How does God speak to us creatively through our daily life? 上帝如何用創意跟我們對話？2022-07-28

"I never hear His voice.", "Maybe it is just your head talking to you.", " I seek God for His voice and I never hear it." Once we start discussing this topic, there will be lots of people saying nonsense. However, we know from the Bible that God loves to speak and He even speaks in creative ways. We cannot hear His voice because we are too busy in our daily lives. Since we are often occupied by our thoughts, work, relationship problems, and family issues, we are unable to quiet our minds, be still and to listen.

I am not interested in only reading the Bible verses to understand God's voice. As I believe that many of us can do that already (also I am not a fan of reading.) Can you believe that God can speak to us creatively? Let's go through that!

How does God speak to us creatively through our daily life?

1. Bible:

Hey! Didn't you just say that you are not going to mention Bible verses?! Yes. However, this is the most trustworthy way to know that God is speaking to us. Sometimes when we are going through troubles and we open the Bible, we may find there are Bible verses seem to speak that feel like speaking to us directly. And yes, this is one of the ways you can ensure it ways you can ensure it is from God. Sometimes you read it, and you can quote it back to support your brothers and sisters in Christ.

2. Dreams:

God loves to speak through dreams and it is written in the Bible. I have experienced a few times of God speaking to me through dreams. I was in a relationship for 1.5 years and the relationship cost us stress and pain instead of joy. We both loved each other but we were going in different directions in life. God used dreams to speak to both of us on the same night. That night I dreamt of breaking up with my ex-boyfriend, and he dreamt of me getting married to someone else who was not him. 

Besides this, God also uses dreams to remind me when I am not going on the right path. I used to be a Reiki master healer before meeting Christ. My pure heart believed that using Reiki to heal to make someone feel at peace is doing the right thing. However, God reminded me that the source was not from him. God didn't let me see any vision from the dream - it was more like words  and messages that popped up and woke me up from dreams. (Sounded like He was waking me up from a deception.) I knew clearly that this was  a reminder from God. I was having a hard time letting go of Reiki. 

For those who enjoy Bible verses, here we go:

“‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

Acts 2:17-18

3. Circumstances:

Speaking of circumstances, this is one of my favorite ways! I am very grateful that I do not need to be swallowed by a great fish, to understand God's words. God speaks through daily life such as words on the T-shirt, sometimes pop song lyrics, and sometimes lines on Netflix.

I have been chasing for God's sign actively till a point; I just wanted a day to rest. I was enjoying the new season of Bridgerton. Below are the words I felt so touched by. 

Me: "You took me as your daughter, and you never treated me differently. And I felt I owe you. "

God: "You never have to earn your place in this family. I love you from the day I met you."

For those who enjoy Bible verses, here we go:

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where He found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, He went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to His  own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

Jonah 1–4

4: Community

You think you don't need a community, and you are doing well on your own? I do not blame you, because you don't know what you have been missing out on. (A hug for you.) Let’s take a step back and go back to Scripture. God has always valued the idea of having a community because the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit TOGETHER is the very first community on Earth.

When we are feeling upset or facing an issue in our lives, talking to someone does make us feel better. We desire answers, comfort, love, and  support in life. Finding your community is very very IMPORTANT. Well, of course you need to find a real friend/ trustworthy community to talk to. Otherwise, the community will lead you elsewhere but God. 

When God leads you  to find your community, always remember to show gratitude and love them back! Never forget those who support you when you are down because those people are your essential pillars in life. 

For those who enjoy Bible verses, here we go:

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” 

Matthew 18:20

5: Finding Peace and seeking Him 

In case I didn't make it clear, most of God's creative ways require peace in your mind, and being attentive to signs. If you are not even seeking His voice, then how do you want him to speak to you directly? We should understand His way of speaking rather than understand our way of listening . 

We should empty our minds and make room for him. Meditating/praying, and fasting are examples on how  to make room for God. Once we have space in our hearts, He can pour new wine, knowledge, and wisdom into us.

For those who enjoy Bible verses, here we go:

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

“我從來沒有聽到過他的聲音。”，“也許只是你的腦袋在跟你說話。”，“我在尋找他的聲音，但我從來沒有聽到過。”一旦我們開始談論這個話題，就會有很多人說你亂說話。然而，我們從聖經中知道上帝喜歡說話，他說話方式甚至是有創意。我們聽不到他的聲音，這是因為我們在日常生活中太忙了。我們的大腦、工作、人際關係問題和家庭問題使我們無法靜下心來，只有我們靜下心，才可傾聽到 主的聲音。我對只閱讀聖經經文來理解上帝的聲音不大感興趣。我相信我們中的許多人已經可以做到這一點。然而，相信上帝真的是一個有創意地說話的 神嗎？讓我們來看看吧！

