Hearing His Voice #198

The word of God . . . is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.

Hebrews 4:12

The Spirit who lives within us influences our thoughts and inspires our inner senses. But we also know that we generate other thoughts—self-directed desires and logic based on human wisdom—that can’t be described as inspiration from God. Once we are born of God’s Spirit, our inner lives become a strange mix of human and divine, and while the difference is sadly clear at times, there are moments when we have difficulty discerning which source is at work. It’s hard to know if our thoughts are from God or from ourselves.

How can we tell the difference? The Word of God, the Scripture He has given us, is masterful and powerful at dividing between truth and error. It’s true that we can find verses to justify almost anything we want to justify, but if we read the Word with an open heart and mind, asking for wisdom and guidance, God will use it to affirm us, correct us, challenge us, convict us, and inspire us. Those questions we have about whether we are hearing Him correctly or not will be answered as we saturate ourselves in His truth. The direction we think we need to pursue will either be confirmed or revised as we read Scripture and let it breathe into us. The Word divides between our minds and spirits, separating between our various motives and leading us into God’s will.

We won’t experience this power if we read the Word only to find justification for our own agendas. We are masters at rationalization, and it isn’t difficult to bring the Bible into the rationalizing process. But that doesn’t mean Scripture will always oppose our thoughts and desires. If God has put them within us, the Word will confirm them and strengthen us to hold them tightly in faith. The sword of the Spirit will always point us toward the thoughts of God.

Spirit of truth, I invite You to sharply and decisively divide my own thoughts from Yours and distinguish Your voice within me. Let Your words burn powerfully in my heart and mind.