blog 22: do you hear what i hear?
The other day my husband had a men’s Bible study. Before the guys got here he asked “can you put on some background music?” I was going to. but got distracted and never ended up putting it on. After everyone left I asked him how it went? he returned with “good!, but I wish we had music”…My mind immediately was like “umm, you could’ve put it on yourself!” “Why did it have to be me?”
Then I HEARD the Holy Spirits voice, “that’s why you’re the helper, to help him, that’s what I’ve called you to be.”
All of a sudden I was convicted. And thought “ya, you’re right Lord.” Thankfully I never opened my mouth and said any of the things I was thinking.
John 10:27 My sheep HEAR my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
It’s so important to KNOW the voice of God. To HEAR Him over our own thinking.
My thoughts were not of God, they were selfish, rude, ignorant and demeaning. But because I HEARD His voice I was able to refrain from acting on my thoughts, I was able to hold back from saying things out of my emotions or frustrations.
We have to be in tune with the Holy Spirits voice over our own emotions, our own thoughts, and even over reality! (what we see or believe to be true)
Some may say, but you don’t know how they treated me, what they said, how they hurt me. And truly I don’t, but I do know the word of God and what it says.
Matthew 5:38-40 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
Jesus was a living example of this. He not only talked the talk but he walked the walk. We need to be the same.
This is vital as a follower of Christ to walk the walk not just talk about it. This does not mean we will be perfect in every situation, I have failed many many times in this area. I’ve had moments where I can HEAR His voice saying “enough Lexi, stop talking, leave it alone”, but I just keep on going.
I know that if Jesus can stay silent as they mocked him, spit in his face, plucked out his beard and nailed him to a cross . We can stay quiet when someone makes a smart comment ..we can take a moment to relax when things don’t go our way right?
The only way we can HEAR his voice is to KNOW His voice. The word of God IS His voice. I remember another time I heard His voice. Someone had upset me and I was over it. I told God “yeah I’m done with them, I’ll just stay close to the ones who like me, the ones who are on my side.” Immediately as I’m talking to God I hear…
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?” Matthew 5:46-47
Again I was lead to say “you’re right Lord”, most of the times I’ve found that what He tells me is totally opposite to my way of thinking. Sometimes I am left saying “ugh! why Lord!? why do I have to be the bigger person? Why do I have to be the one to be kind, nice AND PATIENT when they talk that way to me?” AND AGAIN I HEAR HIM.
“Let us not become tired in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9”
His word will be what we HEAR when we stop and listen. We need to know His word and be filled with His word to fully hear His Spirit. They co inside. We need to KNOW His voice as His sheep. Now more than ever our minds are being bombarded not only with distractions like social media, pod casts, and the busyness of life, but the enemy is planting seeds constantly! He never stops. Those seeds are contradicting to Gods word, usually full of frustration, anger, and hate. Our mind is a total battlefield, it can drive us into some crazy emotions. Trust me I know, I’ve been there. It will wonder into all sorts of evil and lies. Then all of a sudden you’re saying and doing things you shouldn’t be, things that are not of God, all because we are not hearing His voice or we hear it and we know what we should do. but we decide to do it our own way.
As I end this blog I’d like to share one more scripture, as a heart check for us followers of Jesus.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. “ James 1:22-25
Today my prayer is that we would stop and listen to Him. Before we speak before we act, we would take a few minutes to hear his voice. What we hear will always line up with His word. The only way you will know if it’s His voice is to know His word. I pray that whoever reads this would run to the Word of God for insight, direction, guidance, wisdom, and correction. I pray that He would speak to you and that you would not only hear what He says but you would DO what He asks of you in the name of Jesus!
love you friends ONE LOVE
