"I've always dreamed of being an old philosopher. So far I've achieved one out of two!"

Communing with God in Your Life's Daily Journey 

Psalm 43:3-4
Jeremiah 15:16
Psalm 27:7-8
Luke 24:30-32
Psalm 23:1-6

1. Two situations:

A. You are surrounded by many people. These are people you know by name - from your closest friends to those you know only casually.

B. You are all alone, or alone in the sense that you do not know the people around you. Perhaps you are in a store, at the mall, or in a theater.

2. How do you  "commune with God" in those situations?

3. Read Psalm 43:3-4. These are beautiful words, but how do they translate into meaning and use in the situations described above?

4. Jeremiah 15:16. Have God's words or instructions ever come to you - clearly and distinctly? In which situation above is it most likely to receive God's words?

5. Psalm 27: 7-8. In the situations described, how can we call on the Lord? How might we "Seek His face?" How can we hear Him through all the noise and clutter of life?

6. Luke 24:30-32. How can we be sure to recognize that it is God communicating with us? How do we know it is God communicating rather than some other force? What does it mean to have your "heart burning within?"

7. Psalm 23:1-6. In what ways can these familiar words apply to us today? 

Reflection: During the next several weeks -

  • Observe the circumstances when you hear God speaking to you.

  • Make a conscious note of the next time you see God in action.

  • Become extra-sensitive to God's presence with you.

  • How can you strengthen these experiences?

  • How might you strengthen your communion with God?

 

Passage

NIV

RSV

Psalm 43:3-4

3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise thee with the lyre, O God, my God.

Jeremiah 15:16

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.

Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts.

Psalm 27:7-8

7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!

8 Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee, "Thy face, LORD, do I seek."

Luke 24:30-32

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?"

Psalm 23:1-6

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.