Voice of Our Father

Have you ever thought about your response to a loved one's voice? Doesn't that voice give you a sense of warmth and calm? When you answer your phone, don't you smile with gladness to hear that voice on the other end? We respond emotionally and even physically to the voice of one we trust and love. My husband's voice may not sound lovely to anyone else, but because he's mine, his voice is sweet to me.

We can know our Heavenly Father's voice in this way when we have established the level of intimacy we have with those special people in our lives whose voices we love. When we fully realize "I am my Beloved's, and He is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3), committing ourselves wholeheartedly to knowing Him by spending precious, quality time with Him each day, hearing Him speak to us will not be unusual. Habakkuk 2:18 says, "What's the use of an idol. . . . a god that can't even talk!" Isn't it wonderful and exciting that our God speaks to us? He says, "My sheep listen to my voice" (John 10:27). I Chronicles 28:9b says, "If you seek Him, He will be found by you." When we seek Him and find Him, will He be silent, refusing to communicate with us? Of course not! When God sent Jesus to us, the veil that separated us from experiencing His presence was torn in two. God wants to communicate with us! "Remain in me, and I will remain in you" (John 15:4). Think of it: Here we are—Christ in us—and He is saying . . . NOTHING? No! He has much to share with His children. Be encouraged. The God who loves you wants to instruct you, encourage you, caution you, guide you, and tell you of His love.

Imagine the day when God's voice is no less than that of our most trusted, beloved, confidante. Picture how it will be when your relationship with Him is that close, that intimate. This intimacy will be attained by our devotion to spending time in His Word and in deep, meaningful prayer. As we learn the benefits of studying God's Word, and as we continue to grow in our prayer lives, let's often encourage one another. Ephesians 1:17; I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.