The Ways of God's Voice by Pastor Susan Fochler

I am so grateful for those times when I have really needed to hear God, and He has revealed Himself faithfully.  He has not always told me what I expected to hear, but it has always been what I needed.  Those “aha!” moments so flood us with life and light!  And the impact of His truth continues to reverberate through our being like ripples on the water.

The Ways of Gods Voice

by Pastor Susan Fochler

 

God’s voice comes to us in many different forms.  We might simply “hear” Him.  We might also see, sense; even smell, taste or just “know”.  It is all those things, and more.  Hearing God comes through our spirit, so we perceive in a different dimension through our spiritual senses than we do through our natural senses. 

Communication between people consists of both verbal and non-verbal messages.  Psychologists say that non-verbal communication makes up at least two thirds of our communication.  So it follows that much of what we “hear” from God would also be non-verbal.

Psalm 29 has a lot to say about God’s voice.

God’s voice is tangible, omnipresent, mighty and awe-inspiring:

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders...

The voice of the Lord is power; the voice of the Lord is majesty; the voice of the Lord breaks cedars...v. 3-5

His voice fills us with joy, releases freedom and child-likeness:

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion, like a young wild ox. v. 6

His voice is a creative power that accomplishes the impossible:

The voice of the Lord kindles flames of fire; the voice of the Lord convulses the wilderness;  v. 7-8

His voice causes new life to come forth in our lives; and fills us with awe and wonder at His tender compassion, together with the beauty of His holiness:

The voice of the Lord causes hinds to calve...while in His temple all say “Glory!” v. 9

His still, small voice

Elijah was a mighty prophet who was accustomed to hearing God’s voice clearly, and often saw Him show up with amazing signs and wonders.  But as we read in 1 Kings 19, shortly after Elijah took on the prophets of Baal,  he was running for his life in fear of retribution.  God came to Elijah.  This time, however, when God came, He wasn’t in the wind, or the earthquake or the fire.  He didn’t come with power.  This time He came with a “still, small voice”, a “gentle whisper”.  But it had such a radical, tenderizing affect upon Elijah that he pulled his cloak over his face before approaching the Lord.  He didn’t do that when God sent fire down from heaven!  His heart was touched; he was humbled and in awe.  There was something in that voice that helped Elijah remember who he was, and awakened him from his stupor.  God spoke with Elijah in an intimate, nurturing way to let him know how loved and precious he was, on a day he wasn’t being the conquering prophet of power.  Elijah was just needing to know his Dad really cared.

Yes, God will sometimes show up with acts of power and awe-inspiring might.  But He will always be that still, small voice in your life; illuminating, calming, bringing forth life.  As powerful and all-knowing as He is, in His love for us He chooses to make Himself small and comprehendible.  The challenge for me has been learning to position myself to hear Him.  I believe the secret to hearing that voice with consistency is in allowing our own inner voice to be stiller and smaller than His.  My main hindrance to hearing His voice is typically that internal “white noise” of cares and distractions that can over-ride the nuance of His gentle ways.

I encourage you to often take the time to still and quiet your heart before the Lord.  As you position yourself to hear His quiet whisper, your “aha” moment will come!

Love,

Susan