Communication

The evolution of communication over the past thirty years almost boggles the mind! When we first came to Spain in 1984, I typed letters—on a typewriter!!!!—to our parents and siblings. Then, I’d take the typed letter to a photocopy place and make several copies. After that, I’d write personalized notes at the bottom of the “family letter” and fold them. The next step: hand write addresses for everyone on the envelopes along with por avion (air mail), take the envelopes to the tobacco shop (government store), where I’d buy postage stamps, put them on, and then mail the letters across the street. A typical mailing took me an afternoon to complete.

Today, I e-mail one family letter to all the family at once. It takes about the same time to write the original letter, but I can include photos and send it in a zap that takes a few seconds (no 4G here yet).

Mostly, I communicate on social media. You’d be amazed how fast I can connect with a lot of people!

Young people chat, text, and use all kinds of smart phone applications to communicate with others. Their thumbs do what all my fingers do on a normal keyboard. (Remember, I learned to type, first!) I am amazed!

Communication today is instantaneous. I have friends literally all over the world—including some of you! I can send a message and receive another all in seconds. My friend might be in Africa, Southeast Asia, Mexico, France, or in the U.S.A. Technology literally broadens my horizons and possibilities. I can find out about a Sunday church service in Japan before I drink my morning coffee.

I communicate on different levels. My "family letters" only go to family. (No one else would want to read all the mundane details of our lives, anyhow.) My social media friends include close friends, acquaintances, fellow missionary women, our supporting churches, my blog readers (Yay for you!), and friends of friends. I’m able to keep up with hundreds online.

Communication with God is different. It’s not chatting, texting, e-mails, photo sharing, tweets, or blog posts. Communication with God doesn’t have to be typed or spelled or even made into coherent, complete sentences. Communication with God is almost like our heart thinking.

We call it prayer.

Prayer is supposed to be all the time. The Bible says simply, Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This is talking about communication with God 24/7. How can we do that? I used to think prayer had to be formal and composed with words, but I now believe we can have a heart fellowship with Christ without words. If we’re in touch with God, we are constantly communicating with Him and He with us. There’s a give and take all day, every day.

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22).

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah (Psalm 62:8).

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker (Psalm 95:6).

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

When we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit takes over and translates our needs to God. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).

We hear God speak through His Word, the Bible. We also sometimes sense His direction—through the Holy Spirit—as we pray. When we pray, expressing our needs to God, it’s important also to listen for the prompting of the Spirit, leading us rightly. It’s important to be in the Bible, understanding its teachings. (God never leads contrary to His Word.)

How’s your communication with God?

Do you know Him?* Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).

Are you praying and listening? Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice (Psalm 55:17). In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6).

Do you have an intimate relationship with the Lord? Jesus is speaking to the church: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

Open the door. Sup with Him.

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*To know God, you must be born again. Read John 3:1-18 to see how Jesus explained salvation to Nicodemus.