Got a Question? Ask the man!

"Faith is better than belief. Belief is when someone else does all the thinking."

The importance of diction comes to my mind in reading this beautiful quote... (wish I could remember who said it!) how true this is, but also- how often do we say something in reference to God, or directly to God, without intention? Without the right heart in tow? Here, the distinction between the action of faith, and the action of belief is made incredibly clear... but how often do we dissect, with discernment, the power of our tongue, the power of how we say what we say? Truly, the power of out communicative speech, whether written or oral, is one of the most declarative and powerful instruments that our Lord has given us. And he gave it to us intentionally- with the intent that we would thoughtful develop and use it. Where many of us wonder is... how? Where do we learn to do that?

In a word of slang filled conversation, with acronyms and tech savvy talk, I often wonder what God must think of the common conversation we have, in comparison to even 50 or 70 years ago. It is an amusing thought! Him listening in on our BRB's- and our OMG's.... But, I also wonder how he feels about our words, so often misdirected and used improperly- for negative reasons, or for reasons unfamiliar with Him. But- this is the beautiful thing...

He made us all differently- and we are all wired, in some respect, to prefer a different way of communication. He wired us to think about how He wants us to be, to constantly garden our ideas and our thoughts- in faith, there is thinking! Belief is the immature version of its older sibling. The importance, to God, in the end, is that we move all our communication, and thought, toward him, as often as we humanly can. In our doing this, he can begin to formulate those questions and offer answers... In this relationship with God, and only here, can we begin to LEARN what the power of our thoughts, our words and our actions mean- and He will surely cement these lessons through scripture and through relationships here on earth. Indeed, it doesn't matter how "prepared" you are for a prayer, for a witnessing, or for a moment of confusion- what matters is that you are giving your words, your thoughts, your time- thoughtfully-to Him, and that you desire nothing but connection, relationship and adoration with Him. He is THE teacher- we all just spread his lessons.