The Sound of God’s Voice

EPISODE EXPANSION

The very character of God is evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit, and each one has a specific voice that reveals His heart toward us. Today, we are cultivating an expectation of His gentle voice which restores us and washes us in truth.

How many times have you heard the refrain,
“God’s not answering my prayers,” or “I can’t hear Him”?

Too often, we’re simply not paying enough attention because perhaps we are listening to the sound of our own voices.  And if not, there are plenty of louder people all around us, each with their own viewpoints on a subject demanding to be heard. The world is a loud place, lacking the subtlety of the Kingdom. But our identities are in the Kingdom and this is the place where we must learn to live from.

Our current identity in Christ is the source of our deliverance from the world. It is not some voice from on high sounding suspiciously like Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston, Morgan Freeman, or even Superman. These voices are not Jesus, and the Father is not a superhero. He’s not always swooping down from the clouds to sweep us off our feet and out of our trying circumstances. If that’s more or less what we’re expecting when we pray over our situation, then we may just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.

We have to learn to listen to the quiet voice,
to sink into His rest, and to simply pay attention.

We are learning how to use our circumstances to leverage ourselves toward a new understanding of Christ; like climbing an obstacle to stand atop it and obtain a higher perspective. When that’s accomplished, the obstacle simply doesn’t seem as much of a problem as before because we can see beyond it to what lies ahead. As we dwell upon Christ and allow our identity to develop in Him, the situations we find ourselves in recede in importance.

Stepping back into God and the Spirit is vital to this process. In the secret places of the Spirit, places of meditation and deep thought, wisdom can be developed. Wisdom is more than just experience and knowledge obtained. It’s the very perspective that allows us to determine when to apply that knowledge and experience. That perspective cannot be obtained when we’re unfocused, scattered, or closed down. It requires a quiet place of reflection, a spirit of joy, and patience.

God is never distracted. He’s always listening, and He’s always attending to us. We are just learning to listen to what He is always saying.

We have Christ within us, and we are within Him, and those two images are gradually becoming one. We are intended to become so much like Christ that we can no longer tell the difference. 

As you become more and more acclimated to living in rest, you’ll find the Lord pointing out odd little things during your day.  Problems become opportunities in disguise. We begin to hear what God has been saying all along, while we were previously distracted and thinking about something else.

So if you are looking to hear from God in a new and fresh way, seek to create a place of your own; a place of stillness, where you can feel, think, relax, and see things clearly. Make a place where you can relate to God and what His voice sounds like in the still places of your heart. It may be difficult at first to find the time and inclination, but nothing is really as important as being with God and hearing His voice. It moves, excites, and draws us into a more full encounter with His presence. It’s in this place that His voice becomes clear and easy.

Want to learn more? Be sure to tune in to today’s podcast as we explore more about the gentle voice of God.

As always, thanks for listening!

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