Yesterday, one of the reflection questions we asked was: "Do you have difficulty receiving God's messages?" I wonder what your answer was. I remember someone once asked me this: "You said you received messages from God. How did you receive them? Did you really hear His voice, or was it just a feeling? Under what circumstances did you receive these messages? Please tell me and describe it to me.” The person who asked the question had a deep desire to hear God’s voice and His will. However, behind these questions, there are some misunderstandings about the nature of God and some confusion about how to receive messages from Him.

Firstly, one thing is certain: God is delighted to see the curiosity of the questioner and his desire to know how to receive messages from God. Why are we sure that God is pleased? Because we have previously discussed the nature of God in this retreat, that is, God is willing to do anything out of love for us. How could such a God not want us to desire to know His thoughts? God is eager to pour out His heart to us.

The questioner then went on to say, "I am not as holy as you are. The power of your prayer must be greater than mine, so God will speak to you and not directly to me. Please pray to God to answer my prayers, as I am sure God will listen to your prayers!"

This questioner has two serious obstacles. The first is that he believes that receiving messages from God involves very complex techniques. The second is that he believes God is closer to certain people He loves, especially those who are more holy. To put it simply, God is biased in how He loves His children. Is that true?

Let's look at the second obstacle first. According to our understanding of the nature of God, when we were still sinners, God had already decided to sacrifice His life to save us. (cf. Roman 5:8) From this point alone, we can be sure that since we are all sinners, there is no difference between each of us in His eyes. God is willing to die for this one sinner, and He will also die for another sinner. If we insist that the Father is closer to some of His children and distant from others, it is really unfair to this God who loves us to the utmost! God loves us regardless if we are holy or even obedient to Him. God not only loves the disciples who accept His invitation to follow Him but also deeply loves the rich young man who chooses not to follow Him. Let’s look at how Mark 10:21 describes Jesus' feelings towards the rich young man: "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Have you seen anywhere else in the Gospel where Jesus expressed the same depth of affection for those who immediately followed Him? Please, let's not misunderstand our fair and merciful God! Jesus loves not only St. Peter and St. Paul but also the prodigal son, regardless of whether he returns or not!

As for the first obstacle, which is God’s communication with us, does it require us to receive professional training or master some complex skills in order to successfully receive His messages?

Remember, our God is a God who cannot wait to encounter us in the "here and now"! If we are still “alive”, we all have equal access to encountering our loving God. A God who has infinite "depth" and "capacity" of love will never hesitate to generously bestow His boundless love upon us, nor will He require us to overcome numerous obstacles in order to receive His messages. So, please do not second guess God’s love to us any longer. Even if we are unfaithful to God, He remains always faithful to us!

On the contrary, let us imagine that when God is eager to meet us in the present moment, but we are distracted and have not “tuned into the channel” to receive His messages. When God desires to communicate with us and give us His messages, He finds us preoccupied and distracted by our surrounding noises. If you were God, how would you feel?


Reflection

Do you have questions similar to those of the inquirer in this meditation? Do you have any new insights now or have you discovered any aspects that can be adjusted?

Do you think God's love for us is fair? If you feel that the Father favours some of His children, are you willing to get to know your Heavenly Father again?

Do you find it difficult or even complicated to receive God’s messages? What insights have you got from today's reflection?


Today’s Prayer

Lord, in today's reflection, You have enlightened me that I have misunderstood You all along. I have always felt that communicating with You is difficult, and hearing Your voice and messages is even more challenging. In the past, I thought You were distant and that to communicate with You, I had to use sophisticated techniques. Now I realize how much You long to confide in me and connect with me.

I have been using the wrong methods and mindset to understand You and communicate with You, and I haven't been earnestly seeking You in the "here and now", nor have I been making efforts to create a quiet environment to commune with You.

Please help me once again, Lord, that with simplicity and sincerity, I will learn to enter into the space that belongs only to You and me, so that I can fully immerse in the warmth and affection You have for me!


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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Maria Bai
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