Growing Up!?

I am prone to look for the themes or patterns in life and ministry.  That's where most of my blogs start.  One that I've been noticing over the last month is that of hearing God and the seeming lack of it from people that in the past were very acute in doing so.  I know this is a topic that comes with doubt and controversy.  I have been on different sides of this topic in the past but am decidedly on the side of hearing the Rhema of God.  I will clarify and say that I've never heard the audible voice of God, but do with, with confidence, hear Him in my spirit.  If you find yourself reading this with a belief system other than Christian then this may not mean a lot to you. 

I've titled this post as Growing Up because in the pattern I've seen that is exactly what is at the heart of every one's frustration.  Over and over I've heard people say to me that God isn't speaking to them like He used to.  That He has fewer things to say.  That there isn't as much precision in the things He is saying.  Hopefully you get the idea.  So how does growing up enter into this seeming confusion?  As I began to press into this matter for some clarity I began to understand that maturity is a heart desire of God as our Father.  He so desires for His children to grow and mature through relationship with Him.  That's where the rabbit hole took off. 

1 Corinthians 13:11 It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.( NLT) As I read this verse what came into focus is that everything in my heart about raising kids is an expression of how God raises us as children.  I am after all made in His image.  There is a direct correlation between the natural things and spiritual truths.  That's why Jesus used parables in His teaching.  As a parent I desire for my children to grow up into mature, responsible adults that can make decisions with wisdom and understanding.  What I don't desire as a parent is to have to tell them exactly what to do in every situation for the rest of their lives.  Remember I got this desire from God as my Father being made in His image.  We could also say its he natural progression of life.  It's just the way God set the whole thing up.

Now we can see the spiritual parallel in our hearing from God.  As we mature He desires for us to come into the Mind of Christ where we just know without having to be told every little detail of what to do or not do.  Christ knew what to do because He watched the Father and learned.  Most of the things I know how to do I've watched and learned and no longer need to be shown how every time I do them.  I just know.  This is a scary place to be at first but the awesome thing is that God has faith in you and I!  He knows we can do all things through Christ!  His seeming silence isn't about Him not speaking, but rather, about you and I growing up.  Just as our relationship grows in the natural it grows in the spiritual too. 

To go just a little deeper let me remind you that the most intimate form of communication has no words.  An example is that of husbands and wives who've been married for a long time.  They just know each other so well than no words are needed to express needs or desires.  They just know! 

1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.(NLT)  We see this principle in this verse.  The perfection of our relationship with God will be us knowing God like He knows us.  No words needed... just a deep unfathomable knowing filled with a peace that passes our understanding! 

As I come to a close I hear the Lord saying..." Sons and daughters trust the "Me" in you.  I have put My Spirit in you to guide you into all truth, to help you gain understanding and wisdom, to bring you peace.  Trust the "Me" in you!