Listening to His Voice

I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8 NKJV

Peace accompanies the voice of God. Turmoil and confusion do not! I am learning to identify the times when the voice I am listening to is no longer that of my Father. In the past week I have had two distinct times of the enemy of my soul speaking lies to me and the result was a loss of peace. Uncertainty replaced confidence. Confusion replaced objectivity. All seemed dark and all seemed hopeless. I marvel at the extreme nature of my own thoughts. Both times were attacks on the journey God has had me on. His first tactic was to cause me to question my motives for the journey. His second was to cause me to question the source of that journey. These became terrifying times for me as I lost all sense of direction and reasoning. This quickly turned into condemnation, fear, and shame. NONE of these are of God! He does not use them as tools in our life. They are the calling cards of Satan himself, and he desires to use them effectively.

Deliverance comes and peace returns when I purposefully listen for God’s voice and He WILL speak. As we work together to identify and renounce the lies, He gives me truth to own and peace to embrace. I relish the settling that comes over me and the return of confidence and assurance in God’s love, presence, and provision. My mantra becomes, “Identify the enemy and listen to my Father!”

A person once asked me what I meant when I said, “God spoke to me.” I assured her it was not an audible voice (although at times it comes close). It is primarily through the vehicle of thoughts that I know are not my own. These are not random thoughts but rather distinct, accurate, and timely. For decades I use to think God only spoke through His Word. I was not aware of the variety of avenues He uses. While His Word is certainly primary, He also speaks to me through music, nature, conversations, sermons, experiences, books, and prayer.

I do not want to limit Him in any way. I want to be like the Bereans in Acts who “received the word with all readiness of mind.” I want to listen with expectancy and intensity. I want to allow God to speak to me in any way He wants, at any time He wants, for whatever purpose He wants. It may be to correct me, enlighten me, motivate me, teach me, or assure me. At times His voice has me in awe and at other times it has me in tears. May my ears stay open and my heart stay receptive to all that He has to say!

Father, You are such a communicator. I do not want to miss anything You are saying to me. I treasure Your words and purpose to hear You. Speak, Lord, for I am listening. Amen.