DeeperSample

Listen

Listen. The Lord is speaking. He is initiating communication deep unto deep. Much of His communication is about His love for us. His expressed love provides and protects, but also imparts identity, nurtures, and guides. We can only know who we are in correlation to who He says we are to Him.

Jesus is God’s masterpiece of expression and His written Word is the core of His voice. He also speaks by His still small voice and sometimes audibly. He speaks through nature. He speaks through history. He speaks through the Church and our godly mentors. His voice communicates His beautiful heart and glorious mind. To know His voice is to walk in His presence.

The Lord speaks to us:

· Father to child

· Messiah to disciple

· Teacher to student

· Groom to bride

· Brother to sibling, and,

· Friend to friend

He longs for our response because He loves our voice. Communication is one of God’s many specialties.

Activate

· Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to help you discern His voice. Often we do not have because we do not ask.

· Meditate on Jesus in the Word and the world all around you—His actions and words reveal what God is saying at all times.

· Listen to the voice of God by opening the written Word. To practice, turn to a favorite passage of scripture and read it slowly, phrase by phrase, even word by word. Linger. Choose to believe that the Lord is speaking because He is.

· Ask God questions and let them remain suspended before Him. Once you have posted a question, begin to listen for His answer. Worshipfully record His answers.

· God is often more interested in revealing who we are than what we should do. He wants us to learn to be in Him so that our actions will flow from that union. Ask Him who you are to Him.

· The Lord’s voice is often heard in lulls. It’s like dousing the music so you can hear the conversation in the room. In the quiet “between times,” stop and reflect on the Lord’s voice. Waking and falling asleep are also good places to perceive His voice. What is He communicating?

· Each of us can be deeply touched by the Holy Spirit in spiritually charged atmospheres. Unbidden tears often mean a baptism of God’s beauty, compassion, or mercy. In those moments ask: What is the Lord revealing about Himself and His relationship with me?

· Sermons and worship music scream His voice. These are excellent places to sit up and listen well.

· Honor what you understand to be His communication. The Lord is speaking. Listen reverently. In the midst of all this communication respond to the God who loves you.

Note: If you sense yourself backing away from God’s voice, there may be some pain or fear in your relationship with Him. Questions for reflection: Do you trust God to be kind and fair? Do you fear that if He speaks, He will shame or reprimand you? Are you angry with Him? If there seems to be a wall between God’s expressions of love and your heart, ask Him to defend His character and teach you to trust Him. Ask Him to show you the truth about His relationship with you.