Interview with God Part 1

On July 30th, during my journaling time, I decided to Interview God. I do this when I have nothing to ask for, and I just want to sit in His presence and learn directly from Him and what He wants to say.

All those months ago I told Him I’d post the interview on my blog, but as you know, life gets in the way. Leaving for Japan, I was separated from my journal. I asked my brother to take pictures but it was too hard to see everything I recorded.

On November 27th, I went to church and the message that Sunday reminded me of my interview. I made a silent vow that I would post my interview if I could just receive my journal.

November 28th I was reunited with it.

Now it’s taken me a little over a month to think about what in the world to write, but I feel like God is telling me no need to write fancy posts, just write the interview. Once I did, it all came together. The words have fallen into place.

I share this interview with you because I believe the message is not just for me. It’s bigger than myself. God wants us to understand, not just with our heads, but with our hearts, the importance of maturing in the faith. This interview has been split into four parts. To begin to truly mature we need to examine the core of our faith or the seed problem. In other words, what is holding us back from fully following Jesus and bearing fruit? I invite you into my time with Jesus and pray that the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart.

Me: What are you speaking to me, Lord?

God: The Parable of the Sower

Me: This has come up so many times! I’ve read it, I’ve listened to it, and it was brought up on 30 Minutes with the Perrys. (Listen to the parable read by Jackie Hill Perry here).

God: Matthew 13:18-23 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no roots, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

Me: *Rereads Matthew 13:22 - 23*

These two outcomes are more interesting than the one who found joy but fell away due to persecution. Those are people who follow the culture and the crowd. The other, birds snatch away the seed. So the enemy has the potential to kill the seed; that’s striking as well. But, I believe the thorns are more fitting for our situation. There’s always worry about finances and the hope to become wealthy. We can become consumed and not focus on anyone and end up being choked and stressed by the weight of all of that. 悲しい~ (Kanashii - sad).

Lord, how can we as Christians who carry the worries of life become fruitful? How can the seed, full of life and the answer to true life, provide unfruitful for some people?

God: Matthew 6:25-34

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Isaiah 26:3 - “[I] will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in [me].”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Many obstacles can affect the seed of faith planted in each of us. This can be doubt, persecution, trouble, lack of consistent relationship with Jesus, or worry about daily things. For me, I’ve been learning to trust God more so I don’t worry. I know once I surrender that to Jesus I can trust Him more, and become more free and fruitful. If Jesus cursed a fig tree that bore no fruit (Matt. 21:19), how much more does He expect His Children to bear fruit? How sad would it be to stand before Him in His glorious presence bearing no fruits of His Holy Spirit?

If we surrender our seed issue to Jesus, focus on Him, and rest in Him, we can begin to become fertile enough to begin to grow into healthy sproutlings. After we begin to trust, the next step is to understand. What does God want us to understand? How do we begin to understand it? That will be covered in the next blog post: Interview with God Part 2.