Communication Skill in God

I struggle with my communication skill in my whole life, especially in spoken communication. I often have self-doubt about the way I am communicating: Should I be more open or reserve? Should I talk more? Should I be silent instead? Should I express things in a better way? Was my body-language/expression/motivation correct? How was my emotion? Should I have longer small talk? Additionally, I often lost words/blank out in the middle of sentences. I often face difficulty in learning new languages and in formal speaking (even in my mother language). When I was little, I did suffer from selective-mutism (which at that time was seen as part of personality). This somehow affect my spoken communication ability, especially when I am tired. But of course, I also know there are many people have more difficulty than me, e.g. communication difficulties that comes with autism.

Communication is defined as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals. Communication (to others and God) is a vital part of our live. It do have a big impact. For example, in leadership, communication is very important in expressing goal / vision / motivation / believe / faith / encouragement / point-of-view, public speaking, understanding, conflict management [1], project management, organization, team building, training, and discipleship.

There are times in life that communication is so tough and might lead to argument, disagreement, chaos, and confusion. However, there are also times that communication is so easy even without many words, heart to heart, and with one vision/thought. 

In a relationship to one another and God, a smooth communication is closely related to the ability to love (1 Cor 13:4-8). Communication is smoother when people learned to forgive and accept forgiveness. Also if they learned for being humble, listening, and investing time.

I believe that God can interfere with our communication. He can speak to people heart that make people understand others and also understand Him. He can make people heart/spirit/thought become one. Moreover, He can help us in learning new languages. There are several occasions written in the bible on how God interfere with the communication between people, e.g.

The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” - Gen 11:6-7.

(20) And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time. (64) Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. - Luke 1:20,64

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. - Acts 2:4-6

for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say - Luke 12:12

Even tough now you might feel not confidence about your communication ability, trust God that He can work in your communication with others and with God.

Can we see God?

Exodus 33:11 mentioned that Moses speaks face to face to God as a friend. However, in few more verses after that (Exodus 33:20), God said to Moses, "you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live." These two verses make me think that there are different meanings/level of seeing God.

Physically, seeing is connected to the ability of eyes to perceive the visible light spectrum. So, if we interpret those verses literally, it means either God appeared in between the visible light spectrum or the human light spectrum is broaden to perceive more. However, 'to see' can also mean 'to understand', 'to recognize', 'to identify', 'to foresee', 'to imagine', 'to notice', or 'to experience'. Therefore, trying to guess what exactly the meaning behind the word 'seeing God's face' in those verses is not very easy.

The old testament describes that the Lord appeared to, among others:

1. Abraham (Gen 12:7; 17:1; 18:1)
2. Isaac (Gen 26:2, 24)
3. Jacob (Gen 35:1, 9; 48:3)
4. Moses (Exo 3:16; 4:5)

Some stated that they see God, among others:

1. Hagar (Gen 16:13)
2. Jacob (Gen 32:30)
3. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu (Exo 24: 9-11)
4. Isaiah (Isa 6:1)

In the new testament, Jesus as a human is, of course, visible by many people. However, some of the disciples see the different appearance of Jesus when He was transfigured (Mat 17:1-8). Paul mentioned that no one has seen or can see God (1 Tim 6:16). The same direction is also mentioned by John (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). On other hand, John also mentioned that he saw God in Revelation 1:17.

A blind person can not describe what he/she does not see. I am not very sure if I have enough experience of seeing God that I can explain that to someone. I also believe that God can appear in many different forms (fire, cloud, wind, gentle whisper, etc.). 

I believe it is OK to pray and to be hungry to see God. It will be always good to be able to understand Him more and to get closer to Him. Like Moses, God can personally notify us if our request is impossible and I believe His alternative (e.g. to see His back) will also be awesome.

I want to see You, God.

Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

The Holy Spirit is mentioned in both old and new testaments. It starts with

... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters - Gen 1:2 (NIV)

He appeared in many other stories in the bible. Such as in David:

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. - Psalm 51:11 (NIV)

Then, why did Jesus said:

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate [Helper (NKJV), Comforter (KJV), Counselor (CSB)] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you - John 16:7 (NIV)

I think this bible verse in John is strongly connected to the one in Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:17-21:

... I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. ...

The main difference before and after Jesus' time might connect to the term 'pouring out the Spirit on all people'. This must be something special. Therefore, I would like to suggest to pray that The Spirit is poured out to us.

Where are you? (Genesis 3:9)

 I would like to write here a story I heard from Reinhard Bonnke [1].

When Adam and Eve sin in the garden of Eden, they hid. The Lord did not say: "This is My sabbath. I've worked six days. This is My day of rest". God broke His sabbath and arose. For God, it is impossible to do nothing as long as one soul is lost. He arose and he called: "Where are you?". God knew where they were hiding. But, He asked the question because He needed an answer.

Today wherever you are, give Him your position. He wants to get closer to you and work in you.

[1] https://youtu.be/Vyqwu09sxUc?t=2684 

Give it to God

In this week God teach me to give several things to Him one by one (my hope for something, my wish for something, and also my burden of something). On the day that God ask me to give something that I put my energy and my thought on for years (since I believe that was God’s purpose), God remind me to the story of Abraham offering Isaac (Gen 22) and also some stories about making an altar. Isaac was someone that Abraham put his heart on for years. Isaac was also the means for Abraham in fulfilling God’s purpose (Gen 12:2, Gen 17:1-8). In addition, Abraham loves Isaac very much. By remembering these stories and the trust on God’s voice in my heart, I gave what God ask for (without even asking why). Suddenly I feel that my burden was lessened and I am able longing for God more. Today I still work on what I believe is God’s purpose. But, I realize that the reason of God helping me to be able to offer is to make me able to focus, longing, and love Him more. By having more of Him in my life, I also will have more energy to work on what I believe is God’s purpose.

God's Promises

We fell very excited when God tell us about the way He is going to use us. His promise gives us life directions. However, few months ago I learned that sometimes God's promise is the only thing that is left in facing a problem. At that time I began to realize God's purpose in giving promises. Why God make promises if the problem we will face in the future can be handled easily?

Few months ago I face a problem. It is actually an annual problem, but in that year it becomes bigger. Actually, if I ignore this problem there will be no additional problems. Everyone will understand that this problem is too difficult to be handled. Ignoring this problem make me not know how big is the problem. Ignoring this problem make me concentrated my energy to other important issue. There will be no financial incentives if I solved this problem. Some people put attention to me in facing the problem, however there is no much thing could be done by them (But, they are good listeners and are there for you). Some people do not care. Some people advised me to ignore the problem. The only thing left at that time is a memorization on God's promise given long time ago. Every morning and night, God gives me new strength in facing the problem (with new promises and bible scriptures). God also gave directions in every step I took.

I thank God for every plan He have for me. When God promise you something, believe in Him and prepare yourself as much as you can (Gen 15:6). At the time the promises come real remember that He will always be with you to fulfill His will.

Facing Failure: God is with you

Failure that happens because of some situation, system or unfairness sometimes hurts, especially if we already put all of our energy and ability. At those time, sometimes we fell that God is not with us anymore. But, God remind me about Joseph. The bible wrote that Lord was with Joseph and made him succeed in everything he did (Gen 39:23). Joseph, in the middle of his succeed in his job, is thrown away, send to jail and forgotten (which people say it as failure) Today, in whatever position God give to you, if the system said that you failed, trust that God is still with you. .