Hearing His Voice #4

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

Amos 3:7, NIV

Ask the average person what a prophet does, and most will boil it down to predicting the future. A prophet is often perceived as the Judeo-Christian version of a clairvoyant, a seer who peers into the plan of God and perfectly describes how it will unfold. Somehow we got the impression that prophecy—hearing God’s voice and declaring it—is entirely future oriented.

Prophecy can be about the future, of course, but the point of hearing God’s voice is not simply to figure out what’s going to happen down the road. It’s to get God’s perspective—whether on the past, the present, or the future. He reveals His thoughts about us, His interpretation of events and circumstances, the purposes He is working out, and His greatest desires for our lives. He portrays life in its true light—a vital point of view when we get stuck in dark places. When He speaks to His servants the prophets, He reveals not only His plans but also His heart. And His prophets, according to the New Testament, are any believers who will listen to Him.

In any situation we go through, we can know that God’s perspective is available to us. He may not unveil every detail—we still have to walk by faith, not by sight—but He lets us know how He sees things. He imparts His truth and His wisdom whenever we need it and are patient enough to seek it.

Hearing God’s voice begins with absolute trust in Him as a communicator—understanding that He doesn’t arbitrarily carry out His will for humanity without making us participants in His plans. He reveals what He’s doing, invites us into it, and involves us every step of the way.

Lord, involve me in what You’re doing. Reveal Your purposes to me. Help me to see from Your perspective, think Your thoughts, and walk in Your ways.