Ten

Are you afraid of the dark?
The fear of darkness is called Nyctophobia and there are many people who struggle with this phobia. Night time, darkness, silence, fear - they all have their own combination of anxiety and unknowns, but it is often during these times that God speaks clearly to us.

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs." - Matthew 10:26-27

Jesus promises to speak to us in the dark and to whisper his words of Grace for us. During this Lent season may we learn to listen in the dark.

Os Guiness writes - "Jesus does not say we will never walk in the dark, but that we do not wander in the dark or have a way of life at home in darkness. To anyone not knowing the anguish of such a situation, the distinction may sound trivial—the darkness appears as dark and the dilemma as agonizing. But neither is ultimate, for the outcome lies with God.”

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Come closer

So my sore throat has finally become Laryngitis. My family are loving the peace and quiet at the moment, as I grow increasingly frustrated at not being able to speak. I have noticed two interesting things while I have had voice:

1. When people hear you whispering, they also start to speak a little quieter - in fact, some of them even whisper back to me :)

2. It seems awkward at first, but people actually come closer to you, when they realise that you can't speak at all. They move in to hear your whispers.

I know I have said it before, but it has struck me again today - God could easily raise his voice to us and speak in big booming tones, but this could keep him at a distance from us. The quieter he whispers, the more we need to move closer to him. The closer we get, the easier it is to hear his voice. Simple, but true!

So, here is a thought for you today. If you think that God has stopped speaking to you, then perhaps he has got "Laryngitis" or at the very least, he is speaking in a whisper. His greatest desire is for us to move closer to his presence, so that he can share his heart with us.

Helen Keller - "Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content."

Revelation 8:1 - When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Is God a Sphinx?

The Sphinx is a mythical figure appearing in both Greek and Egyptian traditions, although the Egyptian Sphinx is considerably kinder than his Greek counterpart. One of the roles of the Sphinx is to act as a guardian over tombs or holy places. We often see the famous photo's of the Great Sphinx of Giza protecting the Pyramids in the background.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that God is a Sphinx and that all he does is stand lifelessly guarding our world. He is there, but has no power to intervene or to actually do something. Although how God chooses to work, is a mystery to me, I do believe that He is alive.

"Christians believe in a God who speaks. Ours is not a silent God who sits, sphinx-like, looking out unblinking on a world in agony ... He speaks because he loves us. Love always seeks to communicate." - Donald Coggan

Exodus 33:11 - "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend."

How do you feel?

Pray to the Lord, believing that he is not just ignoring your prayers, but is actively listening to every word that you are speaking.

Living in Grace
D3LM3