A Dialogue with God (12 July 2004)

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
- Hebrews 4:16

God says to put Him first in everything. But often we turn to friends instead. While indeed some friends are capable of godly counsel, without wisdom from God, you might as well ask anybody else. The key word is godly, because there is no godly counsel without God, is there? It is God who puts the word in people's mouths to advise us. True, spiritual "knowledge and competen[ce]" (Romans 15:14) do abound in strong Christians, but we still need specific words of wisdom from the voice of the Father.

Seeking God first is also an act of obedience onto Him. Our spiritual dependence must always be in Him, not in ourselves or others. To do otherwise is sin, because we end up doing whatever is right in our own eyes. By making Him our first stop, we also acknowledge Him as the Vine (John 15:5) and our dependence in Him.



"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.... Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."
- Hebrews 10:22a,23

"We have confidence before God receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him."
- 1 John 3:21,22

Go to Him first, and taste His goodness.