Pray to Hear God’s Voice
There's nothing better than hearing God's voice through His Word and responding in obedience.
The third chapter of 1 Samuel records the story of a young boy named Samuel who heard a voice calling to him in the night. The voice was God's, yet to Samuel, it sounded like his mentor, Eli. It was only after Samuel asked Eli about his experience that he considered he might be hearing God's voice. What does this mean for us?
Like Samuel, we may not recognize God's voice at first. It might take time, patience, and the counsel of others to help us discern what we're hearing. Listen for Him with eager expectation. One way to do this is to take some time of silence during prayer and ask, "God, is there anything you want to show me or bring to mind?"
If you start praying consistently each day and still find it hard to hear God's voice, don't give up. Keep pressing. Keep believing. Keep praying. Keep studying God's Word so that when He does speak, you will know it's Him! It might be a thought that drops into your mind, a Scripture that suddenly seems to leap off the page, or the "coincidental" timing of something you hear around you.
If we're listening expectantly and persevering patiently, God surprises us, helping us notice things we might have missed. May we be like Samuel, the servant, and declare to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” That's a promise worth remembering and persevering to see fulfilled!
From Dawn to Dusk
Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.)
Everything you just imagined? God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him.
From north to south and east to west. From bustling cities to slow-paced villages. From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests. From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans.
“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised!”
Psalm 113:3 NIV
The sun “rises” and “sets” on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles.
An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have always been praising God from generation to generation—and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop.
In Revelation 7, John has a vision of a “great multitude that no one could count, ...