https://godtalks.com
I heard this former pilot talking on the Glenn Beck show with the guest host Justin and I thought his ideas were very compelling and given his experience as a former top gun pilot it has even more credibility because of their amazing accomplishments in the sky.
He talked about listening to God as well as talking to God. When we talk about prayer we usually mean talking to God, but prayer can and should also be about listening to God.
And he mentioned how wonderful artificial intelligence seems at times, but that "divine intelligence" is a thousand times, maybe even infinity times, more powerful.
Good stuff 👍✝️🙏
AI GENERATED:
Ed Rush is a former U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 fighter pilot and Top Gun graduate. He flew combat missions in Iraq and later became a military flight instructor.
The book was published in 2023, and its central idea is learning to have a conversational relationship with God — asking God questions and learning to recognize His answers
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105
Ed Rush’s approach in God Talks is interesting because he encourages people to develop an active, conversational relationship with God. But there’s an important distinction between his approach and the biblical picture of how God speaks.
1. Rush emphasizes conversation with God
The basic idea is that prayer doesn't have to be a one-way speech where we talk and then immediately get up. He encourages people to ask God questions, become quiet, and pay attention to what comes to mind.
That part has a biblical parallel. Scripture certainly presents prayer as a relationship with God, not merely reciting words.
Jesus said:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7
The Bible also repeatedly shows people seeking God's guidance.
2. The Bible's primary standard is God's written Word
This is where I would put a strong qualification on the “conversation” concept.
The Bible doesn't tell us to assume that every thought, impression, feeling, or internal voice is God speaking.
Instead, we're told to test things:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” — 1 John 4:1
And Scripture itself is described as inspired by God and useful for teaching and correction (2 Timothy 3:16).
So if someone believes, “God told me X,” the first question should be:
Does X agree with Scripture?
If it contradicts Scripture, it isn't God's voice, regardless of how powerful or convincing the experience feels.
3. The Bible does show God speaking personally
This is important because the biblical position isn't simply, “God only spoke in the past.”
God spoke directly to Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah, the prophets, Joseph, Mary, the apostles, and others.
And in the New Testament:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
So there absolutely is a biblical concept of God's people hearing His voice.
But John 10:27 doesn't necessarily mean that Christians should expect an audible voice or an internal sentence every time they ask God a question.
It describes recognizing and following Christ.
4. The Holy Spirit guides believers
The New Testament also teaches that the Holy Spirit guides God's people.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” — Romans 8:14
And:
“When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” — John 16:13
So Rush's emphasis on listening for God's guidance isn't foreign to Christianity.
The caution is that we shouldn't automatically equate our own thoughts with the Holy Spirit.
5. There's a very important biblical test
Suppose you pray:
“God, should I take this job?”
Then an idea suddenly comes into your mind:
“Take it.”
Rush's method might encourage you to consider whether that could be God responding.
Biblically, I'd be more cautious.
You would examine:
• Does taking the job violate anything Scripture teaches? • What are the circumstances? • Have you prayed about it? • Have you sought wise counsel? • What are your motives? • Is there evidence that this is actually God's providence? • Does the conclusion produce something consistent with God's character and Word?
And you should be willing to say, “I don't know whether this thought was from God.”
That's a much safer position than assuming every strong impression is divine communication.
6. The Bible warns about false messages from God
This is probably the biggest difference I'd emphasize.
The Bible contains numerous warnings about people claiming, “Thus saith the Lord,” when God hadn't actually spoken through them.
Jeremiah 23 is particularly strong on this subject. God condemns prophets who speak “a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”
That's a sobering warning.
It means sincerity isn't enough.
A person can genuinely believe God told them something and still be mistaken.
So my overall assessment would be:
Rush's emphasis on developing a personal, conversational relationship with God is compatible with the biblical idea of prayer, fellowship with God, and being led by the Holy Spirit.
But the Bible gives us a much stronger safeguard: God's revealed Word is the standard by which supposed messages from God must be tested.
I'd therefore turn Rush's idea around slightly:
Don't start with, “What is God saying to me?”
Start with, “Lord, what have You already said in Your Word? And please give me wisdom to understand how Your Word applies to my situation.”
Then, if you experience an impression or prompting, test it against Scripture rather than immediately labeling it “God's voice.”
That distinction is extremely important.
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