Conviction of the Word That Speaks

by Sandra Mara

An audible word in the face of a silent question about my spiritual condition.

That's how I found myself that day, on the bus, around 11pm in 1996, on my 26th birthday in a phase of broken engagement, lost in a religious mix, unemployed and saddened by the recent loss of my father. My eyes were watering and a question penetrated deep into my soul: God, what is the meaning of life? Tell me: What does the Lord want from me?

Then, He spoke! A dear sister, a disciple who has faithfully persevered in Belo Horizonte, invited me using these words: “Would you like to know how to have a personal relationship with God?” God spoke audibly.

This sentence was guided by three moments experienced in my walk with God. The impact of my first contact with the sacred scriptures, my reaction to an irremediable warning and, finally, a promise from Him.

Conviction That God Speaks

God will always make Himself known so that we turn to Him. Even before I had my first contact with His word through Bible studies, our wonderful Heavenly Father was already working in me. He touches us, speaks to us, prepares us to reveal himself to us. I believe that first of all, God already has chosen us (Eph. 1:4).

One of the wonders of God speaking is his ability to restore, to give new meaning to life. It was like that when I read these verses from Hebrews; the Word entered efficiently, hurt and generated love.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (New International Version) – “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

I deeply understood, by the grace of God, that there is nothing that is more efficient, more powerful in making us love God than this penetrating divine word.

During our journey, it is good to evaluate whether today, at this very moment, we have loved God more. A complex answer, as it leads us to do things. However, before taking any action, we must be convinced that He loved us first. If I have a deep conviction of how much I am loved by God, I will be led to take actions and behaviors to spend more time with Him (1 John 4:19). I will love Him more by exercising spiritual disciplines.

God’s Speaking Awakens a Deep Reaction

Because God loves us, He will always instruct us on how to live in this fallen world because He knows that we are weak children. He knows our struggles. He enables us to use weapons against evil. He knows we will falter from time to time, but His love is not a license to fall into sin. It is essential to be in Him and tremble before Him because of our human nature (Phil. 2:12). We understand that this nature is sinful, and, as much as we always want to look at God, sometimes we turn our eyes toward the world. We stop paying attention to what God says.

In 2003, I went through a phase of spiritual lukewarmness, despite being committed to the Kingdom, welcoming discipleship and exercising spiritual disciplines but in a superficial way. I was being “religious.”

At that time, it was no longer embedded in my heart that everything had a right time (Eccls. 3). I didn't believe that I could expect from God that my needs would be supplied. For almost a year, struggling with God and with reprimands coming from a dear discipler, God said this: Whoever insists on error after much rebuke will be destroyed without warning and irremediably (Prov. 29:1).

When we stop paying attention to what God says, we need to stop. When we stop paying attention to what God says, we need to react. When we stop paying attention to what God says, we have to tremble and fear. The journey of waiting produces maturity. After 14 years, God acted and gave me a spectacular husband. For seven years, I have lived with a man serving the Kingdom, passionate about the Word, walking with me towards heaven.

God Does What He Says

We are convinced that God says, does, and completes His work (Phil. 1:6).

Yes, the beginning of God's work in us was to lead us, by pure grace, to Jesus Christ. This work is so good that it works today in us who have the Holy Spirit. Our God will only stop until we are in heaven. There are several promises for all areas of our lives. If God begins a work in our life, we can be sure that He will see it through to the end. Let us remain firm in Christ and the certainty of our heavenly home.

God’s Work is Ongoing

God has called us to resemble his beloved son. However, his infinite grace leads us daily to grow in sanctification. 

Recently, my husband and I had to make a decision that would affect the course of our lives, especially regarding our availability to continue in the church’s ministerial service. My elderly mother needed care. Even though we loved her, my husband and I were fighting a battle that we did not want to see – our mother’s aging required a sacrifice from us. 

We have already won many wars and we still have more to fight. The key is how we fight. That has made all the difference. We stopped resisting and God started showing us what was right.

This promise from God in Ephesians 6:1-3 (New International Version) was a balm: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and your mother” — which is the first commandment with a promise — “so that everything may go well with you, and you may live long on earth.”

For a year now, my 85-year-old Catholic mother has been a regular at Sunday services, with an assigned seat in the second row of the hall. Once a week, dear sisters come to our house to tell her about the gospel.

I know my faith is being tested. I am convinced that the work will be completed. Glory to our wonderful God.

Sandra Mara, 53 years old, was baptized 27 years ago in the International Church of Christ in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. She is a member of the church council and works at a private company in the administration area. She has been married for seven years to Leonardo Anthony, who works as a full-time employee and administrator of the church. Currently, the two pastor a metropolitan region (the city of Contagem).