“My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”
There is no fear when listening to the voice of God. If you are born again, and know your Savior, there is no fear when you hear His voice. This is not a revelation apart from scripture, this is not seeking some secret knowledge that God only dispenses to you, this is merely participating in a conversation with our Creator. Most times, God will speak to you through scriptures and some will have more meaning to you than they do for others. At times, God will prompt you to share with others, at times it is a special conversation of His divine love meant for you.
In these times of listening, they are to be cherished and relished. Much like a parent whispers to their child as they read their favorite stories during times of rest, or just before bed, these are meant to encourage you, to ease your heart, and to encourage you to further place your trust in your heavenly Father. Do not be dismayed if your friends or family do not understand the love He has bestowed upon you, they have either not spent enough time with their heavenly Father or made Him a priority in their daily lives. It is only required that you love God, and in turn to love your neighbor as yourself.
If you eagerly desire to hear His voice, and have not, return to the first post and earnestly seek what is written within. Meditate upon John 3:16, cry out to God from your heart with honest emotion for Him to reveal himself to you and wait until He reveals Himself, and He will. Your experience of waiting will vary from other people’s. This is not a cruel test or sadistic torment, this is the patient waiting out the intentions of your heart. Jeremiah 17:9
There is no shame in crying out to God and waiting for Him, just set within yourself the determination to do so, examining your heart as you do.
If you are born again, Christ lives within you. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Romans 8:10, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, Galatians 2:20, Luke 17:20-21, Galatians 5:16-23, 2 Timothy 1:14, John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Colossians 1:27, 1 John 4:15, Philipians 2:13, etc.
This does not happen because you will it, or demand that Christ inhabits you, but by faith. Believing that there is a result of being in a perpetually fallen human state, and knowing that the consequence is separation from God, but by coming to the knowledge of redemption through Jesus Christ, and thereby believing upon that, one enters into the divine relationship with God. At that moment one believes, truly believes and makes that leap of faith, spiritual rebirth occurs. It is here, that the relationship begins.
Much like being married, you know if you are married or not. Having a relationship with God is very similar. We are the bride and we know our suitor. If you do not have communication with your suitor, or the groom does not acknowledge the bride, there is no wedding, there is no relationship. The divine groom has one request, to enter by a specific door, that door being Jesus Christ. If a bride refuses to communicate through those means, there is no wedding. It’s the divine prenuptial agreement, no one goes to the father except through Jesus Christ. Titus 3:5, John 3:1-8, Romans 8:15-17, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1;13-14, Romans 10:9-13, John 14:6
If you have a long held belief that there is another way, and yet have to hear God, perhaps you have not truly believed. There is no shame in acknowledging that you have been wrong, that the way you understand God to be is different than who He truly is. Repentance is nothing more than a hard change of mind. Again, if you have trouble hearing God, return to the beginning of this series and think about John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-13, wait patiently for God to reveal Himself to you.
For those who have the reassurance of eternal life and begun the journey of knowing God, we know that John 10:28 rings true for every station of life. If you have strayed, you have been the one sheep, and He has been faithful to collect you. If you have been hurt, He has not been neglectful in healing your heart over time. For those just beginning out on your journey, this will become apparent as your continue your conversation with God.
Perhaps you are familiar with the verses 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. In verse 17, we are told to pray without ceasing. If we read this verse apart from the rest of scripture, we may believe that we are to lock ourselves into a room and spend hours upon hours with little regard for nothing else but our face buried into the carpet or ground and pray, only to rarely get up and eat, or to interact with our fellow man. This is not the intended meaning.
To pray without ceasing means to allow yourself to have open communication with the Holy Spirit that lives within you at all times. To consult the Holy Spirit on all matters. To have that conversation throughout the day, this is what it means! That in all things giving thanks.
If you are familiar with Brother Lawrence’s “Practicing the Presence of God” this will sound familiar. Here was a monk, living in a monastery, where his duties consisted of cooking and related activities. His conversation and meditation with God did not begin and end with a 5 minute devotional in the morning, but he carried that with himself throughout the day!
I want to encourage you to do the same!
Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is your constant companion, your ever ready comforter in times when you think you need Him, and when you feel you don’t! The truth is, we need Jesus every minute, every day. The more you interact, the more you connect with God, the more time you spend with your heavenly father, the more peace, joy, love, and grace you will discover!
For this next week, let’s contemplate and focus upon the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.
Communicate with God, even just to chat about your day, or even ask God what He’s up to and what He’s about, sincerely, if you are up to asking.
Make your communication with God more than small talk, be ready for real and honest communication with the Holy Spirit.
Your communication does not need to be external, He is within you, He knows you intimately, share your life with Him.
Until next time, spend quality time interacting with the Holy Spirit.
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