The Voice of the Lord (Psalm 29:3-9)

Today’s scripture: Psalm 29:3-9

Our Lord God is powerful. After all, He created all there is.

At the sound of His voice, the earth formed. The stars filled the sky. The sun was set in place.

At the sound of His voice, water flowed in its banks or beat against its shores.

At the sound of His voice, birds flew. Animals walked.

At the sound of His voice, man breathed.

Our almighty God’s voice spoke then.

And He speaks now. He speaks in quiet whispers. He speaks through His word. He speaks through the counsel of godly men and women.

The question is: Do we listen?

God’s voice can make mountains to stand, and it can soothe our souls.

Listen to His voice.

The Lord Always Before Me (Psalm 16:7-8)

Today's scripture: Psalm 16:7-8

I've never been one who hears an audible voice when God speaks, but I have heard Him. Usually, He speaks in that "still small voice" we read about in 1 Kings 19:12. Many times I have prayed for something, and I've heard His voice in my heart. He counsels me to do those things that please Him. He guides me down paths that lead to His purpose. He reveals His will to me.

Hearing God's voice, though, requires one thing, though. We need to focus on Him, without distractions:

The most important thing about listening for God’s voice is that, in order for Him to be heard, you must be silent. God doesn’t want to compete with the world’s noise, nor should He. We know God, we hear His voice, in the stillness, in the quiet. God tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). King David said with confidence that “the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him . . . Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:3-4).
(The Best Laid Plans © 2005 Sauni Rinehart)

When we focus on God and truly listen to Him, He speaks to us. So, as The Message paraphrases verse 8 of today's scripture:

Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

God Makes His Ways Known (Psalm 103:6-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 103:6-7

Every once and a while, a self-proclaimed "prophet" predicts some catastrophic event (the world is going to end) or even Christ's return. Of course, those predictions never come true.

There was a time genuine prophets walked the earth. God used prophets in the Old Testament to speak to His people. He communicated directly to men He chose to be His voice. God “made known His ways” through men like Moses, Isaiah, and Micah.

But how does God reveal His ways today? Through His word, the written, inspired account of His-story. We are so blessed to have something His people never had. We can read about how He’s worked. We can learn of fulfilled prophecy.

And even better? We have the Holy Spirit living in us. He is there to speak the words of the Father to each of us. We don’t need to have someone tell us what God is saying.

God speaks directly to us ... yet another benefit to knowing and being in relationship with God!