Readings for today: Genesis 37-38, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalms 16, Proverbs 3:27-32
“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalms 16:7-8)
How do I hear the voice of God? It’s one of the most common and heartfelt questions I get asked. I hear from older men adn women who’ve been in church all their lives. I hear from young men and women who are just getting started. I hear it from students and children who want to know if God is real. I hear it from those in crisis who cry out in desperation. I hear it from the proud who think God needs to prove Himself to them. I hear it from the humble who just wish God would show up for them. People from all walks of life and backgrounds and experiences. All wanting the same thing. All wanting to hear the counsel of God.
David heard from God. A man after God’s own heart, David seemingly enjoyed a special relationship with the Lord. He spoke to Him frequently and God answered. Their conversations form so much of the content of the book of the Bible we call the Psalms. They are hymns of praise. Hymns of thanksgiving. Hymns of lament. Hymns proclaiming the goodness and glory of God. Hymns plumbing the depths of human suffering and pain. The full range of emotion is present in these words as David calls out to God.
What does it look like for you to call out for God? And are you willing to wait for Him to answer? To train your ears to hear and your heart to understand His voice? Part of the reason David enjoyed such an intimate relationship with God is because of the time he spent in God’s presence in prayer and worship. David loved to worship. He danced before the Lord. Sang before the Lord. Offered sacrifices before the Lord. David loved to talk to God. One gets the sense he prayed for hours on end. As a result, when God answered David, he was prepared to hear. He recognized God’s voice. Among all the other voices clamoring for attention in his life, David could tune in to what God was saying. God was David’s counsel because David made an intentional effort to always set the Lord before him. To fix his eyes on God. Keep Him at his right hand. Lean on Him in times of trouble. Seek Him in times of confusion. Cry out to Him in times of pain.
Do you set the Lord always before you? What does your devotional life look like? How regular is it? Do you take your time or do you rush through? Do you read the Scriptures reflectively or are they just words on a page? When you pray, do you do all the talking? Do you make any space for listening? When times of trial and temptation come, do you lean on Him for support? Or do you believe you have it all handled? This is where the rubber meets the road when it comes our experience of God. We have to enter His presence with a sense of expectation that He is actually there to meet with us. Waiting for us. And that He has some things to say. We do this every day. Every week. Every month. Over a number of years and our ability to discern God’s voice will grow. Our hearts and minds will be tuned in and we will find uninterrupted communion with God.
Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 39-41:16, Matthew 12:46-13:23, Psalms 17, Proverbs 3:33-35