I’ve had an issue on the top of my prayer list for several months now. At times, it feels as though my prayers aren’t getting through the proper channels. I’m hearing nothing from God and the “what ifs” and doubts are on a slow simmer on the back burner of my brain.
At times I’m guilty of putting God in a box with my expectations of HOW I want Him to answer my prayers. It’s easy to miss God when we put restraints on our Lord.
God doesn’t always speak in an audible voice and last week He went above and beyond to prove that to me. I left the house for a long day of appointments and errands. Alone in the car with my thoughts, I ran through a fresh wave of prayers, that even to my ears sounded like nothing more than complaints.
Stuck in a long left-hand turn lane I glanced at the car stopped in front of me. My focus was pulled to the tiny Smart Car that was impossible to ignore because of its blinding, bright yellow color.
I couldn’t help but think – What kind of person would actually drive a bright yellow clown car??? And that’s when I noticed the sticker on the back window of the miniscule vehicle. It said: “Made for More.” My eyes travelled downward to the car’s personalized license plate, which said: Shaddai. Printed across the entire length of the back bumper was a message that clearly was meant for me: “I am God Almighty,” walk before me faithfully and be blameless.
I had to laugh at God’s impeccable timing and his sense of humor. I was convinced the Lord was ignoring me, but El Shaddai used a teeny, tiny car to assure me He is always watching and listening.
I don’t pretend to know all of the ways God can speak to us, but I know He speaks in the roar of thunder. He gets our attention in the rainbows and surely must be shouting His majesty in an Arizona sunset. I’ve heard God whisper to me in the smell of rain, or the smell of just-baked bread. Who else but God could create something as bitter as a cacao plant and turn it into something as exquisite and delicious as a piece of chocolate? Chocolate definitely speaks love! Surely God wouldn’t create us with our five senses, if he didn’t plan on speaking to us in what we touch, hear, taste, smell and see.
Jesus speaks through His written Word – that’s easy, but I know I’ve heard his voice in a sanctuary full of believers all worshipping in one voice. Every time a word of encouragement is spoken, or we receive prayer, or we read a random Christian bumper sticker … God is speaking!
For God is closely watching you, and he weighs carefully everything you do. Proverbs 5:21 (TLB)
Sometimes we simply need to chill out and ditch our expectations and be still and KNOW that He is Lord! (Psalm 46 :10)
Speak Lord … your servant is listening!
