard time right now where you are feeling like God is silence. Well you all are not alone, because many are going through the same thing as you are.
David wrote the verse in Psalm 22, which was the same words that Jesus cried out on the cross. Later in the same prayer David also wrote, ''Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help'' Psalm 22:11. I want you to know that many Christians and ministers will make statements like if God is being silent then it's because you are doubting. Sometimes He just is silent. We need to cry out to God during the silent times, and we see where David cried out to God in those silent times in prayer. Maybe you have never ''heard'' God's voice, and you wonder whether He speaks at all. I think that many of you are struggling right now with this spiritual concept. I know that in my own life many times I will pray and seek God on something and just wait to hear back from Him. Sometimes God my answer through reading His Word. God talks to us through His Word or He will talk to your Heart or he can also speak to you through someone else. We know that Moses was the only man who came face to face with God and spoke with him. Scripture doesn't say Jesus ever seen God face to face but it does say like David Jesus heard God's ''voice'' John 8:47'' He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Jesus also assured His listeners that those who belong to God hear God too. God is not silent, although He may not speak to us with a voice that our human ears can hear, He is definitely not silent. Many times my Heat has became heavy with people whom I know and love that are moving in the opposite direction of God's best for their lives. I would share with God my fears and the hurt I felt in my heart and how I could imagine what may be going on or about to happen in their lives. Here is what I feel God is showing me that anytime we use the words imagine or imagination in or vocabulary in relationship to fear, anxiety, or dread, we need to right now reel those vain imaginations in. I believe in order for God to speak to you through His Word, you must read it. You have got to read God's Word on a daily basis. His Word speaks best when you read it consistently. God's Word speaks best the more familiar you are with it. The more you read God's Word the more you will learn the language. It is a language of love, and it is woven throughout all of Scripture. When you are struggling to hear God's voice, camp out in the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms is full of reassurances that you are not alone if you are crying out and you sense that God is not giving you His full attention. I believe that the primary way God speaks to us is through His Word, that is how God communicates with us. I believe that God also speaks through other people as well. Hebrews 3:13'' But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.During the days when the OT was being written, God often spoke through other people. Unbeknownst to them, as they shared the message God gave them to speak, they were writing those messages to us. We call these men and women prophets and prophetesses. Many might believe that God no longer speaks through prophets, and perhaps He doesn't use this method of communication as much as he did back then because we have the written Word of God. But he still speaks through other people today. Many times God will put Bible verses or a thought into the minds of others who serve Him. Then those people will know right away it is for someone. So, in obedience to the sense of urgency that person gets from God, they share what was received. It might be through a phone call, email, or in person. Another way God speaks through others is through having a conversation. There are a few good friends of mine I know I can trust and be myself with whom many times have said things to me in a conversation that I know God spoke through them to speak to me. So when I am going through a period of confusion, these few friends of mine I do share things with. Many of my friends has shared with me things that they have learn from their own walks with the Lord. Many times we talk about Scriptures and share how God's kept His promises in our lives. I know a few of my friends are what I call faith-builder-upper friends. They have a way with Words that are very refreshing and reviving my spirit. I pray that I to can be a faith-builder-upper for others. I also pray that I can be a woman of God that others can trust--one who is safe and one who has such a dynamic walk with God and that time spent with my Heavenly Father will encourages others. Not only do we hear God's message through others, but God also delivers messages through us. When you communicate God's messages to others, be sure to qualify what you have to say with this, ''While God might use me to communicate to you, know that I am an imperfect vessel. Be sure to verify what I'm saying with Scripture and talk to God about it yourself.'' You need to do the same when others speak to you. sometimes we are in such a difficult place that our pain penetrates the hearts of good people, and they, in their attempt to encourage us, might share with us ''a message from God'' that didn't come from God.
God also speaks through Dreams and Visions.
ACTS 2:17'' And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: God does speak through Dreams and Visions that he will give to others. I have had many Dreams and Visions that I know came from God but I do not bank my entire experience with God on Dreams or Visions. I think that could be dangerous. I prayed after a dream and said God if this dream came from you please let me know. Psalm 22:3'' But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
God speaks through Worship. The Word of God speaks consistently of the power of praise.
Joshua led the Israelites in a praise march around Jericho, and with the blast of trumpets Jericho's city walls crumbled and the Israelite army tasted the first victory in the Promise Land..Joshua 6. Many years later when Jehoshapat, King of Judah, was faced with a vast army that was too much for him, he led the people of Judah to see help from the Lord. Once they had prayed and fasted and heard from God through the prophet Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, Jehoshaphat assembled his troops for battle. You might think that he would place his best marksmen or maybe even his most courageous and seasoned warriors in front. But he didn't. Jehoshaphat ''appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever;;
2 Chron 20:21'' And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. As the choir sang, the Lord worked. I wonder what would have happen had the men refused to praise God before He rescued them. The praise came first and then God engaged His power. Second Chron 20:22-26 tells the rest of the story. ''As they began to sing'' God set ambushes against the armies that were assembled together to create the enormous enemy force. The men in the vast army rose up against one another. They fought and slaughtered one another. By the time the Israelite army arrived at the battlefield, everyone was dead. All Jehoshaphat and his men had to do was carry off the plunder. They appropriately named the battlefield the Valley of Beracah, which means Valley of Praise. When we assemble with one another to worship, we are looking for God to show up. When God comes into the gathering of the saints, He communicates His presence to us. God inhabits the praises of His people. If we come in need of comfort, God's Spirit gives comfort. If we come with unconfessed sin, God's Spirit delivers conviction. If we come desperate, God's Spirit offers hope.
God speaks through worship--even when we can't see how He does! If you are suffering the silence of God and you are not gathering with the saints for worship, on a regular basis, then you need to. Make sure when you gather with other believers to worship that it's real, and experience the powerful presence of God. I want to give you all a Word of warning. Not all churches or Christian chatrooms, or other places of Christian gatherings are experiencing the presence of God in worship. But many these days are simply going through the motions. Don't go to those churches or those Christian gatherings or Christian chatrooms unless God's called you there to partner with Him in bringing them life. Go to a church or Christian fellowship group or even a Christian chat room that you know that presence of the Lord is there. You will know which places are experiencing the presence of God in a genuine worship by examining their fruit.
