The March issue of Christianity Today has a fascinating article titled "My Conversation With God," written by an unnamed seminary professor who is a contributing editor to the magazine.

Among its many interesting aspects is how it illustrates the reality of a personal relationship with a Deity who cares for His children, guides them in daily life and speaks to them in startling ways.

This story is a textbook example of divine power at work. It relates how God directed this professor to help a ministerial student enroll at his university despite the family's modest means and the professor's lack of financial reserves.

That included dropping the outline for an entire book into the professor's mind, compelling him to write it and securing a publishing contract within a matter of weeks.

Unexpectedly awarded a large advance, the professor thought he had the means to repair his leaky roof—until God told him, "It's not yours." Then, He directed him to give it to the young man to help pay part of his schooling.

Through scholarships, grants and other means, today that young man is studying to become a minister of music. Once a skeptic of any miracle story outside the Bible, the professor says, "Now I know, more than intellectually, that God still speaks."

Responding to a silent voice

I relate to this story so well because it mirrors the call I heard nearly 20 years ago to become a fulltime writer after the October 1987 stock market crash butchered my public relations business.

Within a few months, I had no clients, no cash reserves and no prospects for the future. I fasted, prayed and shed some tears more than once.

Then, one day sitting in my office, I sensed a revelation dawning in my spirit. No voice spoke, no lightning bolts flashed. Yet I could hear God saying, "I want you to use your writing talent for Me."

Unlike the professor, God didn't drop any book ideas into my mind. Several months later I closed my office owing back rent and took a part-time job driving a delivery truck.

Six agonizing years crawled by as I struggled to establish myself. For awhile we managed to stay afloat because my wife had a decent paying job. But the year after she left it to minister in a low-income housing project, we paid our rent late 11 out of 12 months.

On the verge of quitting and swapping the nerve-wracking uncertainty of this routine for a steady job, God spoke to me through the pages of a book. In the midst of a detailed story were these words: "Do what I called you to do."

The doors finally open

Years later, I still get choked up thinking about how that phrase struck me between the eyes and gave me the resolve to continue.

Soon after that, my work started to steadily increase until it exploded so fast that I recognized that God had answered the prayers of a small team of prayer supporters I had assembled.

I regret that this professor remains anonymous. I imagine it's because going public would stir up too much controversy among those who theorize that God no longer speaks because He said everything He needed to in Scripture.

I call such an opinion a sacred cow, one that its supporters will defend regardless of any evidence to the contrary. What's worse is that, fearing to poke the cow, Christians are prone to avoid discussing experiences like this professor's and coming to a more complete understanding of Scripture and our relationship with its Author.

As for me, I'll continue believing God is still able to speak to His people and lead them in the same way He directed Israel to the Promised Land. Without this kind of a vibrant relationship, why bother?