Hearing God Through the YearIsampula

God, Our Teacher

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.” Psalm 143:10 (NRSV)

Hearing God. Some would say that’s a presumptuous and even dangerous idea. But should we expect anything else, given the words of Scripture and the heritage of the Christian church? As Christians we stand in a millennia-long tradition of humans who have been addressed by God. The ancient Israelites heard the voice of their God speaking to them out of the midst of fire (Deuteronomy 4:33). A regular place of communion and conversational interchange between the high priest and God was established in the mercy seat over the ark of God (Exodus 25:22; Luke 1:11-21).

But the individual with faith among the Israelites also cried out expectantly to be taught by God (Psalm 143:10). Isaiah, who had firsthand experience of conversing with God (Isaiah 6), described the process this way: “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. . . . The Lord will guide you continually” (Isaiah 58:9, 11 NRSV).

MEDITATION: Read Psalm 143:10 aloud and sit in the words for a few minutes: 

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.”

Notice how personal this phrase is: “For you are my God.” Relish that. Then ask God specifically what you need to be taught from his “good spirit.”