INVITATION TO CONVERSATION

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God graciously invites us into open, honest dialogue with Him.

Many times in Scripture, God asked questions.

To Adam, He asked: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)

To Job, He asked: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4)

To Isaiah, He asked: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2)

It wasn’t because God was clueless about what these men were doing or feeling. Rather, the questions were asked to serve a greater, more personal purpose: to invite them into conversation.

God already knew the answers, of course. But did the person He was asking? Likely not. Which was why the question was asked. God wanted that person to talk about what was going on at that time, to have open, honest dialogue with Him. Through those divine discourses, the person usually discovered something about themselves (Adam: he was ashamed; Job: he was discouraged; Isaiah: life is futile). These questions also helped to unearth real and sometimes sinful motives. But, most importantly, through these questions, the men grew in their knowledge and love for who God really is (Adam: God as a merciful forgiver; Job: God as a powerful Creator; Isaiah: God as an abundant provider).

What question is God asking you right now?

· Why are you so troubled/worried/fearful?

· Why are you putting so much energy/money/time/worry into ________? (fill in the blank).

These questions serve as divine opportunities to dialogue with God, to lay open our hearts and our thoughts. He invites us into conversation because He has something wonderful and powerful to teach us about ourselves, about Himself.

PRAYER: Lord, I am so thankful that you love me enough ask me questions about how I’m feeling, about what I’m experiencing. You ask because You care. You invite me into conversation, as a loving Father does His precious child.