CHAPTER 5
When God Talks to You
Since February 18, 1984, I’ve spent one hour a day with God,
listening to Him and talking to Him in two-way, written
conversations. I made this lifelong commitment, unsolicited,
near the end of a youth worker’s conference in the presence of
just one person. For over twenty-five years, no matter where I
am, I gather my Bible, a notebook, and a daily devotional, and
get alone with God. Almost immediately, I hear Him talk to me
in some familiar way.
The amount of time I spend with God—one hour—has never
wavered, but the time of day is usually determined one day in
advance, depending upon my travel schedule, the time zone, or
my family life.
My rule of thumb is to spend the first uninterrupted hour of
my day in an appointment with God—both talking and
listening to Him. This supernatural yet discernible two-way
conversation between God and man is often called prayer. By
now you’ve probably noticed that I call these divinely human
dialogues “God Talks.”
This morning I awoke without an alarm at 5:30. Feeling as if I
had been given a few extra hours in my day, I determined to get
started on this chapter. I planned to write in the cozy warmth of
the kitchen until my husband awoke and affectionately bugged
me to join him for breakfast. After that break, I would help him
get out the door, then get alone with God for an hour before