Have you heard His voice? Do you hear God’s voice?

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

God’s voice, His voice, what does that make you think of?  Do you have memory or experience?

I feel that God’s voice is sometimes viewed as more of an illusion.  Rather than a real experience or a real audible sound it is something that is just out of our reach or maybe in our imagination.  I think Hollywood has encouraged this thought process.  If you do not hear God’s voice as in the Ten Commandments or if it is not booming or distinctly clear as in Oh God!, then maybe it was not really God?

I believe that God is always clear, but that we don’t fully understand.  I believe that God is loud enough, whether it is a shout or a whisper.  I also believe that we have an active part in hearing God’s voice.  We have to listen.  We have to quiet our life.  In all of the noise and busyness we have to focus on Him.  When we focus on Him then we can recognize His voice.  Just as one wise child said a few Sunday ago, “If the sheep hear another voice they may be worried.”  Oh how many times I have listened to the other voices in my life and I have worried.  The devil is great at impressions and an amazing impersonator.  He can tempt us, trick us and mislead us.  God does not do or will not do any of these.  So this is where we have to take the time and use discernment.  Discernment can be hard.  The background noise of life can be LOUD and overwhelming.  We have to make the choice to find a place to, “Be still, and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10.  But if I am honest there is a peace that passes understanding, when I listen and follow God, the worry simply is not there.  Sometimes I feel silly when I look back at my actions and choices and worries.  Why did I invest all of the time and energy worrying? Why didn’t I just listen and follow?    

I would like to challenge you to take the time to spend time with God.  Be in His word, in prayer, in quiet, in peace, in conversation and most important in relationship with our Lord and Heavenly Father.

Dear Lord, please help me to quiet myself. Lord, please quiet my mind, heart and the world around me.  Father, help me to focus on you and put the effort and time in to our relationship that it needs to grow and flourish.  In your name Amen.

Written and submitted by Jodie Wilson