GodReflection: Power Words

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6

I was born and raised in church. I suspect there was only a short delay between my exit at the hospital and my entrance into our white adobe church building.

My church valued truth.

When truth was determined—from Scripture or from tradition—it equated to the voice of God.

Frankly, my religious orientation served me well in the sense of creating a deep respect for the voice of God.

I want to honor the truth of Scripture and it’s revelation of God’s desire to redeem me back to Him.

I suppose if I had any criticism I might question the weak church-issued tool kit to help me determine the difference between the voice of God and the proper place of tradition.

Truth be told–that tool kit probably didn’t exist at our church. With hearts turned toward God, His grace covered the unsorted.

As with any group of Christ followers, some of our traditions were mistaken for God’s voice.

Maybe I can find solace in the boy prophet Samuel. It wasn’t until the fourth try—and with guidance from the old prophet Eli—that Samuel was able to begin to distinguish the voice of God from the voice of Eli.

So, here I am plodding toward the end of my sixth decade hopefully, with my ears still tuned upward.

In my attempt to hear the voice of God I try to honor the following principles and guidelines:

1. Scripture is God’s revelation to humankind. God is the God of truth. I want to be familiar with the voice of God as expressed in Holy Scripture.
2. Just because someone says it’s God’s voice doesn’t make it so.
3. Jesus came that I may know God—I want to know the Jesus of the Gospels. The closer I listen to the voice of Jesus—the nearer I find myself to hearing the voice of God.
4. I am a disciple of Jesus. As such, Scripture teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live inside of me.
5. Each day I live in tune with the voice of God in an attempt to interpret the opening doors of the day with God’s response.
6. No, there has never been an audible voice.
7. Yes, there are often strong indications as to whether or not I should act.
8. I want to be nothing less than a mirror of Jesus as I reflect God to those with whom I encounter.

No, I don’t always get it right.

To listen to God is an act of faith.

It is to recognize that I am where I need to be or to realize that all signs seem to point toward a change in direction. It is to trust Him to guide.

I find listening requires a heart that is in tune with God.

To listen is to worship.

To listen includes a combined landscape of Scripture, prayer, contemplation, and an awareness of my surroundings. Out of my landscape opportunities and needs come into focus.

To listen to His voice is to posture myself for response.

Only hands, feet, and tongue connected to the brain can act. Only hands, feet, and tongue connected to the heart of God will joyfully respond.

To hear the voice is to hear the heart. To hear the heart is to worship.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on the Power of the Voice of God.

Gary@GodReflection.org