Finishing Sentences

Anne Bradshaw • August 10, 2023

Finishing Sentences

Dear Reader,

Recently I've been working on listening. Actually, I am most always working on that skill. It's so easy to get off on tangents while someone else is speaking of how I think I should respond and what I think of what is being shared. Quieting the mind to hear the other person is difficult. I never realized how focused I was on ME and what I THINK.

I think we get quite relaxed in marriage regarding conversation. For example, my husband and I will typically finish one another's sentences. Sometimes I like the way he ends my sentences more than I do my own. He is good at seeing the whole big picture of things and summarizes easily. However, I mostly enjoy it because he makes me laugh. He’s a funny guy. At times, though, it can be annoying if I’m trying to say something serious. Altogether, I am becoming more and more aware that it is important to let people finish what they were going to say without trying to figure out feelings, whether I agree, and how to respond at the same time they are sharing their thoughts. This not only leads to a much longer conversation, it also involves humility and patience not to mention trusting myself that I won’t forget what is important.

And there is the issue.

With the invention of computers and the internet, we are used to quick answers at our fingertips. It seems tedious to wait for the answers. Emails are better than snail mail, instant payments are better than writing a check and adopting another person point of view is easier than researching for our own answers.

Regarding faith...

It is easier to listen to the preacher or teacher and adopt their understanding than it is to search out the truth for ourselves. Easier to piece together personally preferred scriptures into a personal theology than it is to take the scriptures in context regarding the original author and the intended audience and that audience's understanding and THEN apply THAT truth to our lives. Listen to the teacher YES, but more importantly, do your own studies as well. How else can one distinguish truth from untruth?

It can seem like too much work and we typically think we are so smart, don't we? Can't we be our own measure for what we believe? Aren't our experiences and philosophies enough?

Humility is a great virtue as is self-control and patience (see Galatians 5:22).

Our impatience, I suspect, also leads to our finishing God's sentences for Him. He reveals a truth, prophetically speaking or written in Scripture, and we jump ahead with our own interpretation and strategy for obedience and understanding. And, if we are honest with ourselves, we may feel quite "smart" in the process. “Oooo! That was DEEP, can’t wait to share it and what it means!” While I do advocate sharing what we discover, it is typically a little different from sharing what we think. I a group setting we invite conversation and possibly a greater understanding or correction of what we think a truth implies for the church overall. To depend upon ourselves alone as the measure for interpretation often leads not only to a compromised message but also to a misguided strategy for obedience with an outcome less than what God intends.

And God will let us do it, if we choose. Oh, He will raise a red flag that it is happening and if, by chance we see that "wait a minute caution", the temptation is to rationalize, "Well, maybe I was mistaken..." or “that’s just the devil after me again…”

We all have a frame of reference from which we see the world and interpret what God is saying. I believe that is why prophetic words can be accurate in the receiving, but not necessarily accurate in the interpretation of the one delivering.

For example, a man (or woman) of God can be wearing the lenses of End Time thinking and still receive a word from God. How he interprets that word will have an End Time application for the man of God because that is where his ultimate focus is, but that doesn't mean that is what God meant.

It's difficult to separate between the revelation and the lenses through which they are interpreted. We don't have much practice. The tendency is to go straight from Revelation to Understanding without seeking the Knowledge so we may obtain wisdom. (see blog series)

Ideally, if one receives a word from God (revelation), we must understand that our perspective will undoubtedly want to "finish God's sentences for Him." This will lead to a false understanding of the Word delivered and received. The Words from God were accurate, the vessel through which they were delivered was not.

So what am I saying? Don't finish God's sentences. Don't try to explain them for Him. Just deliver the word as it is heard. Then stop. Let Holy Spirit “finish the sentences as they should” This is what Jesus did.

John 5:19-20 "... Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

and to His disciples Jesus said...

