Hearing God Speak
We sometimes say that God has spoken to us. Some say He only speaks through the Bible. That certainly is His primary means. Others say that he has spoken to them personally. The story of Elijah indicates he speaks with a "still small voice." In fact Jesus said.... "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.."
Once, driving on a hilly road in the Ozark mountains, I heard an internal voice say.."Stop Now." I skidded to a stop at the top of a small hill. There below me, about 100 feet away, was a whole herd of deer that I would have otherwise plowed into at 50 miles per hour. That can kill.
Another time I was reclined on a large flat, low rock. I was leaned backwards, supported by my arms that were extended behing me. My hands were at the edge of the rock. Busy talking to a friend I heard an internal voice that said...."Get up and turn around." I stood up and looked. there behind where I was reclined was a large rattle snake. It was only a foot from where my hand had been.
I have ignored the still soft voice on occasion, and wish I hadn't. Once I challenged a larger, younger, more muscular guy to arm wrestle (stupid, I know). I clearly heard.."don't do this"..but i chose to ignore it. He broke my upper arm bone....it required surgery, a metal bar, and 16 screws to repair.
Recently, after falling deeply into sin, I poured my heart out to god in a season of confession, weeping, and repentance. I did not think He would want to even speak to me. Days later...almost afraid to ask, I said......."Lord, do you have anything to say to me." I expected to hear only silence. But Father clearly said..."I love you, I forgive you, it is all nailed to the cross, now lets move on." I could only weep in his presence. Some of you have read of how He spoke healing words to my father wound at our last bootcamp.
As for me, I believe he speaks. What about you. Would you please share with your brothers?
Once, driving on a hilly road in the Ozark mountains, I heard an internal voice say.."Stop Now." I skidded to a stop at the top of a small hill. There below me, about 100 feet away, was a whole herd of deer that I would have otherwise plowed into at 50 miles per hour. That can kill.
Another time I was reclined on a large flat, low rock. I was leaned backwards, supported by my arms that were extended behing me. My hands were at the edge of the rock. Busy talking to a friend I heard an internal voice that said...."Get up and turn around." I stood up and looked. there behind where I was reclined was a large rattle snake. It was only a foot from where my hand had been.
I have ignored the still soft voice on occasion, and wish I hadn't. Once I challenged a larger, younger, more muscular guy to arm wrestle (stupid, I know). I clearly heard.."don't do this"..but i chose to ignore it. He broke my upper arm bone....it required surgery, a metal bar, and 16 screws to repair.
Recently, after falling deeply into sin, I poured my heart out to god in a season of confession, weeping, and repentance. I did not think He would want to even speak to me. Days later...almost afraid to ask, I said......."Lord, do you have anything to say to me." I expected to hear only silence. But Father clearly said..."I love you, I forgive you, it is all nailed to the cross, now lets move on." I could only weep in his presence. Some of you have read of how He spoke healing words to my father wound at our last bootcamp.
As for me, I believe he speaks. What about you. Would you please share with your brothers?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tim Harrison on -
I've got a new story!
A couple of weeks ago I was praying next to my bed, noticed it was 10:45, close to the time I needed to head to an appointment, and I looked up at my book shelf of Bible study resources. I started to feel some anxiety about returning from my sabbatical to preach again. I love to preach, but the preparation feels overwhelming to me sometimes. I agonize in prayer over what to bring, then, after all these years, I still don't have any systematic process of preparing (I think to think I'm just too spiritual for that :) ) I said, "Father, I love to hear people teach well-researched, insightful messages. Is it in me to do that?" I felt like I heard Him say, "Yeah, Tim. I've put that in you."
Later in the day, I retrieved a voicemail from Mike Berger. He shared that he had been praying for me earlier in the day and that God had given him a word for me. He said God had been putting it on his heart over an over again all day until he finally called. Then he gave it to me verbatim: "Don't despair. I've given you the voice of angels that you may preach the word of God, with fire in your eyes, that they may know that I am God." He said that he didn't know if it would mean anything to me, but that's what he heard. After hearing the message, I thought, "That's cool." Then I listened to it again, and thought, "Wait a minute." I listened to it a third time and thought, "Whoa!" I thought back to the morning, what I was praying, and realized I really had been despairing.
I called Mike to thank him for being obedient to deliver the message. He explained how he wasn't used to doing that and how much he agonized over whether or not to call. The enemy was telling him how stupid he was to think that he was hearing from God. I told him what I had been praying that morning and I asked him what time he had heard the word. He said, "I noticed the time. It was 10:45."
Whoa.
How awesome is it to be loved by a Father who wants so much for us to know him and wants us to know that He really is speaking to us. -
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Permalink Reply by Cameron on -
I feel compelled to share a recent "event" . Recent as in between last Friday and this morning! I shared some of my journey at the bootcamp. I felt God tell me last year this was the last step. I thought He meant that day, but of course it wasn't :-) But I feel I have made another giant leap in my journey. I felt God speak to me in this.
I have had a new memory trying to surface for a few months. I have not been able to get it out. This has been quite frustrating. Last Friday I had a rare day alone. My wife went to serve at a funeral, viewing and meal for the day. I was off from work to get some Christmas stuff done. I became overwhelmed with pain and grief. I laid on the bed for an hour just balling. I was begging God to send a man into my life to help me through this. I cried and prayed, cired and called out to God. Afterwards I felt God tell me to journal this. Then God told me to lay back down. As I was walking, I asked Jesus to walk into this memory with me.
