Dive in and swim against the tide.

Mark Holloway's picture

God I think I heard you saying early this morning that I would have to swim against the tide of religious opinion?

No I didn’t say you’d ‘have to’. That’s Religion again. He’s always adding his manipulative mischief to what I say. He drives my people this way and that with so many dos and don’ts. He demands and shouts, whereas I ask and suggest.

Ok. Would you LIKE me to swim against religion’s tide?

Yes. If you have the courage to do that you’ll achieve what you and I both want you to. I want everyone to turn and strike out against Religion’s strong tide. You’ll find it hard at first but you’ll gain strength that you had no idea existed. But I have a question – what if walking against the tide makes you unpopular?

I’m starting to think I’d prefer not to have this conversation God.

Why in such a hurry to cut this short Mark?

Because it’s dangerous. I can sense that it threatens what I’ve always known. It’s a dangerous subject and what if I mistake what you’re saying?

Well you tell me – is this me talking or not?

It sure sounds like you.

But?

But I’m worried you’ll say things that threaten what I already know.

Welcome to the club Mark. The bible is a continuing story of people hearing me say things that didn’t fit with what they already knew about me. You’ll notice that those who listened despite their misgivings became the bible heroes. Whereas the bad guys were the ones who rejected the new thing I said and stuck instead with what I had said in the past.

What I say each new day is like manna – food from heaven. Mark what is the most memorable thing about manna?

Well the thing I remember is that it went rotten and filled with worms if you tried to save it for the next day.

Yes. Yesterday’s manna was a wonderful memory that kept your faith strong for today, but you couldn’t eat it. You needed today’s manna to survive. Listening to me speak is the same - what I said yesterday is a wonderful memory, it increases your faith, but you need to hear me speak again today to negotiate life.

Now. Back to the danger involved in hearing me speak. When you’re in conversation with a human they’re going to say things you didn’t expect them to say, right?

Yes. All the time.

Good. So when you’re in conversation with me the same thing will happen. But to an even greater extent.  That’s because no matter how well you know me, the size of my mind means that I am always thinking about things that you have no idea about. Which means that if you’re in conversation with me you’ll have even less control of the subject than you do when you’re talking to a human. Are you ok with that?

I thought I was. I thought having a conversation with you would be great because I’m tired of how Religion controls the way we talk to you and only lets us talk to you about the same old things.

So what’s changed?

Well God now you’re talking about things that I’m worried might offend people. You’re saying you want people to ignore the customs of religion – the things that make us comfortable. You’re saying you want us to throw off the accepted ways to relate to you - to stop being so religious.

What’s the problem with that. You just said that’s what you wanted Mark. You said you wanted to stop talking about the same old things to me. The problem is that you’re scared to let me suggest how the process will go. Now that you know can hear me you’re worried. You suspect I might say things you’re not expecting me to say. But if you stay in control and only let me say things you’re comfortable with then you won’t hear anything new at all. I want to talk about NEW new things Mark. A whole NEW approach to everything – to life, to the way you relate to me. And you won’t know what those new things are unless you’re prepared to let me say whatever I want.

I already know that God.

You do but you don’t. You know that you’re having this seemingly impossible back and forward conversation with me, but you want to keep it within the bounds of what you already understand about me. You go scurrying off to consult scripture when I say something that worries you, but the problem with that is that you’re consulting your own understanding of scripture.  It’s time you let me explain scripture to you. I understand it better than you. How can you hope to understand scripture unless you know how to ask the one who wrote it?

You’re still not used to me introducing new subjects. You’re SO religious Mark. Particularly when I say things that question the way you’ve done things until now.  What worries you most is that what I say might make you unpopular with others. You’re worried they’ll say “God wouldn’t say that!” But you need, all of you, to be prepared to listen to what I want to say – NOT to what you expect me to say. I’m not an extension of your beliefs, I’m not constricted to what you believe about me. I exist all by myself without any help from you. I AM. Completely separate from your ideas about me.

I’m so sick of your religion. You have helped Religion in his efforts to reduce the power that holds the universe together into something predictable and boring.  Something safe. How did you all manage that? I’ll tell you. It was easy. You believed what he told you about me. You believed it because when you heard his voice you thought it was mine.

You tell each other Religion’s seductive lies – all his rules and regulations about how I must be worshipped. A generation ago you told each other that a woman must have her head covered in church and not lead. Now you tell each other she can lead, and without her head covered. Which is true? You have no idea – these are all your rules which you attribute to me. A generation from now you’ll have new ideas about all that and all your other favourite touchy subjects. You’ll tell each other those ideas are from me, and you’ll create new rules and expectations around them.

I’ve had enough Mark. It’s time you gave up all your systems and customs and safeguards. I don’t want religion. I don’t want a system or a world-wide movement. What I want is a relationship, one on one, back and forward with each of you as individuals. I don’t want it based on your systems and teachings. I want to tell each of you, individually, how our relationship should run. I don’t want you to hear from someone in charge, or from a book, or from a TV programme how our relationship should be run. I want you to hear it from me.

Ok so God so do you want me to publish that conversation? It seems like the same old stuff to me. Boring. Not much different.

Mark I want you to publish it. The reasons will become apparent over time. Just trust me and do it.

Shall I put that bit about publishing it on the end, or just cut it off?

What do you think?

I’m not sure.

