God’s Voice
Has God spoken to you lately? More importantly, have you listened and obeyed?
God speaks to us in many ways, yet we rarely hear Him. Our daily busy-ness chokes out His voice. When we do hear Him, we tend to dismiss it as inconvenient, or even ignore it. It’s easier to maintain the status quo.
You see, God’s speaking to us is really a two-part issue. First He speaks, then we must follow. Example: If you tell your child to clean up her room she may hear you, may even acknowledge you. But if she doesn’t actually clean up her room, then the message is worthless.
Many folks look for grand signs from God… think Moses and the burning bush. But God will use whatever method works for the person He is trying to reach, and often those messages may be subtle. I’m reminded of the old journalism adage “know your audience, and write to them.” God knows his audience, each and every member. And He tailors His message to get through. But it is still up to us to listen!!
A friend of mine, Jon, along with his wife, felt a pull to mission work. Jon had it all mapped out. You see, he heard the call correctly, but was going about it on his own terms.
About two years into the preparation, he “freaked out” (his words!), and said he just couldn’t do it. He and his wife stopped the process of entering the mission field. But God spoke to him. How? Sleepless nights (a lot of them). And through music. Jon has a marvelous singing voice, and every time the choir director chose a solo for him, it either related to missions or to obeying God’s voice. Finally, he gave in to God’s call once and for all, and this summer his family begins final preparations to enter the field … and they are all sleeping well now!
But God doesn’t just speak to us over life changing events. Remember, He loves us deeply, and cares about EVERYTHING that we do. So His voice can be heard in the little day-to-day things, as well. He is with us everywhere, ready to lead us, guide us, and prove His love to us over and over again.
God will show Himself to you and lead you in His path by making you uncomfortable where you are. He will put up roadblocks in an attempt to get you to move closer to Him and His will for you. He will open your eyes to things you have never noticed before. He will put people in your life who have needs that only you may be able to fill, or that can fill needs in you.
You can go to Him when you are lonely, scared, hurting… in fact, He yearns for us to come to Him in those times. In Matthew 23:37, Christ says “… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”
Listen for God’s voice. Hear Him. Talk with Him. And then honor Him by obeying Him. I can’t promise you it will be easy. It may even be challenging. But it will be rewarding. And there is nothing better in this life than walking in God’s will and purpose for you.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:08 am
AMEN!!!
I was reading in the Book the other day, and in Ezekiel, G’s people are again, disobedient. the L plans to smite them again, and chooses to speak through Ezekiel to relay the message. As I read, i chose to look through the study section in the bottom, and it described Ezekiel’s life and his “unquestionable obedience” to what the L was asking him to proclaim and do….which were pretty outragious. That just stuck with me, and I thought it applied to your post today. regardless of what G calls us to, in a whisper, a song, or a physical reminder…we must obey. pry that I would be an Ezekiel!