Hearing His Voice #84

[The Lord said,] “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”

Isaiah 43:18

FROM THE HEART OF GOD

“Sometimes I’ve spoken to you, and you have not heard. Sometimes you’ve heard but did not recognize the voice as Mine. And sometimes you’ve heard and known, deep in your heart, that I was speaking, pouring out My love and giving you My thoughts. Like Israel, you have received My discipline at times, and it hasn’t been easy. You’ve had questions. You’ve wondered if My love for you is as deep and true as I say it is. And you’ve let those questions linger.

“I understand. I’m perfectly content knowing that no matter how much you wrestle with false perceptions of Me, you will eventually know who I am and rest in My love. But as you listen for My voice now, try not to let our conversations be colored by assumptions you’ve made before. If you thought My will for you in the past was difficult, don’t assume it will be so today. If you thought My guidance was obscure then, don’t expect it to be the same now. The ways I dealt with you in the past were appropriate for the situations and attitudes you had then. Today, you are not the same. I know you’ve grown. I understand what you’re dealing with. And My words for you are new.

“Every day with Me is fresh. My nature doesn’t change, but the tone of our conversation does. Your natural parents related to you differently according to the stages of your life. So do I. If there’s any bitterness toward Me from your past, forget it. Set old assumptions aside. What you’ve seen from Me in the past is nothing compared to what I’m going to do.”

Lord, help me not to bring the baggage of yesterday’s misunderstandings, questions, struggles, and false perceptions into the conversation of today. I know I haven’t always seen You rightly. Break my old ways of thinking and breathe fresh air into our relationship. Let me hear with new ears.