“A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea”
Can you see the scene? Adorned Christmas trees, instrumental music filling the silent gaps as you enter the sanctuary. The blessed familiarity of this tune lulls you into His arms as you rest knowing you have heard Him call you close.
Truly, there may be certain times of the year we sense God’s presence more powerfully than others. Yet, He is Immanuel, God with us, always and forever.
In this world, there are a thousand and one voices coming at us via the internet, tv, radio and other people. If you are like me, I get overwhelmed as I strive to pay attention to the multitude of messages. If we are not careful, we become stuck. Cycles of self-criticism and blame of others ensue, given our predicament.
Do you hear what I hear?
His Word says He instructs me while I sleep:
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me (Psalm 16:7).
But before I close my eyes, it helps me to seek Him, even in a whisper to tell my Father I want to hear from Him as I slumber, that I trust He will do as His Word says.
Then, in the waking moments of a shiny, new day, what if we say to our Lord speak for Your servant is listening?
Listening, or rather, hearing the voice of God is hardly ever what we conjure in our own minds. Sometimes we just want Him to answer a question burning a hole in our hearts. Other times, we are so overwhelmed, that we beg Him to send neon lights to show us the Way.
Do you hear what I hear?
“Hear my voice when I call, Lord, be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek His face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek” (Psalm 27:7-8)
David was unashamed to minister to himself, reminding himself to seek the Lord wholeheartedly, to long for Him. May we too be this unashamed in our encouraging ourselves in the Lord, for it is His will that we put Him above all other things in our lives.
As we pursue a relationship with the Lord and lean in close to hear His leading, we may not hear audible words or receive the bump over the head to shake us awake to His way.
Do you hear what I hear?
We will be drawn near to the One who abides in His daughters. We will be hushed into peace because His presence is all-encompassing. We will be dropped to our spiritual knees and repent for all the times we missed His whispers, His commands, His wisdom.
Believe your God wants to speak to you.
Remember Hagar? She was an Egyptian slave, probably very far from God due to her unbelief and the devil’s hold upon her life. Hagar fled after being mistreated by Sarai.
In the heat of the day, she thirsted, but most likely did not know to call on the Holy Lord of all.
There, He spoke to her, called her by name, inquired where she had been and where she was going.
If our gracious God sought to know Hagar, He wants to know you. Your comings and goings, your heart’s holes and scars, your conversational needs, not with the world, but with Him.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).
Let us pray:
Oh, Gracious and Sovereign Lord,
How we love You! How we thank You! We always need to be reminded of Your precious Word. We go astray without even realizing it. But You, Lord, are faithful to forgive us and draw us near to Your arms over and over. Help us remember to seek Your face while You may be found. Help us to be still in times of chaos, remembering You have not left. Teach us to listen to You, whether it be through Scripture or other means You use to communicate with us directly and personally. We lift Your name to heaven, for You are the Most High God. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Julie Dibble is a servant of her Lord Jesus Christ. Together with her husband Jason, they have two sons, Braedon 17 and Jackson 15, and one rescued pup named Rocko. Julie preaches, writes, hikes, and prays for God to use her daily in this broken world. Currently, she is on staff at Newberrytown Church of God as Director of Outreach and Evangelism.