I have noticed that if I am around people who are interested or talking about a particular subject, whether it is food, health, sports, a television program or any other subject, because I love to interact with people, I try to find something I can relate to with them. I have to say that I am not very knowledgeable about a lot of subjects that seem to interest other people, so I become more of a listener than one who can offer much to the conversation.

However, if you are talking about something that I know some things about or that are of interest to me, I will more actively engage in the conversation. When I was in Oregon, I was asked to say a blessing over the newly-married couple (my niece and her husband). I was somewhat surprised at the number of their friends who later came up to me and said things like “that was a nice prayer” or “I really liked your prayer.” 

We were out the following night with a handful of their friends and someone at the table said something similar then she added “I pray every day, well, most every day.” What popped into my head was a question which I directed toward her. “Is it a one-way conversation or a two-way conversation?” She looked at me with questioning eyes and then I responded “I love two-way conversations with the Lord because He really loves to talk with me. The more conversations I have with Him, the more I get to know what He is really like.” The whole table got very quiet! These friends were very likely not familiar with that concept and I did not belabor the point beyond what I had just said, but I felt like the Lord would bring that conversation back to someone in that group at some point in time.

I am home now and went to our small home group from my church. We usually have a meal together and many times a conversation starts that everyone (or most everyone) participates in. This past week, we were talking about how one person in a group can help to create a hunger in the hearts of others when it is obvious they are having a fresh encounter with the Lord. God placed within each of our hearts a deep longing for a real and satisfying relationship, but many times we try to fill that longing with other things because we do not know that it is Him that is drawing our hearts toward Himself. Even those people who do not seem to have a spiritual hunger are looking for something in their life that brings satisfaction and fulfillment.

We are called to be salt and light! It doesn’t take much salt to season a meal properly. Too much salt can actually ruin the food for consumption. People who try to “salt” a conversation with too much salt can cause an adverse reaction to creating a desire to know God in a real and vital way. If a person is really hungry, they will respond in a way that lets you know to continue “salting” the conversation or actually participating in the “meal” of true Koinonia (fellowship). If they are not hungry or not ready in their hearts to receive truth that you are trying to present, you would be wise to redirect your conversation until another time.

My small group members are all hungry for “more” of Him, so we are an encouragement to one another. We love to hear from one another and many times receive fresh insights and understanding from each other. Over and over in the New Testament we see examples of the early church meeting together and uplifting one another.

I am reminded of a scripture I quote often concerning this subject. Malachi 3:16 says: “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another and the Lord listened and heard them, so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.” Wow! He listens to us and He cares enough about our conversations that He has a book written in heaven so that it has been recorded for eternity. I have some books in my library that are so good, I will reread them every few years just to remind myself about the content of that book.

The next verse in Malachi says: “They shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on that day that I make them My jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” If you read on down into chapter four you will get the context of verse 17, but my point for this article is in the first half of the verse. We who love the Lord and speak to Him and with others about Him are very special and valuable to Him. We are as jewels to Him! How does He display us to the angels and heavenly creatures? Let your imagination consider that!

I am forever ruined for anything else but desiring and knowing more of Him. I have a lot of interests and have taken the time to learn about those things that I feel might benefit me or others in some way, but they dim in comparison to my times of fellowship with Him and with others who love Him. 

What you spend time focusing on and think about is what will ultimately determine the direction of your life. Do you have two-way conversations with the Lord? Do you have a few others that you are having a book of remembrance written in the archives of heaven?