Can You Hear Me Now? Good...

Have you ever just wanted God to come right down from heaven and speak to you in the same way He spoke to Moses, and other great people in the Bible? Have you ever wondered why you can't hear God? Have you ever tried to hear a whisper so much that your head actually hurt?

Hearing God is a problem for me. My world is constantly filled with "noise." This isn't found just in audible sounds, but also just busyness, and an attitude that seemingly shuts God out, when ironically I am trying to personally get closer to Him. Another part of my problem is the fact that as an intelligent being, I am constantly supplanting God with logic. I used to pray right before I went to bed, but not on my knees, but as I was laying in bed. And while I did that, and I still do, I would tell myself that I was praying to the ceiling, or that because God wasn't speaking to me in my way, that He didn't exist. It had been like that since I gave my life to God. I expected to be treated much like Moses was with the burning bush.

It's hard to have faith. But if it were easy, then that would make God less of God and more of the world. It would diminish His vastness and His great power, that is impossible for us to comprehend let alone accomplish on our own. So why do we base our faith off of "hearing" God? What is it about the word "calling" that seemingly makes us believe that being called by God to something, or even being just in the presence of Him means we have to hear with our ears? In my opinion, much to my disliking, I feel like God really isn't going to come right out and say things. He knows what's going on, and while we don't, and wish we did, He is ultimately in control. Remember, in 1 Kings 19, Elijah expects God to come in the wind, an earthquake or a fire, but rather comes to Him in a whisper.

I think we'll know when God is truly speaking to our hearts. It's called conviction. Mandisa loves to put it this way in her song "God Speaking":

"Have you ever heard a love song that set your spirit free?
Have you ever watched a sunrise and felt you could not breathe?
What if it's Him? What if it's God speaking?
Have you ever cried a tear that you could not explain?
Have you ever met a stranger who already knew your name?
What if it's Him? What if it's God speaking?

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough?
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to...
to tell us 'I love you.'

Have you ever lost a loved one who you thought should still be here?
Do you know what it feels like to be tangled up in fear?
What if He's somehow involved?
What if He's speaking through it all?

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough?
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to...
to tell us 'I love you.'

His ways are higher...
His ways are better...
Though sometimes strange
What could be stranger than God in a manger?

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough?
Who knows how He'll get a hold of you?
Get your attention to prove He is enough?
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to...
to tell us 'I love you.'

There is a way that God reaches each and every one of us. And each time it is unique to each and every one of us. I had to understand this before I could go any further in my walk. Last semester I was very angry at God because He had blessed a friend with a great ministry idea and opportunity. Suddenly I could sense God working in his life, and I felt left out. I felt forgotten by God and by my friend. Here was a guy who had given his life to Christ, and God was blessing him with an opportunity that was perfectly tailored to him. It was amazing to see, and I was one jealous soul. But it took some time for me to realize that I wasn't going to be in the same boat as my friend was. I was different. There is something out there for me, but I was so focused on getting the same blessing that my friend received, that I failed to see what a blessing God had given me through grace and life. And it has taken me even longer to realize, and overcome my shame at my attitude toward my friend. I still to this day don't feel right with him, and it kills me. But God is taking my shame and He is turning it into a great blessing.

Hearing God is not a direct measure of faith. Hoping to hear God, and not hearing Him should not destroy your faith, but empower it because it allows you to truly get to the root of your life, and that is where God truly is. God, as shown in the above lyrics, will do whatever He wants to to tell us He loves us, and He is going to use us, and He is going to save us. And in today's technological society, there are even greater opportunities to find God's voice.

But I think the best way, and a way I have been learning to practice more, is to just be silent. It's when you stop talking that your ears begin listening to God's voice. We are surrounded by noise, and while it is a beautiful thing, and we find God in songs, movies, commercials, etc. God is found greater within our hearts.

"Who knows how He'll get a hold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough?
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to
To tell us, 'I love you'

"God is speaking, 'I love You.'"