I think that much of my life I have put that same characteristic on God. I muted Him. 

I didn’t let Him speak for a lot of different reasons. I talked over him, I interrupted Him, I didn’t want to hear what He had to say, I didn’t like what I heard, I didn’t recognize Him…I could go on.

But I don’t want that anymore. I want to hear Him.

I will not understand everything I hear, but I want to know His voice so well, that I can distinguish it from other voices and I will be okay with not understanding because I do not want to serve a God that is like me. I want to serve a God that is greater. And He is.

What are the benefits to our relationship with Him when we can hear His voice?

The first benefit would be that we are able to know Him more fully.

It is in God’s fullness that we receive grace. And God wants us to know Him in that fullness.

John tells us in chapter one verse 16 that “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

I so need His grace. And boy do I want to know him more! If learning to hear Him helps me to know Him more fully…God, please teach me!

The second benefit is the ability to distinguish His voice from other voices, such as the enemy’s voice, from the voice of my flesh, and the voice of the world.

I want to recognize His voice so well that when I hear Him call, I run full speed to Him.

I might not know why He is calling…maybe he’s calling because there is danger, or maybe it’s just time to rest??

But I will know it is Him and I. Will. RUN.

Finally, the third thing is that being able to hear His voice positions us to serve others. And that is what He asks of us. That pleases Him and it shares Him and who He is.

I can’t fully serve others without Him.

If we want a radical relationship with God…one that has an effect on the fundamental core of who we are…a fundamental effect on our homes…a fundamental effect on our community, I am convinced that scripture calls us to hear His voice.

Today, take some time to pray and think about the benefits we talked about of hearing His voice. Think of some other benefits that you can see in having this type of relationship with God.

Prayer:

I will never understand all Your ways, but I want to know You! I want to know you so well that when I hear you, I respond.

I know that can’t happen without your touch. Touch my ears God! Touch my spirit! Touch my life so that each step I takes brings me closer to You.  Amen – So be it.