Terry Dashner……………….Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013
Dialogue is essential to a relationship. Dialogue means that someone is communicating with someone else. It is true. In order to communicate effectively, both parties must hear the other, process the information, and then speak to confirm the dialogue. So dialogue is not just speaking one’s mind, but it is hearing the feedback of others.
A tired conversation, thus a taxed relationship is one where only one person gets to speak. If I enter into dialogue with another human being, I should not only speak but listen to the other person speak also. Why am I belaboring the point? For this reason: Communication is not just speaking in the known vernacular.
I may communicate by body language. Body language is not articulated in speech; nevertheless, it speaks loudly. As a matter of fact, it will belie spoken words. I may say one thing with my lips, but be understood by my facial expressions. I may communicate by space. This is called the law of proximity. It speaks about the distance closed, or surrendered between two people. If I close into your personal space and you don’t know me, you will move backwards. To be standoffish or to be too pushy (in proximity to where you stand), communicates volumes. So there are more ways to communicate in dialogue with another human being then merely speaking words. Yes there are, which brings me to the reason for writing this document.
Do I communicate with God by speaking my primary language only? I speak English (twang with a Southwestern dialect) and I pray mostly in English; therefore, I communicate my thoughts to God in the English language. But, this begs the question. Am I communicating with God ONLY when I speak English? What if I choose to groan in emotional pain? What if I say nothing in English but lift my hands and look up to heaven? What if I sit in solitude with only my thoughts directed to God? Am I communicating with God? Yes.
In John’s Gospel chapter 11, Jesus communicated his deep emotions to Lazarus’s family by groaning in the spirit, and weeping. He didn’t speak His grief because Lazarus was dead, He groaned in the spirit, and He wept. That’s powerful communication. Why do I say this? Jesus groaned in the spirit, wept and then communicated His power over death by calling Lazarus out of the grave. Jesus communicated His power over sin, disease, and death by sometimes speaking to the problem. He sometimes touched the problem with His hands. He sometimes wrote words in the sand, but every time He did one or the other, He communicated.
The next time you hear a believer communicate with God, take note how she does it. She may stand in silence before God. She may bow down and kiss the earth. She may scream at the top of her lungs. She may wave her hands in the air. She may speak inarticulate syllables (unknown tongues). But, take note. God is hearing and responding to her heart, not so much what’s in her head. And sometimes the expressions of the heart can only be communicated by animated movement, groans, sobs, shouts, or silent awe. Thank God that He understands languages besides English. I thank God that He has been hearing me for decades even when I refrain from English and begin praying in the Holy Spirit. The bottom line is communication and dialogue because my relationship with God is essential.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming soon.
Pastor T. dash….
About the Author
Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK.
