The Voice Of The Lord

The Voice of the Lord

The voice of the LORD echoes above the sea. . . . The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars. Psalm 29:3-5

God spoke, and there was light. He spoke, and there was sky, land, and sea. God spoke, and the land burst forth with every kind of grass and seed-bearing fruit. God spoke, and animals were created, humanity was made in his image, and all creation was established. When God spoke, life came forth.

But God didn’t stop speaking when Creation was complete. Psalm 50:3 states that our God approaches and he does not keep silent. He spoke to people in the Bible—patriarchs such as Abraham and Jacob, prophets, and disciples—and he is still speaking today. God has always been so creative in his communication. Sometimes he spoke through angels, other times through dreams, visions, or a burning bush. He spoke audibly to Saul on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:3-6). When Balaam wasn’t paying attention, God spoke through Balaam’s donkey (see Numbers 22:28). God makes the earth shake, as Psalm 29:7-9 describes: His majestic voice can strip forests bare or strike like lightning. But God also communicates through a still, small voice, as Elijah experienced (see 1 Kings 19:12). The marvelous news is that hearing God isn’t a special privilege reserved only for priests and prophets, seminary graduates, or ministers. It’s not just for those who are smart or especially gifted. God has many things to say to you, and he wants to bless your life with direction and purpose as you listen and follow. All it takes is a listening heart.

—CHERI

Lord, thank you for your constant nearness and for never ceasing to speak to me. Give me a heart that is listening and attentive to what your Spirit might be impressing on my spirit today.

We begin by first quieting our fleshly activity and listening to the silent thunder of the Lord of hosts. Attuning ourselves to divine breathings is spiritual work. . . . We must hear, know, and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others. —RICHARD FOSTER, QUAKER THEOLOGIAN AND AUTHOR