As we have been praying about our up-coming move, I confess I have been asking the Lord to give us a clear sign that we are indeed going to the place He has hand picked for us. I would love to wake up one morning or look up from my time in prayer and see our new country name written on the wall or scrolling across my computer. The Father was so very specific 5 years ago that we were to go to Turkey. I know He will be specific again; it's the waiting that is hard.
Last week, I was reading the account in the book of Daniel of when a hand appeared before King Belshazzar and wrote in a special cryptic language a warning on the wall. The prophet Daniel was called upon to interpret the message. It occurred to me during my reading what great courage it took for Daniel to go before the king. Yes, this was not his first time to deliver a message from the Lord; however, in that time of history to go before a ruler was often a matter of life or death. It took great faith for Daniel to even enter the throne room (banquet hall). It makes me ask 2 questions: 1) How boldly am I entering THE Throne Room? and 2) Am I able to interpret His message?
I'll address the second question first. Learning to speak someone's language is challenging. I am not talking about a "foreign" language - although that's hard. I'm talking about knowing someone well enough to understand how they communicate. After 15 years of marriage, Matt and I are learning what it takes to communicate well. We all have our crazy quirks when it comes to life's messages. If I ask, "Does this look good on me?" Matt knows that to give a positive reply without a good look will most certainly aggravate me. He also knows that to hesitate and stare too long at me will be interpreted as, "no the outfit is not for you!" (First immediate impressions are important with clothes!) On the flip side, I know that when Matt calls to ask if he needs to do anything on the way home, he wants the answer to that question and nothing else. He is not being rude. He will say he missed me and ask me about my day later. He just needs to know if he has tasks that need to be accomplished. How do we figure these things out in relationships? TIME! and a lot of asking for FORGIVENESS! I know that my God speaks to me. The question really is, do I know HIM well enough that I speak His language! I think sometimes the writing really is already on the wall. We simple don't know how to read it.
How can we be confident that we know when the Lord is speaking? Experience. As we learn to listen and respond to Him, it becomes easier and easier to interpret His messages. I think this was the case with Daniel. He did not know what was written on the wall. He simply went to the banquet hall to read the message. He knew that if the message was from the Lord, he could read it. Why did he know this. He had a relationship and a life time of walking daily with the King of Kings. If I want to know when the Lord is speaking to me, I am going to have to choose to spend time with Him often...not just when I need an answer!
I know He has a perfect plan for our family. I know that He still works miracles and still writes on the wall. AT
