From the Prophetic Etiquette Series
Many of us have been taught to read the Bible as though it were a manual of doctrines, a collection of abstract truths. But if we stop there, we miss its heartbeat. The Scriptures are a record of people in conversation with the living God—people just like us.
I was truly blessed to know the late philosopher and theologian Dallas Willard, who once wrote:
“The humanity of Moses, David, and Elijah, and of Mary, Elizabeth, Paul, Peter, and Jesus Christ Himself… teaches us a very important lesson: our humanity will not by itself prevent us from knowing and interacting with God as they did.”
This is the key. The Bible is not a book of exceptions. It is a book of examples. God didn’t just speak to saints long ago—He speaks to ordinary disciples today.
Reading the Bible as Dialogue
Think about little Samuel lying in his darkened room, hearing his name called. Imagine Peter on the rooftop, seeing a sheet filled with animals lowered from heaven. Picture Ananias, an otherwise unknown disciple, being told to go and pray for Saul of Tarsus—the man who had been terrorizing the church.
These stories aren’t fairy tales. They are meant to show us what normal discipleship looks like: people learning to recognize God’s voice and respond in faith.
When we read them only as history, we flatten them. But when we enter them with imagination—placing ourselves in their shoes—we begin to realize that the same kinds of encounters can happen to us.
Dialogue, Not Monologue
Notice: God doesn’t simply bark commands. He interacts.
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Samuel at first doesn’t understand the voice, so God patiently repeats Himself.
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Peter protests against the vision, and God explains again.
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Ananias expresses fear about visiting Saul, and the Lord reassures him.
This is not a one-way download of orders. It is an interactive relationship—honest, dynamic, and alive with trust.
What This Means for Us
We are not merely called to believe in God, or even to work for God. We are called to walk with God. And as my friend and colleague, Dr. Jim Wilder, unpacks in his book Renovated, we are not simply called to think about God but to think with God. We are blessed to share in the mind of Christ.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV
Most believers from every tradition acknowledge that the evil one has the ability to tempt us by putting thoughts into our minds. Ironically, many balk at the idea that God might as easily put His thoughts into our minds. Indeed, it seems to me that this is the most common way we actually “hear” from God.
That means listening as well as speaking. Asking questions as well as giving answers. Sharing our concerns honestly, and letting Him respond. This is why the Spirit was poured out—to make the voice of the Shepherd recognizable to His sheep in every generation.
God is still looking for Ananias-types today: ordinary men and women who will say, “Here I am, Lord,” and then step into conversations that change history.
The Invitation
Don’t settle for a silent, spectator faith. Ask God to draw you into dialogue. Expect Him to nudge you, to reassure you, to redirect you. Learn to bring your honest questions, and listen for His gentle answers.
An interactive relationship with God is not reserved for the spiritual elite. It is the normal Christian life.
✝️ Prayer: Lord, thank You for inviting me into dialogue with You. Help me to read the Scriptures as stories of encounter, not just information. Open my ears to Your voice, and give me courage to respond with trust, like Samuel, Peter, and Ananias. Amen.
👉 Reflection question for readers: What would change in your faith if you saw prayer not as a monologue but as a dialogue with God?
