Hearing God’s Voice is a Hot Topic

Wikipedia defines GOD’S VOICE as: The voice of God, in Judaism and Christianity, is a "heavenly or divine voice which proclaims God's will or judgment."

No doubt, by now, I'm sure you’ve heard “The View’s” co-host Joy Behar’s inconceivable words about Vice President Mike Pence’s faith. “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you… that’s called mental illness … hearing voices,” she said. I was motivated to write this post because Joy Behar got it all wrong, because, apparently, she doesn’t know or recognize God’s voice.

Apparently, Behar's mocking of Christianity as a mental illness alarmed other Christians as well. Over 25,000 people had called ABC by early Monday morning to complain about that “The View” segment.

When she said those words, she displayed her lack of knowledge about the God I know AND have heard daily. In fact, He's my foreign AND domestic correspondent that gives me advice for my daily blogs and FB posts. In my daily walk with God, He tells me all kinds of stuff. No, a mighty voice does not boom down from on high. His voice is subtle -- almost imperceptible -- and I can't hear it unless I'm really listening. Sometimes the voice comes as a gut feeling -- other times I may read and hear His voice in scripture. I may encounter a solution to a dilemma by a billboard or something a friend says. His voice comes to everyone who seeks His counsel. The voice of God can even be heard in times of challenges. If we don't get something that we really want, maybe God's trying to tell us why and that He has something better in mind for us. Maybe we'd better listen. If we stop to listen to God, those who ask His counsel -- those who really want to know -- will receive messages and advice from the Creator. Those who will not listen, will hear nothing -- at least, nothing from God. But if we are hearing God, we can implement His recommendations with confidence. It will be the best advice we'll ever get.

"Can you hear me?" Those are words that I know our Heavenly Father must say to us time and time again, but we're so caught up in the "noise" going on in our lives -- the TV, cell phone, radio, computer, social media, overburdened with to do's, and thinking about everything except for tuning in to the Master Speaker frequency in our lives. How often God must say to me, "Donna, do you hear Me?" And, my mind is everywhere except for keeping my ears open to His voice.

Like our kids, many times we do hear, but we're just not obeying. In fact, we may be as guilty as our kids are when we've told them time and time again to do something.....and they totally act like they never heard us. And, so often, the things we say to our children are the very things God wants us, His children,to hear:
“Be still.” “I’m the parent and you're the child -- that's why!" “If you'd paid attention to me, you would have avoided that mess.” “Trust Me. I know what's best for you.”

I have some really good news for Joy Behar, the media and for us.....we CAN hear God's voice, if we listen. The Bible, God's love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created to have two-way communication with Him. Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

I pray for you and I today: "Dear God, help us to listen carefully to what You have to say to us. Please help us to be first-timers -- first responders to YOUR voice. Amid all the craziness of this big world and the busyness in our own little worlds, may we tune in to YOUR frequency, your voice -- whether it's your still, small voice or your obvious loud and clear voice -- not eventually, but immediately! Thank you for your patience as our loving Father! Amen.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Do You Hear What I Hear?

The second verse of this wonderful Christmas carol is:

"Said the little lamb to the Shepard boy,

Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky Shepard boy

Do you hear what I hear? A song, a song, high above the trees,

With a voice as big as the sea. With a voice as big as the sea."

What is that song the little lamb was referring to? The song of of God made flesh as a heaven-sent baby that brought hope, peace, joy and love to this world. Yesterday, I wrote about “seeing” the Conductor of our orchestra – removing any distractions that would hinder our view of Him. Today, I take it a step further and ask “What is keeping you from HEARING the voice of our Shepherd?

"Can you hear me?" "Are you listening to me?" Those are words that I know our Heavenly Father must say to us time and time again, but we're so caught up in the "noise" going on in our lives -- the TV, telephone, radio, computer, social media, overburdened with to do's, and thinking about everything except for tuning in to the "Shepherd" frequency in our lives.

Many times, like our children, we do hear, but we're just not obeying. In fact, we may be as guilty as our kids are when we've told them time and time again to do something.....and they become little "drama queens and kings" and totally act like they never heard us. And, so often, the things we say to our children are the very things God wants us — His children — to hear: “I’m the parent and you're the child -- that's why!" “If you had paid attention to me, you would have avoided that mess.” “Trust Me. I know what's best for you.”

I have some good tidings of great joy for us today. We CAN hear God's voice. The Bible, God's love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created with the ability to have two-way communication with Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

I pray for us today: "Dear God, please help us to listen carefully to what You have to say to us. Please help us to be "first responders" to YOUR voice. Amid all the craziness of this big world and the busyness in our own little worlds, may we tune in to YOUR frequency, your voice -- whether it's your still, small voice or your obvious loud and clear voice.....not eventually, but immediately! Thank you for your patience as our loving Father! Amen.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?
Remember Maxwell Smart in the "Get Smart" series -- speaking into his shoe "Can you hear me?" And that line is also from the cell phone commercial that indicates bad cell coverage. But, I wonder how many times we've used that line with our kids.

"I said for the 3rd, 4th and 5th time......
'Did you clean your room?'"
"Did you do your homework?"
"Did you take out the trash?"
"Did you empty the dishwasher?"

Like most mothers, I had my "Can you hear me?" I sounded like a broken record. Eventually, the words became, "What part of what I'm asking is unclear?" "Are you listening to me?" "Learning responsibility is a good thing."

The point I'm making in this post is the "Can you hear me?" Those are words that I know our Father God must say to us time and time again, but we're so encumbered by so much "noise" going on in our lives -- the TV, telephone, radio, computer, social media, overburdened with to do's, and thinking about everything except for tuning in to the Master Speaker in our lives. How often God must say to me, "Donna, are you listening to Me?" And, my mind is everywhere except for keeping my ears open to His voice.

The fact is, we haven't been listening. And, like our kids many times, oh, we hear, but we're just not obeying. In fact, we may be as guilty as our kids are when we've told them time and time again to do something.....and they totally act like they never heard it.

So often, the things we say to our children are the very things God wants us — His children — to hear:
“Be still.”
“I’m the parent and you're the child -- that's why!"
“If you had paid attention to me, you would have avoided that mess.”
“Please, just trust Me. I know what's best for you.”

I have some really good news for us.....we CAN hear God's voice. The Bible, God's love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created to have two-way communication with Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

Oh, I'm definitely hearing His voice these days. He's asking me to be still and wait on His timing. He's asking me to trust and know that He is God. And, more than anything else, God wants us to hear that He loves us.

My prayer for you and I today is: "Dear God, help us to listen carefully to what You have to say to us. Like we desire from OUR children, help us to hear and respond the first time you call on us with obedience and joy. Please help us to be first-timers -- first responders to YOUR voice. Amid all the craziness of this world and the busyness in our own little worlds, may we tune in to YOUR frequency, your voice -- whether it's your still, small voice or your obvious loud and clear voice.....not eventually, but immediately! Thank you for your patience as our loving Father! Amen.