John 16:13
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

I believe this is true for us today as well. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what we need to know and say if we are listening. Obedience is up to us.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

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Get Ready

By Anne Bradshaw • May 29, 2025

Hear His voice, and Go

He Invites Our Participation

By Anne Bradshaw • May 8, 2025

Dear Reader, It has been on my mind this morning the incredible gift we have in Christ to be members of the Family of God, the Church Jesus is building, citizens of the Kingdom, joint heirs with Christ. We are in His Good Care, always. I’m sure you have also had moments when the appreciation for this gift seems to eclipse the momentary business of daily life. I’m sure you would have your insights as well to add. It is from this place that I am sharing today. My husband and I take time each morning to pray together for family, the Church and the nation. Today when we were praying for our nation and for the people of God, we prayed for those who hear His voice that they would choose obedience above the temptations and the insecurities that they may experience. We prayed for Congress, especially, to be focused on good stewardship of the office they are holding and accomplish the pressing needs of the nation rather than simply the “easy” stuff they can agree on. Our prayers were for those who are not being good stewards of the power and influence they have been given, would now make choices according to the Law of the Spirit of Life or be removed from their places of power and influence until they can fulfill their oath of office responsibly and faithfully. It occurred to me amidst the prayer time, that God really doesn’t need our approval to accomplish His plan. He doesn’t need anyone to be obedient. He invites it. He designed the covenantal relationship with us to not be dependent upon us because He is somehow lacking in something we have, rather He includes us because it is His good pleasure. When I say he doesn’t need us, I mean that He is God all by Himself. He doesn’t need anything from us in order to maintain His sovereignty and Grace and accomplish His plan for humanity that is already in the works. When I was young, I used to think that if I stopped believing in God He would simply vanish. It was quite a revelation to realize I was not that powerful and that whether I believed or not, approved or not, was happy, sad, faithful or disobedient, God was still God. He is faithful to His covenant regardless of my momentary lapses or victories. He loved me and wanted me to have the abundant life promised. Then I learned an even greater truth. It’s not about me. Never was. There is no personal plan of God for my life. It isn’t all planned out. He just knows what is in store and prepares me in advance with all the skills and ability I need to enjoy, endure or receive all that is ahead of me. He’s in my corner, but not for my sake… It’s for everyone. It’s for His kingdom, His righteousness working through me so ALL can have an abundant life promised. I just have a small corner in a much bigger purpose in which to work and follow His leading. It’s not about me... I find that incredibly freeing. I can’t make a mistake that messes up His plan. I’m not that powerful. I am free to choose. I am offered leadership and favor according to His good will for me, for all. If the consequences of sin are experienced, it is because sin carries its own punishment. And sometimes that punishment spills over to others. A drunk driver could have an accident and kill other people. The other people didn’t do anything wrong; the evil of alcohol abuse is at fault. But God still cares and is not defined by the accident. He takes care of His people, but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience the fall out of evil in our world. He promises to walk with us through it. He promises His justice. Evil wears out because it “eats its own” just as a wasting disease will “eat” the host until there is nothing left to survive, then the disease also dies with the host it destroyed. This is evil. God never designed our bodies to host wasting diseases. He didn’t design us to sin. We were meant for more. Evil things have been happening behind the scenes of our government for years. It is now being revealed. Pray with us that the evil will not only be brought to light, but that it will also receive the just judgment of God and His righteousness through His people who are even now, building impenetrable cases to process. We pray for them. We must keep the courts in our prayers that the just judgments of God would be able to work successfully. We must not be discouraged when judges make rulings that are prejudiced, excessive, biased and unfair. Why? Because our hope is in the Lord who is above all and sees all and is faithful to His Covenant with those who believe. God always wins. Those who confront the evil of death, doubt and despair, are not forgotten. The mothers and fathers who lost children to fentanyl, brought in and distributed illegally in our nation, are not forgotten. The people struggling to pay debts, to provide for family and be good stewards are not forgotten. What is needed is for the Church Jesus is building to realize the power of her voice among the nations to make a difference; speak forth the will of God, His one Will, His Just Judgments. What we have currently is a church that is praying in a dozen or more different directions. Because God has Chosen to work through us, is it not important that we steward that responsibility corporately with accuracy rather than personally? Is it a surprise that personal agendas are most likely not God’s agenda? If it is the Church’s mandate to push back darkness and administrate the principles of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, is it any wonder evil has gotten a foothold when we are so busy looking after “me, myself, and I” our own local church food banks and Sunday morning services rather than speaking as one with the whole church against the evil that is even making the food banks necessary? Here's a thought: Maybe those who run the food banks (for example) wonder what purpose they would have if the food banks were not necessary? (just a thought) Would they pray to end the need for something in which they are finding fulfillment? Could the concern for fulfillment, validation, and significance apply to any other Church-run organization made necessary because of the works of evil? I wonder, how many have read Matthew 23 lately? Maybe it isn't that. Maybe the sincere concern for others cannot see past the momentary need to the corporate power of the Faith of God and the one Church Jesus is building to confront the evil source and heal the root of the need. Something to think about, anyway... Grace and peace, my friends. Anne