Does God Speak?

               Even though I was exhausted, I didn’t feel like going to sleep last night when I finally got home. (I know. But I’m getting better. I promise!) I got in bed and happily turned my DVR on to the week’s recorded episodes of The View, one of my favorite talk shows. On this particular episode, as usual, the women got into somewhat of a debate concerning religion and politics. Joy Behar, who seems to be the cast’s most outspoken comedian, attributed someone hearing from God as being “loopy.” Immediately, other members of the show’s panel objected, which made me smile. I was even more elated when one of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center gave glory to God for her deliverance from alcoholism and drug addiction as she sat beside Joy in a later segment of the show.

                 Even though Joy’s opinion saddened me, I knew there were others out there who agreed with her. I’ve experienced it myself on many occasions.

                “LaShanda, how do you come up with the stories for your books?”

                “God gives them to me.”

                Strange look and awkward silence.

                I’ve even experienced it while on tour. Once I was in a mall selling my books not too far from an artist who repeatedly gave his life testimony to every person who walked by that would take the time to listen. A disgruntled vendor walked over to me (I guess I have one of those faces that says “Yes, tell me all about your frustrations!”) and began to rant about how offended she was by his story of hearing God’s voice. She insisted, to my disagreement, of course, that God does not speak to humans in an audible voice, and that anyone who claimed to hear from God in that way was a liar, and maybe off their rocker. When I didn’t agree, she stormed off, more than likely to tell the next person that she was upset with the artist, and probably me as well.

                I wasn’t upset with the woman, though. In fact, I pitied her. I would hate to live my life without hearing His voice. What would I do without His guidance? His correction? His love? I imagine life would be pretty sad, indeed.

                But don’t take it from me. I’m sure your world doesn’t revolve around me and what I think, (although I’m pretty sure you’re waiting anxiously for my next release. Right? … Right? J). Let’s, as always, take it to the scriptures. Let’s see what the word of God says!

                In Genesis chapter 12, we see that God spoke to Abraham.

                God also spoke to Sarah. When Sarah denied laughing at the thought of having a child in her old age, the Lord told her that she did indeed laugh.

                He also spoke to Moses and Peter.  

                God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He spoke then, and He is still speaking today. The real issue is whether or not you have an ear to listen.

In love,

 LaShanda Michelle