What if I Whisper?

"Will God hear me if I whisper to Him?" It’s an interesting question for a five-year-old boy. I stood in the dry leaves of our yard, while my dad gathered them with a rake. I had something to tell God and I wanted to make sure He heard me. At that age I knew I was disobedient, both to my parents and to God. I learned that I could not be with God forever because of my disobedience. I wanted to be with God in heaven when I died, but I knew that I was bad enough to go to hell. There is a clear memory of my father reading something Jesus said, "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you." I remember Dad talking about the door to my heart and how Jesus wanted to come in and be with me forever. I did so on that breezy fall day. My dad said God could hear me even if I whispered. I don’t know exactly what I said. But I know I invited Jesus into my heart.

But my life didn’t change much after that moment. I was still a five-year-old boy.

When I was a junior in college, I learned a great lesson about Jesus and His love for me. It happened when I fell in love with Sasha. I planned for my date with Sasha, envisioning it as the highlight of my life. It wasn’t. It was one of the most disappointing, awkward moments of my life. I stumbled through the date, literally, not knowing what to say or how to act. I went home feeling very small and empty. Over the days that followed I prayed a lot. I felt so bad, I only knew of one place to turn. I began to realize I was being selfish. I was attempting to manipulate Sasha into liking me. As I thought and prayed I realized I didn’t truly love anyone. I only wanted others to love me, so I could love myself. Then I realized I didn’t love God, either. And that scared me.

Then the greatest thing happened. God reminded me in a whisper, "But I love you."

At that moment a burden lifted. God loved me even if I didn’t love Him. It was unconditional. It set me free. Because He loves me, I am able to love myself and other people and God. As John, a follower of Jesus, said, "We love because He first loved us."
God is still teaching me how to love through the hard experiences of life. I know that He is with me and that He loves me. He loves you, too. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Jesus died for my selfishness the selfishness that separated me from God. I should have died for the things I have done wrong. But He took my place and got what I deserved.

I received Jesus, His unconditional love, and His perfect plan for my life. I whispered to God and He heard me.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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