Parking Spaces or Nothing

It was not just for Jeremiah’s benefit that God said to him, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3). After all, Jeremiah was already a prophet of the Lord, and God had already been speaking great and hidden things to him.

So, why invite a prophet to ask for revelation?

Because revelation is not automatic. It is a gift asked for and given in the context of intimate relationship.

I think that invitation is also for us.

Not to just satisfy our curiosity about the future.

Not to impress or give us an edge over others.

And not to find a parking space.

But to advance the purposes of the Kingdom of God in our lives and others… to speak the heart of God into others and encourage and build up the faith of others.

It is not so far-fetched as some might think.

Jesus did tell His disciples that when He and the Father sent us the Holy Spirit that He would “tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).

And Paul writes of all of us that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons and daughters of God” (Romans 8:14).

This kind of revelation requires a close relationship with God and learning to hear His voice… no small feat in a world of non-stop busyness and noise.

But it seems that in our day there are two extremes… asking God to show us parking spaces or asking Him for nothing.

It makes me wonder how much of God’s heart I might have missed through the years because so often I have plowed ahead in decisions small and great without even asking what He intended for me. 

I am glad for God’s mercy but don’t want to walk in presumption again.

Today I feel a great resolve to call on Him in the assurance that He said when I call He will answer and tell me things regarding the future that He knows I need to know… so that I can be of maximum benefit to the lives of those He sends my way.