Over the years, I have often been as "thick as a brick." But God didn't give up on me...He allowed me to come to the end of 'myself'...to come to the full realization that there is no good thing in me of 'myself'...and that He Alone can satisfy this hunger that He placed within.

He reminded me tonight, of some of the ways that He has used down through the years to speak to me. It is important, especially in the days we are now in, that we do not put limitations on "How we can receive from God." Have we come to recognize that God is everywhere? That God can use any thing to teach us? That He has no limitations whatsoever. He can and does use things, times, and places that we would never dream He would use? The whole earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. All things are God's...to do with as He will...yet when it comes to hearing God, we often miss His voice, because it comes through such an unexpected avenue that we don't recognize it...or we outright reject it, thinking "that couldn't be God."

God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are one and the same God. In the Bible, we have countless examples of how God communicates with mankind. When it comes to hearing and obeying God's voice, our generation has nothing on the Israelites of old. We are just as stubborn and thick-headed as they were. We should expect the unexpected...for God is not like us...He does not do things out of habit.

I was one of the people who limited how God could get through to me. If He didn't move through the accepted avenues...at Church...through a word of knowledge...prophecy...tongue and interpretation...saintly believer...I didn't listen. For me, the Lord removed all those things that I trusted in more than Him. Yes, we can trust in the 'things' we have been taught to be 'of God,' more than we actually trust GOD. We can neatly compartmentalize all that we know about God...and when faced with something that doesn't fit our preconceived niches...we 'think' it must be a trick of the devil trying to fool us. Especially concerning something we have been taught and accepted as truth...that in fact is contrary to God's purpose and intent.

Over the years, the Lord has had to do a lot of pruning in my life, as I'm sure some of you can relate to. He has spoken to me through movies...songs on the radio...comments from all kinds of people...in all kinds of places...at the least expected moments. It is crucial in this hour, that we learn not to put any limits on how we hear God. We need to learn to differentiate between our thoughts and His thoughts...between our dreams and His desires. Contrary to what many of the self-proclaimed 'prophets' on the scene today would have us believe...God does not talk "all the time." He does not give us daily bulletins to put out on our web-sites...along with the opportunity to use the pay-pal button for our contribution to His work.

God will use anyone and anything that He chooses...He is not predictable, but will always surprise us. [Faithfulness and predictability are two different things.] It is important that we know this. It is also crucial that we recognize His voice when He speaks...whether it is through another individual, regardless of who they may be, or if it is within our own hearts. The same principle can be applied to people and places. The religious leaders criticized Jesus for eating and mingling with the publicans and sinners during his ministry. We have the same 'religious' attitudes mirrored throughout the denominations of men today. The focus being on outward appearances, failing to comprehend that God sees each and every one's heart, and knows all that we think.

The same principle applies to people and situations that God allows to come into our lives. In our limited understanding, we assume that because we have made this individual's acquaintance, or been offered this position, and we are seeking to walk with God, that all that comes along is for our good. We will learn, given time, that what God intends for our good, is sometimes not what it appears. That some people and things... are for our education and training...that we might know. We must be led by the Spirit in all things. When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy, they intended it for evil. But God allowed it, and used it for the greater good of all the chosen people. We only see from this side. We do not have the benefit of knowing the future...we walk by faith in the Son of God. But as time goes by, we can look back in our own lives and marvel at the hand of God. Yes, even in those times that were our blackest hours, when we felt lost and abandoned, He was holding us in His hand. Hindsight is a valuable gift. All that we are now struggling with and find so difficult to bear...will one day be in the past. That is when we can recognize what we seldom realize during the present trouble...that our Father is in absolute control of everything. May we hear the Lord, however He chooses to speak to us. May we place our entire trust and confidence in our Lord and Savior, giving Him pre-eminence in every area of our lives. If we will do this...then we can sing with the Psalmist, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" Psa 23:6.