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  Blog
Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Needed a worship feature for Sunday's service, making the point that we need to listen to God instead of just talk to God.  Here's a dialogue we developed.  Hope you can use it sometime.  (God's part would be an off-stage voice.) 

 

 

Aren't You Listening to me, God?

 

 

Person:     Lord, you know I've been praying a lot lately, telling you what's going on in my life and what I need from you in order to fix everything.

 

God:        Let me tell you how I see things.

 

Person:     I have to admit that sometimes I feel that you just aren't even paying attention, God.

 

God:        I care so much about you and about the world.  My greatest desire is to see each person come to know me and follow me with all his heart.

 

Person:     I don't mean to be critical, but sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a wall.  You never seem to do the things I ask you to do. 

 

God:        My purpose is not just to satisfy your every desire and make you comfortable.  In fact, I have found that you grow more when you are somewhat uncomfortable.

 

Person:     I might as well have just kept all this to myself, or talked to somebody human who might have stepped up and done something about the situation. 

 

God:        There are things that I want you to do.  There are people I want you to help, needs I want you to fill.  But lately you are so consumed with your own situation and problems that you don't see the hurting people around  you.

 

Person:     Aren't you listening to me, God?

 

God:        Aren't you listening to me, child?

 

Person:     If you are God, it would seem that you would be aware of what is going on in my life and that you would do something about it.

 

God:        If you are my child, it would seem that you would be aware of what I am doing in the world and find a way to join me in my work.

 

Person:     Do you have nothing to say for yourself, God?  Why are you so silent?

 

God:        Why are you so deaf?  Why can you not hear me when I speak to you through my Word, when I speak to you through your circumstances, when I speak to you through the people I put in front of your face?

 

Person:     I remember a time when you used to speak to me.  You spoke to me clearly.  I knew exactly what you were saying.

 

God:        And what was different about those days?

 

Person:     Things were better then.  I didn't have this problem I'm facing now.  I was able to give more attention to just listening to you and serving you.  But now I can't hear you at all.  I assumed you weren't talking to me.  But maybe your voice is being drowned out by all the thoughts and feelings that are whirling around in my head because of what is going on in my life.

 

God:        I want you to know that I am right there with you in what you are going through.  But if your problems are the most important thing in your life, then that means that  I  can't be the most important thing in your life.

 

Person:     Now that I think about it, if my problems are the most important thing in my life, then God cannot be the most important thing in my life.  I've got it backwards somehow.

 

God:        Return to me, and I will return to you.

 

Person:     If I will turn back to God, then He will turn back to me.  I've seen it happen before.  God is just waiting for me to give Him the priority He deserves.

 

God:        That doesn't mean I will fix all of your problems.  But I will give you guidance, comfort and encouragement through them.  I will be with you always.

 

Person:     That doesn't mean necessarily that God will fix my problem, but the important thing is that He will be with me in the middle of it, comforting me, encouraging me, guiding me.

 

God:        These problems of life are nothing compared to the eternity which I have given to  you.  Focus on the eternal and these earthly problems will come into perspective.

 

Person:     What is going on in my life is very important, yes, but only for this life.  God will see me through this somehow.  I need to keep my focus on the fact that I'm going to live forever and I need to live like that right now.  Then my personal problems won't seem so important.  There is work to be done.  Kingdom work.

 

God:        It seems that now you are listening to me again.

 

Person:     Thank you, Father, for listening to me . . . and for talking to me . . . and for helping me begin listening to you.

 

 

POSTED BY: David Williams AT 11:56 am   |  Permalink   |  E-mail this

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