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Knowing the I AM’s Voice
(Taken from chapter 9 of Who Has the Last Word? “Recognizing God’s Voice,” pg. 157-8)
Elijah recognized God’s voice as a whisper (1 Kings 19:12-13). The sheep recognized and followed the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:2-5). It’s about knowing God, not just about Him, in order to recognize His voice of truth in the midst of trying times.
The more time we spend in the Word, the more we come to know His words, and the easier it is to discern His words of truth amidst the bombardment of lies.
My sister and brother-in-law were on a camping trip outside of cell range. But our other housemate needed to reach them in order to ask permission to bring home a puppy she wanted to adopt.
“Michelle! I can’t reach Kim and Paxton and I really want to bring this puppy home!” Shannon proceeded to describe the dog, and then went into her rapid-fire questions. “I need to know what you think they would say. I don’t want to get it and have it at the house without their permission, but there is no way the puppy will still be here tomorrow.
It’ll only be like two weeks because, after that, I move out, and we’ll be headed home for our wedding... What do I do?!”
I considered Shannon’s predicament and responded, “I hate to speak for them, but I understand you really want the dog and want to at least check with someone who knows them well.” I continued with a few points that I thought they would make, and things that should be taken into consideration, like how their own dogs would respond.
Shannon thanked me and was going to try and call them one more time, but had decided that she would probably go ahead and get the puppy...
A couple of hours later, I met Shannon and her fiancé at the house to help introduce the puppy to my sister and brother-in law’s dogs. After the dogs’ initial introductions, Shannon looked at me, surprised.
“I forgot to tell you. I was able to reach Kim on the phone and ask her about the puppy. She mentioned every single one of the things you said she would. Some of the things she said were verbatim what you said!”
I smiled and responded, “Well, we kind of know each other.” Sisters, living in the same house, conversing, spending time together... I didn’t want to speak for her, but I felt confident that I would represent her to the best of my ability because I knew her and I knew her voice.
May we come to know God’s voice so intimately!
Satan’s lies scream in attack. God’s voice is a gentle whisper of comfort and hope in the midst of the storm. When we listen for God’s voice and are attentive to His words of truth, Satan’s clamoring is quieted. And God gets the last word.
#IronRoseSister #ListentoIAM #Listentoothers #WhoHastheLastWord #MichelleJGoff
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The One whose powerful utterances created light, who declared all He created “good,” and breathed the breath of life to form man from the dust of the earth and woman from his rib, is Creator.
In the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. The Eternal Being, who was, and is, and is to come, exercised authority over all creation; His commanding voice created life.
Elohim, God Almighty, also spoke to Adam and Eve. Instructions were given in order that they might always be able to eat from the Tree of Life. They walked and talked in the Garden of Eden.
The Creator of heaven and earth knew what is best for His creation, yet He still granted free will—a choice to trust Him and be in relationship with Him, or to reject His spoken word and distrust His teaching.
As amazing as it is for the Creator to have created all He did, simply by using His voice, what is equally if not more impressive is that He listens.
I AM, YHWH, LORD, as we later learn is His name, not only speaks, but He listens.
How can the clay say anything to the Potter? The Potter knows what the best form for His art is. The Divine Gardener knows when and where to plant, what to prune... How can a rose bush dare ask why He does what He does?
Yet repeatedly, throughout Scripture and in our own lives, we are invited to speak to the One who listens. The opportunity for relationship is with a God who listens. He listens so loudly that He sent His Son, The Word, to earth in order to demonstrate the depth of His relational and sacrificial love, hearing our hearts and knowing our needs.
As we focus on Listening to I AM and Listening to Others, let’s follow I AM’s example of listening:
1. Let’s listen loudly to creation. It speaks of Who He Is.
2. Let’s listen loudly to the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. It speaks of What He knows.
3. Let’s listen loudly to one another and hear each other’s hearts. It speaks of How He loves.
And when we are unable to listen, may we remember that when we speak, the Creator is listening loudly, and continues to love.
#IronRoseSister #listentoIAM #CalledtoListen #Listentoothers