This is very significant. Previously I called out to God to help me get out of the hole. This was my first time asking Him to walk me into it to heal. Within five minutes I had the memory. It was a new level of pain. It hurt and I will still have to work through it. But I felt the pain for about 30 minutes and then I felt this overwhelming love of Jesus wash through my heart. I felt I had not gone through that alone. I asked Jesus to walk with me through this rather than save me. Sounds so simple, right. You mean I don't have to wait to beg for God's help. I finally took the step to not try to do it on my own first.
I have been trying to find a "Barnabas" friend for a while now. Someone to really share with beyond the acquaintance level. All day Friday I was begging God to send someone to me. A man named Mike has been a tremendous friend to me. He now works in Alaska, but he was home the last week. All day Friday I asked God to have him call me or soemething. I couldn't get through this alone. I never heard from anyone.
Sunday morning I went to Sunday School. Mike was there and I was still feeling the pain of the memory. I actually felt hurt and betrayed that Mike did not call me. Not logical, but the kind of thing we do when we are hurting. After Sunday School I was walking oever to the church and God spoke to me. He said I was still looking for a man to help me through my pain. Similar to spending all those years trying to win the love of my father. He said I had not completely turned it over to God. I had not completely looked to Him. Wow! I immediately prayed and turned it over to Him. God, I will do this with you. I do not need anyone else. You are all I need. Thank you God for all you have done for me. Only you can lead me through this.
Now Mike used to be an elder in the church and everyone knows and loves him. His wife also said he is hers for this trip home. After church we talk to a couple and then he is standing there behind us. My wife and I talk to him for a while. Then he asks if we want to go to lunch! We couldn't because my daughter had practice at 1pm. So, very unexpectedly in this busy time for us, my wife says, why don't you two go together alone." We went to lunch. for two hours. I got to share my burdens as well as some time of frindship. Awesome! Answered prayer and hearing God speak to me. Once I fully turned it over to Him, God gave me what I needed. Only God could have arranged for Mike's wife to just happen to work that afternoon and no one else had already grabbed him even after we talked to other people for a while first. Only God!
Of course Mike is going back to Alaska this week and I won't see him again for a while. I am counting on God. I will do this through God. Monday I get an email from a new person in our church who asked to meet for coffee this morning to discuss the direction of our men's ministry. As I am getting ready this morning, I feel God telling me this is the man I am sending to you. It was a quiet voice and I could not discern if it was my desires or God speaking. I decided to just play it by ear.
We have a good talk and I feel prompted to open up and share some of what I am going through and what we are trying to build with some men in our church. Then he starts talking how he wanted to talk to me about building a friendship. He is in ministry and he needs a "non-ministry" type of friendship. Just a couple of guys hanging out and being there for each other when in need. He talked about this for about ten minutes! Then I shared about leading up to this and God talking to me. This was God putting us together. We even have similar hobbies that most people don't share with me.
I finally turned it completely over to God. I thought I had, but God knew that I hadn't. There was still a small, but significant, piece of me looking for healing here on earth. Then He delivered what I need how and when He determined to do it.
Even through the pain I am going through and will have to work on for some time, I feel the love of Jesus in my heart. I feel joy! Even in the pain, there isn't happiness as we know it here on earth, bu the joy of knowing Jesus is there for me walking me through this. I know we often hear to turn it over to God. We probably hear it so much we don't think about it too much. I urge you to take some time soon to pray to God to show you what you have not turned over to Him. -
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Permalink Reply by Cameron on
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I still sometimes struggle with that soft voice from God and my own desires. I constantly pray for discernment.
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Permalink Reply by Edwin Snell on -
Of course he speaks...not on command I don't think...but when he chooses and when we are ready and willing to hear.
I am trying to learn to listen... -
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Permalink Reply by Jason Raughton on -
That's great to hear those stories Tim & Cameron! It's amazing how it has taken me 2 months to read them. With all the stuff going on right now, I haven't been able to check out all the things that have been written. I have definitely experienced Father speak to me, even today. Thanks for writting about those things. Even though it sometimes takes time for us to read them, it totally brings glory to God. These stories remind us that others are experiencing the same interaction from Father that we are. What a way for Him to strengthen our faith. Praying for you guys.
Jason -
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Young on -
Last week I had another situation where God spoke clearly to me and it saved my life...or at least my limbs. My wife and I spent a week in a condo on the beach. It was beautiful and we connected in many ways....physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Temperatures were mid 80's and the ocean was clear and warm. Being late in the season, there were not many people. A wonderful trip.
Like John Eldredge, I enjoy skinny dipping. But I do not want to be seen or to see anyone else naked. So I sought out a deserted stretch of beach. There was no one within half a mile of me in either direction. Choosing to be discrete, I waded far out into the clear water until I was waist deep. Then i slipped off my trunks and slipped my arm through the leg of the trunks. I enjoyed this "freeballing" swim. Just me and the water...a "back to Eden" experience....naked and unashamed before God.
After a while, God spoke clearly to me saying..."Get out of the water, NOW!" I looked around and saw no danger so i started to ignore the inner voice. Then it became more urgent and more authoritative. So I put my suit back on and waded ashore. As I looked back out to where i had been swimming I was horrified to see a 7-foot bull shark swimming past where i had been moments before. I followed it down the beach until it turned into deeper water. Once again He spoke to me. I listened and obeyed. Who knows what the outcome would have been if i had ignored him. -
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