Monday, March 28, 2011

Can You Hear Him Now?

'The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.'  John 10:3

Have you ever heard the voice of God?  I'm not sure I'd know it even if He came to me like He did Moses or Samuel.  I wish He'd call me up, text me, or even Facebook would do.  I'd like to think I can hear what He has to say to me, but if I am completely honest about it, I don't remember a time when I've heard Him speak to me.  I hear people say that God spoke to them in this way or they heard His voice just plain as day on that subject, but I've always been skeptical of that.  God doesn't talk to us like that in this day and age.  Or does He?

The verse of scripture above tells me that the sheep listen for His voice.  I'm one of His sheep!  It tells me He calls me by name and leads me out.  But I don't hear Him.  I try my best to follow Him.  Maybe that's the problem.  My best is not good enough.  It has to be His best that I am allowing to work in my life.  His will, not mine.  I'm trying too hard to keep control of my patch of grass instead of letting my Shepherd led me to a greener pasture.

How do I hear His voice over the noise of everything else in my life?  Once again, in all honesty, I don't know.  This is why I am thankful that starting tonight we are beginning a new study on just this topic!  Priscilla Shirer's Discerning the Voice of God!  Praise Him that He did speak to her and she heard His voice!  My prayer is that I will learn through her sound biblical teaching how to hear the voice of my Shepherd.  That I will give up control of my grass and move on with Him wherever He leads me.  I want to be a good sheep.  If you live in the area, come out and join us!  More info on Bible study

6 comments:

Jenifer Metzger said...

This is really good, Allison. I have always wanted to actually hear God's voice. I read a book once about a man who held long conversations with God. He actually heard His audible voice and conversed with Him. I so want that. But, up to this point anyway, God only speaks to me through my heart. I have come to recognize Him and love hearing from Him. Maybe one day I will hear his audible voice but I have to be listening and be in tune with God.

Unknown said...

Allison, I bet you are "hearing" Him, just not in an audible voice. Didn't God call you to adopt? You heard Him then. I'm sure as you are preparing for your work in the church, you "hear" His direction and teaching. I hear Him in my thoughts and in my heart. Sometimes it feels like an audible voice, but it isn't.
Your new Bible study sounds great.

Kelli said...

Sounds like a great Bible study!! I love when you said, "My best is not good enough. It has to be His best that I am allowing to work in my life. His will, not mine." So true! Amen sister!

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

I can honestly say Allison, that I've heard Him a number of ways, but not as an audible voice outside my thoughts and my heart. Funny enough though, His "silent" Voice is as real to me as the sounds that surround me each day, and infinitely more important. :-)

Have a Blessed Day!

Heidi said...

I know exactly what you're saying! There was a time when I'd doubted peoples amazing stores about How God "spoke" to them. And, I even grew jealous. Now, I am careful to say that "He spoke to my heart," just so no one walks away feeling that same way that I felt. And, really that's what it is, like Phil said a "silent" voice that impresses itself on my heart... it happens through His Word, His people and His creation all around me. I know we still wonder to ourselves... "was that really God speaking to me" but I dare say that it usually is Him :)Blessings!

Caroline said...

I love your honesty in this, too, Allison.

The moms bible study I attend is getting ready to begin studying that same book in about a week! I'm excited to study it... I've heard great things about it.