The Voice of God

So in my last post, I shared about how I learned to pray.  I’d like to clear some things up before I am taken to the mad house.

I have not heard God speak to me audibly.

I now have three small children.  There are many voices in my house.  God’s is not one of them.  In fact, He would have to get pretty loud to be heard audibly around here.  He has a much better shot at speaking to me in other ways!

I’m not saying God can’t speak audibly, but I’m just saying I’ve never heard it.  I think one of the most profound things I’ve heard a preacher say was perhaps the simplest.  We had a guest pastor at our church once give a sermon and the main point of his sermon was that God’s voice always starts with a thought.  It’s a very simple truth.  But it’s also very profound.  Every time I sense I am hearing from God, it always begins with a thought.

Maybe I should take them a meal.
Maybe I should call my dad.
Maybe I should go to seminary.
Maybe I should check my daughter’s diaper…

It always begins with a thought.  There are so many people who feel like they don’t hear from God.  I read somewhere recently that most people do not see or hear God,not because He isn’t near or speaking, but because He pervades our universe so completely, He becomes a part of the backdrop.  It’s like the little messes, once they get left out long enough, we don’t even notice them anymore.  God is so thoroughly present in our world, He becomes a part of the stage, something we don’t notice until something goes awry.

If you are reading this, you have the ability to hear from God.  It takes nothing more than the ability to have a thought.  The challenge comes in when we have to sift through the many thoughts that run through our minds to find the voice of God.  Let’s take a scene from this afternoon as an example:

Voice 1:  If my child whines one more time, I am going to lose it….Not from God.
Voice 2:  I could run away….NOT from God.
Voice 3:  I wonder what’s happening on Facebook…Not from God.
Voice 4:  I should bend down to get on his level to hear what he is saying…There it is.

Lest you are still tempted to take me to the mad house, let me assure you, this is not one of many ‘personalities’ that live in me.  It’s a Person.  It is the God of the Universe who is and has been speaking since the beginning of time.  He is consistent.  He speaks truth and love.  If you are unsure, check the voices by what you know to be true of God’s character.  If you don’t know God’s character go to the scriptures.  Devour them.  Then test the voices, learn His voice.  You will know the right one when acting on it produces the right kind of fruit:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

So, tell me, have you heard from God lately?  Leave a comment, I’d love to know.