Inspire Entertainment Magazine Spring 2014 - Vol. 4 | Page 68

read the night before. This ritual continued for nine years before anyone discovered his aptitude. “They
gave me an IQ test and found out I was reading and writing at a ninth-grade level. I was 15 years old
and had never been taught by anyone in my life,” he said. Coleman graduated from high school with a
4.1 GPA and went on to college, where he earned a degree in communication.
Today, he’s an author and professional speaker, and his message to others is one of kinship with God
that defies circumstantial limitations. It’s a process he calls “solitary refinement,” and it begins with
knowing that it’s okay to ask God “Why?” Since our Father in heaven can easily create us all to be
healthy and prosperous people, it’s acceptable to question why He chooses to let some people suffer
instead.
“If we’re afraid to ask God why He allows things to happen in our lives, we risk missing His purpose
for us,” Coleman said. “Even though we cannot see what lies ahead, we can receive spiritual vision
from God by spending time with Him and understanding the objective He has for our life. When we
understand the ‘why,’ we get the vision.”
Spending a lifetime in intimate conversation with the Lord has given Coleman wisdom and strength to
overcome daunting challenges. “I think my time alone with God has resulted in clarity,” he said. “I recognize His voice more now than I ever have before.” He can’t say precisely how his experience in
prayer is different from someone else’s, but he’ll tell you that it’s grounded in an uncomplicated relationship with Christ. “When I talk, I pray God will help me pronounce words that leave my mouth.
When I eat, I pray He will help my hands move food to my mouth. When I brush my teeth and get
dressed, I pray. Most people come to God and say, ‘I need You for big things.’ But God says, ‘You need
Me for everything.’”
To pursue intimacy with Christ, Coleman advised that we start by reading Scripture and asking the
Lord to give us insight. From there, we can begin asking questions. Ultimately, this leads to a relationship. He said that loneliness, more than anything else, has fostered his bond with God. “Loneliness is a
very real feeling that we cannot ignore. God did not ignore it when He created Eve for Adam—He
made us with a need for companionship. It’s okay for me to look for significant relationships, but no
matter what happens, God is sufficient. That loneliness I feel inside can be filled by Him.”
According to Coleman, his relationship with the Lord is based on one fact: He knows that Jesus knows
him. There’s no room for pretense or conjecture. When God initially told him to share his story with
others, he asked his Creator frankly, “Can’t you see my hands? My feet? Look at me. I can’t even talk
properly!” And God answered, “I don’t have to look at you. I made you.”
With God, Coleman can always be himself. “My time alone with Him has allowed me to separate other
people’s opinions and my own emotions from truth, to confirm what I’m hearing from the Holy Spirit,”
he said. “Today, I can say that nothing can take the place of His voice in my life.”
After reading this story or looking at the video, are you more grateful for what God has done for you?
What are you complaining about that equals the trials and obstacles that Christopher has to face on a
daily basis? Is it worth it? Be grateful for how God has created you. Give thanks to Him for blessing
you with good health, a sane mind, and the ability to do for yourself. Quit looking at what you don’t
have and start looking at what God has blessed you with. We have so much to be grateful for this Easter Season, shout praises unto the Lord. If Christopher can give thanks to the Lord, then you can too.
Let the Lord know that you love Him for all that He has done.
You can read more about Christopher Coleman in his book Solitary Refinement or by visiting christophercoleman.net.