If we said we had a personal relationship with another person, we’d all assume, at the very least, some degree of regular, back-and-forth conversation. So how does a “personal relationship with God” work? We talk to God through prayer, but how does God talk back to us? Of course He uses the Bible, which provides general information, but to say we have a personal relationship, there must be more and deeper conversation, where we “hear” God’s words, not just in general, but specifically for us. We’ll discuss how this works and how to move in that direction if you’ve not experienced this intimate level of communication with God.

Discussion Questions

Think about a skill you have, which you know how to do well, that would appear complicated to someone who did not know how to do it (e.g., driving a manual transmission, supervising an effective team, calculus). Recall how you felt about this skill before you learned how to do it. What was involved with learning? How long did it take? What was the journey like? Do you still have more to learn?

Have you ever heard God speak to you personally? What was it like? How sure are you that it was God? What did He say? Did you act on it? Why? Read 1 Kings 18 & 19. Compare Elijah’s actions and behaviors between these two chapters. What was his posture in chapter 18? Why do think it was so? How did this change in chapter 19? Why do you think this happened. Imagine yourself in the situation Elijah was in 19:1-5. If you had been in this situation how would YOU have responded? What emotions would you need to deal with? Why?

In many places in the bible, God talks with a “loud” voice using natural phenomena like thunder (1 Samuel 2:10; Job 37:2; Psalm 104:7; John 12:29) powerful wind (Job 38:1) earthquake (Exodus 19:18) or fire (Exodus 3:2-3). Yet in 1 Kings 19:11-13, God used none of these but spoke in “a still small voice” (NKJV) or a “gentle whisper” (NIV). Why do you think God used this means to communicate with Elijah in this situation? How was this communication different than those when God spoke with a “loud” voice? How might this apply to you?

Experiment with the ancient Christian spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, a Latin term which simply means “divine reading.” There are no strict rules to follow, but “traditionally, Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read; meditate; pray; contemplate. First, a passage of scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. This is followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God. [1]” Don’t focus on analyzing the passage. Instead, read slowly and listen for words or phrases that make an impression on you. Start with short passages. If you’re not sure which to use try Jer 33:1-3 or Psalm 25:4-5. Ask God to provide insights, then reflect on these thoughts. Don’t worry if no clear thoughts arise immediately, keep at it and ask God for insight.

[1] Christian spirituality: themes from the tradition by Lawrence S. Cunningham, Keith J. Egan 1996 ISBN 0-8091-3660-0 page 38

Further Reading

A Beautiful Thing

As Jesus prepared for the cross, an unnamed woman responded to Jesus with faith in a unique way. She understood truth about Jesus that eluded other disciples and gave Jesus an extravagant gift. Let’s remember how her example teaches us to follow the Lord with faith...

Stay Awake

Throughout His time on earth, Jesus' disciples asked Him many of the same questions that we find ourselves wrestling with today. Instead of giving a direct and clear response to their questions, Jesus focused more on the heart and attitude of His followers. We have...

Death and Taxes

Death and taxes are two of life’s certainties, and Jesus responded to questions about those topics to redirect our attention to timeless truth. Remembering the source and owner of all the parts of our life, as well as life itself, radically changes our perspectives....

Divine Authority

While Jesus entered conflict with religious leaders over his authority, he also revealed significant truth about his mission, God’s good gifts, and our responsibilities. What can Jesus’ teaching, storytelling, and confrontation with religious authorities teach us...

Foreshadowing

Jesus approaches Jerusalem with a loud celebration, but when he enters the Temple courts no one seems to notice. His strong actions both privately and publicly demand attention and response. Jesus’ triumphal parade into Jerusalem, a withered fig tree, and Jesus’...