Yes you are.

God?

Yes. You can hear me and you know what I’m saying.

Ok? So are you saying to include this very negative sounding finishing dialogue or to cut it before I publish this conversation?

Mark people need to understand that being unsure is human, normal and ok. Include all this, it helps them realise that they’re ok when they doubt their own conversations with me.

Alright then.

LOVE THIS BOOK!
Love this book. It’s changing my life for the better. Amanda Barber.


I CAN’T STOP SAYING WOW!
I can’t stop saying WOW as I read this book… it’s transformed Hubby’s life. Can’t wait to get to the end of the book to try it out too. So want more! Ang Low

 

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE THINKING IT'S YOUR OWN IMAGINATION WHEN YOU TRY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH GOD - read the 'Practical Tips' section. How to have your own conversation with God in The Freedom Diaries. 

You can purchase your own copy of Mark Holloway's book, 'The Freedom Diaries - God Speaks Back' on this website.

 

Related Resources: 

How to Hear God's Voice!   

Related Blogs: 

How to Hear God’s Voice   
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Anonymous's picture

I always take time to check frequently for your conversations with God. They bear witness to my spirit, like "something" that is just under the surface, but rises up within me as I read these posts. Blessings to you. By the way I just ordered your book.

Mark Holloway's picture

Interpreting the silent voice of our invisible God takes practise so it's fantastic to get encouragement. We all need to interpret his voice and in my experience we all need encouragement with our efforts. Thanks too for buying the book. It's now a best seller in little New Zealand where I live. People say it revolutionises their relationship with God - which is so much more than I expected!!
 
Now we want to take the book to the world. So, if you find it significantly changes your life then PLEASE spread the word. The more people who discover their own conversation with God the better.
Best Regards
Mark H.
 

Mark Holloway's picture

Interpreting the silent voice of our invisible God takes practise so it's fantastic to get encouragement. We all need to interpret his voice and in my experience we all need encouragement with our efforts. Thanks too for buying the book. It's now a best seller in little New Zealand where I live. People say it revolutionises their relationship with God - which is so much more than I expected!!
 
Now we want to take the book to the world. So, if you find it significantly changes your life then PLEASE spread the word. The more people who discover their own conversation with God the better.
Best Regards
Mark H.
 

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Pages

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 305 Pages | Retail: $16.99

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?


Price: $14.95

Dialogue with God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 296 Pages

This top seller for 30 years from Bridge Logos provides a narrative, right-brain presentation of the principles of how to hear God's voice. Especially enjoyable for personal use, it makes a great gift for introducing a loved one to the voice of God. This book teaches the four keys to hearing God's voice in readable style, and also devotes two entire chapters to moving samples of people's journaling (i.e. their two-way dialogue with God).

Price: $17.95
Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

9 Books | 10 CDs | 10 DVDs | Save Over 20%

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don't seem to be going your way and your prayers aren't answered the way you had hoped, wouldn't it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life? Are you ever just a little bit jealous of others who say with such confidence, "The Lord said...."?

Price: $175.00

How to Hear God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 317 Pages

We recommend that you order the newest revision of this book titled 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. It includes 95% of the content of How to Hear God's Voice but is reorganized so it fits perfectly with the 10 DVDs on this subject by Mark Virkler. In addition, it gets you started using the four keys earlier in the book and gives you more journaling samples and exercises. Since we have removed the large margins, it is a smaller and less expensive book.

Price: $24.95

Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 320 Pages

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith. 

Price: $19.95

Twelve Weeks to Spiritual Mastery - Group Coaching

A group coaching experience with Mark Virkler

Because I could not find a Spirit-anointed teacher/coach, I spent ten extremely frustrating years seeking to hear God’s voice!!! Suggestions offered did not help me, things like: “You just know that you know. It is a still small voice. He speaks from your heart.” No one could give me the answer I needed which was: Hearing God’s voice is as simple as quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, recognizing His voice as spontaneous, flowing thoughts and writing down His flow as it is coming. Test what you have written after the flow is done, NOT while it is occurring.

Price: $1,200.00

Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 146 Pages

Have you ever been defeated by negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, inferiority, condemnation or depression? Have you tried to fight them off unsuccessfully? Is there an answer that is deeper than simply trying to mentally reason yourself out of these emotions? Is there a way that Jesus can speak a word of life into the depths of your emotional despair and bring healing on a deep level? Is there a form of Christian counseling that begins and ends with the movement of Christ within your heart, rather than simply with the words of man?

Price: $10.95
Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook Cover

Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 92 Pages

A newer book has been released that accompanies this workbook: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural", with almost a million views just on YouTube).


Do you often wake up feeling there was a significant message in your dream, but you’re just not sure what it is? Like Daniel and Joseph, do you long to be able to help others understand their own dreams and win them to Christ as you explain His night messages to them? Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive mid-course corrections from the Lord while you sleep? Do you wish you could be receiving divine inspiration, creative solutions to problems, and direction from the Lord during that third of your life that you’re “just” sleeping?

Price: $11.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 292 Pages

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

It is always fun to be on the winning team. Well look what God has done with Charity's new dreams teaching. It has taken off like a rocket with a live TV interview on Cornerstone Network and her Sid Roth interview which has almost a million views on YouTube!

Price: $16.99

Everyday Angels

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock 289 Pages

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $16.99

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