上帝如何用創意跟我們對話？

1. 聖經：嘿！你不是說不提聖經經文嗎？！是的。然而，這是上帝在對我們說話的最可靠的方式。有時生活中當我們遇到困難時，我們打開聖經，聖經經文感覺就像直接對我們說話。這是你可以確保這句話是由上帝來。有時你讀了聖經經文，經文引用它來支持你的兄弟姐妹。

2. 夢：上帝喜歡通過夢說話，事實它也被寫在聖經中。 神幾次通過夢和我說話。當然我談戀愛 1.5 年，這段關係的後期只為我們帶來了壓力和痛苦，而不是快樂。我們都彼此相愛。但我們在生活正朝著不同的方向前進。上帝在同一個晚上用夢對我倆說話。那天我夢見和男朋友分手，而他夢見了我嫁給了別人。除此之外，當我沒有走正確的道路時，上帝也會用夢來提醒我。在遇見基督之前，我曾經是一名靈氣大師。我純潔的心相信，使用靈氣來治愈並讓人感到平靜是在做正確的事。然而，上帝提醒我，靈氣源頭並非來自上帝。是次上帝沒有讓我從夢中看到任何東西，更像是突然出現的文字和信息，將我從夢中喚醒。 （聽起來他是在把我從欺騙中喚醒。）我清楚地知道，這是來自上帝的提醒。回想起之前我真的很難放棄靈氣。

對於那些喜歡聖經經文的人：『　神說：在末後的日子，我要把我的靈澆灌所有的人，你們的兒女要說預言，你們的青年人要見異象，你們的老年人要作異夢。在那些日子，我也要把我的靈澆灌我的僕人和使女，他們就要說預言。使徒行傳 2:17-18

三、環境：

說到環境，這是我最喜歡的方式之一！很慶幸自己不用被大魚吞了，才能明白 神的話。上帝通過日常生活說話，例如 T 恤上的文字，有時是流行歌曲的歌詞，有時是 Netflix 上的台詞。

回想之前我一直在積極地尋找上帝的跡。直到一天，我只想休息。我正在看新一季Bridgerton時。以下是我覺得很感動的話。我：“你把我當成你的女兒，從來沒有區別對待我。我覺得我欠你的。”上帝：“你永遠不必在這個家庭中贏得自己的位置。我從遇見你的那天起就愛你。”

對於那些喜歡聖經經文的人：

耶和華的話臨到亞米太的兒子約拿，說： 「起來！到尼尼微大城去，警告其中的居民，因為他們的惡行已經達到我面前。」 可是約拿卻起來，要逃往他施去，躲避耶和華；他下到約帕，找到了一隻要開往他施去的船；他給了錢，就上船（「上船」原文作「下船」），要和他們同往他施去，離開耶和華。

但是耶和華在海上忽然颳起大風，於是海中狂風大作，船幾乎要破裂了。 

約拿書 1-4

4：社群（朋友/家庭）你說你一個人做得很好，不需要一個社群？我不怪你，因為你不知道自己錯過了什麼。 （給你一個擁抱。）上帝創造了夏娃來幫助亞當。這是地球上第一個社群。

當我們心煩意亂或面臨生活中的問題時，與某人交談確實會讓我們感覺好一點。我們渴望在生活中的答案、舒適、愛或支持。找到你的社區是非常非常重要的。當然你需要找到一個真正的朋友/值得信賴的社群交談。否則，社群將把你帶到別處而非上帝。

如果你有幸找到你的社群，請永遠記住表達感激之情並回饋他們！永遠不要忘記那些在你沮喪時支持你的人，因為他們是你生活中必不可少的支柱。

對於那些喜歡聖經經文的人：「如果你的弟兄犯了罪（「犯了罪」有些抄本作「得罪你」），你趁著和他單獨在一起的時候，要去指出他的過失來。如果他肯聽，你就得著你的弟兄。 如果他不肯聽，就另外帶一兩個人同去，好使一切話，憑兩三個證人的口，可以確定。 如果他再不聽，就告訴教會；如果連教會他也不聽，就把他看作教外人和稅吏吧。 「我實在告訴你們，你們在地上捆綁的，在天上也被捆綁；你們在地上釋放的，在天上也被釋放。

我又告訴你們，你們當中若有兩個人，在地上同心為甚麼事祈求，我在天上的父必為他們成全。因為無論在哪裡，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，我就在他們中間。」馬太福音 18:15-20

5：平靜與尋求跡象大多數上帝的創意都需要你的心靈平靜，並注意跡象。 如果你沒有要尋求的聲音，那你要他怎麼直接和你說話？ 我們應該了解他的說話方式，而不是了解我們如何傾聽。當我們清空我們的思想，為他騰出空間。 （默想/祈禱和禁食將是為上帝騰出空間的方法之一。） 一旦我們心裡有了空間，他就可以把新酒、知識和智慧倒在我們裡面。

對於那些喜歡聖經經文的人：又要讓基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們蒙召歸為一體，也是為了這個緣故。你們要有感謝的心。歌羅西書 3:15