4 Way’s to Hear God’s Voice – Part 3
So the end of the month is here and we are on the highway headed for Maryland! “Your Refreshed Life” is never boring and always an adventure when we follow God in fulfilling His purpose for our very existence on this earth, at this time, in this place, for this generation. It’s always exciting to follow God!
This month we’ve explored three of the “4 Ways to Hear God’s Voice.” We’ve demonstrated this in Reen’s and my recent experience of following God in His desire for our move to Maryland.
Here is an excerpt from Reen’s letter to friends retelling our story. It applies to today’s way to hear from God.
Linda and I write to invite you to join us on an incredible journey. Today’s sermon at our church was entitled, “Moving from the Expected to Unexpected,” and that is our story today! Having ministered to others through marketplace ministry for many years, when in November I began to hear a clear-cut, urgent call to seek a full-time pastoral position. This call awakened me many nights and I responded with arm raised, repeating Isaiah’s words, “Here am I, Lord, send me.”( Isaiah 6:8)
After much prayer and discussion with Linda, I believe God is calling me to this, “For such a time as this,” (Esther 4:14) to build up the local church during these difficult times in our nation… He has given me a supernatural peace that He is in charge and I can trust Him. We rejoice that “no purposes of God can be thwarted” (Job 42:2) and He fulfills His plans and purposes for our lives if we will only trust Him and His timing in everything!
God spoke to Reen’s heart, whispering to his soul and providing a peace that passes human understanding.
4. God Speaks to Our Hearts- We are offered an amazing privilege…the opportunity to converse with the God of the Universe. But how do you know it is His voice and not the voice of our enemy, Satan? God’s voice will never contradict His Word found in the Bible. And His voice is a quiet voice, one of clarity and assurance. We learn from Elijah’s experience what we can expect, “Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ( I Kings 19:11-12)
Reen heard God’s still, small voice, His whisper in the night. There was urgency but nothing to be feared. God’ whisper is often persistent, removing any doubt that we have heard form Him. And usually God’s voice calls us to action, whether to repent of sin, reach out to reconcile relationships, or go in a new direction, He makes His desires clear if we will only listen and obey. And I’ve learned from my many years of walking with God, the more we obey, the clearer we hear His voice the first time rather than needing a host reminders.
Finally, God gives us a peace that passes all understanding as another confirmation of His direction. You can’t manufacture this peace in yourself and as you walk with God over the years you will know clearly whether this settled peace is present or absent. We are told, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Reen experienced this supernatural peace throughout this process.
As you follow Jesus and learn how to hear His voice even more clearly every day in 2020, who knows, you, like Reen may be God’s answer to your own prayers!
