The God I Never KnewSample

A Familiar Voice

When you're married to someone for a long time, you become really familiar with their voice. If Debbie calls me from a phone number other than her own, all she needs to say is “Hey,” and I instantly know it’s her. I know her voice because we’ve been married for more than 35 years. In fact, no one knows her voice better than I do.

In the same way I have become familiar with Debbie’s voice, I’ve also become familiar with the voice of the Holy Spirit. The principle is the same in both cases—it’s just a matter of spending time building a relationship with the Spirit, who speaks on behalf of God and Jesus.

Some believe God stopped speaking to people 2,000 years ago, but I beg to differ. Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If God spoke to people 2,000 years ago, then He still speaks to us today.

Every weekend at our Gateway services, I ask at the end of the message, “What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?” What I’m really asking is for you to stop for a few minutes and listen. It’s easy to talk with God and never actually stop to hear what He might say back to you.

If you’re just starting to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit, you might have a hard time telling the difference between His voice and your own. But once you’ve spent time building a friendship with Him, it becomes much easier to know when He is speaking. Just get in His presence on a daily basis and spend time getting to know Him through the Word. The more you’re with Him and get to know Him, the better you’ll hear Him. 

Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You that You’re the same yesterday, today, and forever and that You still speak to us. As I read Your Word and listen, help me to learn how to distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit from my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

"He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." John 16:14