How to Talk to God

God desires a personal relationship with us- He wants to be our Friend. Just as we do with our human friends, God wants us to dialog with Him. We first learn to talk to God through prayer, which is usually a one-way conversation. We cannot have a true conversation with Him, however, until we learn to let Him speak to us as well. Then we can devlop a open hearted, life-changing relationship with Him.

One of the most effective ways of learning to hear from God is through journaling. By taking inspiration from Scripture and using that to direct our conversations with God, we can learn to hear His thoughts about us and our lives.

When we make a daily habit of journaling, we learn to seek God's input on what He wants to do in our lives and in the lives of those around us.Think of it as downloading what God has to say to us each day.

Journaling

1. Date your journal entries.  

3. Read Scripture for Inspiration. Scripture that tells you who you are in Christ, Click here.

3. Write a key thought from your reading in your Journal. 

4. Write down your reactions and concerns to God. 

5. Write down the thoughts or describe the pictures you receive  spontaneously.                              

6. Share what you have heard.  

1. Know your Bible; the Sprit does not contradict himself.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

2. Connection, learn to connect with the Holy Spirit within. 

Spontaneity is the key. You must learn to catch the flow within as you must catch the wind when sailing.

"Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst--not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." MSG John 4:14 

3. Check out what you see or hear with spiritually mature believers.

"Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said."  1 Corinthians 14:29 

4. Believe- you must accept the Spirit’s communication at your heart level.

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."  Romans 10:10-11   

5. Obedience and application makes real what you believe.

"Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"  MSG James 2:17  

6. Love means you will transfer to others what God has taught you.

"He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Luke 10:27

(all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted)

Here you will find a list of Scripture references taken from our Relationship Seminar Series that we recommend you use to begin your journaling experience.

Celebrate Relationship with the Father 

1. 1 John 4:7-12

2. John 5:19-27

3. John 17:20-26

4. Ephesians 1:3-14

5. Romans 12:4-8

6. Psalm 119:9-15

7. Romans 12:3-21

Celebrate Relationship with the Son 

1. Acts 19:1-7

2. 1 John 3:1-10

3. Mark 9:14-19

4. John 14:15-19

5. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

6. Colossians 2:1-13

7. John 4:13-24

Celebrate Relationship with the Holy Spirit 

1. 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

2. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

3. Acts 1:1-8

4. Matthew 7:7-11

5. 1Corinthians 14:1-5

6. Romans 8:5-17

7. John 16:5-15

Celebrate Transformation 

1. Matthew 18:1-9

2. Psalms 119:9-16

3. 1 John 2:20 -29

4. Ephesians 2:1-10

5. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

6. 2 Timothy 3:1-17

7. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21