The Voice of God
I was reading an unanswered post on West Metro COG's Forums section.
They asked:
1. How do you hear the voice of God?
2. What do you do if you are no longer actively hearing His voice?
3. How do you determine that what you hear is actually the voice of God?
These questions perked my interest and got my thought juices flowing.
While I was mopping up the thought juices from the floor, I had some ideas.
Immediately upon reading, Matthew, Chapter 13 came to mind:
The verse, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." rung true in my heart.
Ears to hear...
I guess one could argue that anyone who has ears has the ability to hear.
This isn't always true though. My sister used to work with hearing impaired children... maybe she still does, but I can't keep track. I guarantee she would challenge that argument.
I think what Jesus was saying was, "If you've been listening to me and understand what I've told you so far, you'll understand this... If you don't believe what I've been saying all this time, you're definitely not going to understand this."
He then went on to explain to His disciples that not everyone is going to "get it".
Only those who are willing to hear will truly hear. Those who are content with ear tickling will just have tickled ears. Their hearts will not be touched.
So... How do we hear this elusive voice of God?
John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
I wish I had a simple answer. I can only speak for how I hear God.
I personally have never heard an audible voice that made me look around wondering who just spoke.
Though I think it'd be neat, I don't think I need to be freaked out like that.
As I am a thinker, I believe God speaks to me through my thoughts.
Just like a jingle from a cheesy commercial,
*Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pie!!!*
Yeah... stuff like that.
I'll get a thought that runs through my head that refuses to be silenced.
Sometimes it's a scripture, sometimes it's an excerpt from a message I heard or a devotion I've read. Sometimes, it's a challenging word from a friend.
Either way, I think about it, meditate on it, and challenge it.
Once I've lined it up with God's word, I call it the voice of God.
Caveats:
If it boosts my ego, I call it pride.
If it causes me to look down on another, I call it judgment.
If it distracts me from God, I call it confusion.
None of these things, to me, is the voice of God.
However, if it challenges me to grow or let go of my own personal beliefs and miniscule understanding, or if it challenges me to work hard and teaches me a value I did not have, I then believe it is the voice of God.
I believe we can dull our senses with overstimulation or apathy. These things alone won't deafen us from God's voice, but can make us ignore it.
Continued ignorance of God's voice, I believe, will eventually deafen us.
God, please don't ever let me become deaf to your word. Kick me back on track if You see me slipping.
They asked:
1. How do you hear the voice of God?
2. What do you do if you are no longer actively hearing His voice?
3. How do you determine that what you hear is actually the voice of God?
These questions perked my interest and got my thought juices flowing.
While I was mopping up the thought juices from the floor, I had some ideas.
Immediately upon reading, Matthew, Chapter 13 came to mind:
The verse, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." rung true in my heart.
Ears to hear...
I guess one could argue that anyone who has ears has the ability to hear.
This isn't always true though. My sister used to work with hearing impaired children... maybe she still does, but I can't keep track. I guarantee she would challenge that argument.
I think what Jesus was saying was, "If you've been listening to me and understand what I've told you so far, you'll understand this... If you don't believe what I've been saying all this time, you're definitely not going to understand this."
He then went on to explain to His disciples that not everyone is going to "get it".
Only those who are willing to hear will truly hear. Those who are content with ear tickling will just have tickled ears. Their hearts will not be touched.
So... How do we hear this elusive voice of God?
John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
I wish I had a simple answer. I can only speak for how I hear God.
I personally have never heard an audible voice that made me look around wondering who just spoke.
Though I think it'd be neat, I don't think I need to be freaked out like that.
As I am a thinker, I believe God speaks to me through my thoughts.
Just like a jingle from a cheesy commercial,
*Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pie!!!*
Yeah... stuff like that.
I'll get a thought that runs through my head that refuses to be silenced.
Sometimes it's a scripture, sometimes it's an excerpt from a message I heard or a devotion I've read. Sometimes, it's a challenging word from a friend.
Either way, I think about it, meditate on it, and challenge it.
Once I've lined it up with God's word, I call it the voice of God.
Caveats:
If it boosts my ego, I call it pride.
If it causes me to look down on another, I call it judgment.
If it distracts me from God, I call it confusion.
None of these things, to me, is the voice of God.
However, if it challenges me to grow or let go of my own personal beliefs and miniscule understanding, or if it challenges me to work hard and teaches me a value I did not have, I then believe it is the voice of God.
I believe we can dull our senses with overstimulation or apathy. These things alone won't deafen us from God's voice, but can make us ignore it.
Continued ignorance of God's voice, I believe, will eventually deafen us.
God, please don't ever let me become deaf to your word. Kick me back on track if You see me slipping.
posted by Ven Taylor @ 8:08 AM
3 Comments:
At 7:53 PM ,
Anonymous said...
me too Lord!!
At 1:50 PM ,
Anonymous said...
I think this is the most powerful thing you have written to date. At least for me. Goosebumps - God spoke to me through your words, I believe. I think you should print this for everyone at NF to read. Maybe you could post it on the bulletin board, or just read it during First Word. I don't think anyone would see it as arrogance. I believe it is important for many people to HEAR this. And you're right - I have found in my experience with deaf kids that the deaf and hard of hearing often "hear" better than the hearing! The crazy thing is, I just alluded to some of your thoughts in my last comment before I even read this post. I forget sometimes how much you and I think alike. I guess it must be that thing called heredity, combined with some divine intervention.
At 12:30 PM ,
Anonymous said...
AS you know that I am new at that church and I am hearing Impaired. I went to deaf church and they feel God touching their heart because God is talking to deaf people. Deaf people have feeling. Deaf people use their eyes to hear and hands to talk. God knows sign lanuage. I beleive that God does sign lanuage because deaf people talk and sign to God. Dont get freak out on me, but it is true. The deaf church I use to go, the pastor is profound deaf and is very spritful. I am thankful of who I am and I beleive that is God's plan for me to become hearing impaired.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home