I’ve given hearing God a lot of consideration lately. Honestly, I think about it all the time…but lately, I’ve mulled it over a little extra.
When I reflect on the story of my walk with Jesus, I see that many pivotal moments happened after hearing God speak specific things. It’s like the words He’s spoken over me and my family have stood as a fence. A boundary, so to speak, and nothing is allowed to breach those walls.
Ever since I gave myself to God…ever since I surrendered fully to His hand…He’s been marking my life.
I’ve said many times that I was saved at 8 years old, but I didn’t surrender to God until 26. I know that concept is hard for some to understand, but God has confirmed to me that it’s true. I’ve been His since I was 8 years old. When I made all the bad decisions and toyed with all kinds of bad behavior and ideas, I was just a secretly wounded person trying to find my way forward.
Sanctification looks different for each person. I had no idea what that even was or that I even needed it. Nobody in my life taught about it at all. I was simply in God’s hand trying to figure it out. I had come into the world wounded, and He knew that, and had enormous amounts of patience with me. He knew what it would take for me to finally turn to Him. He knew the exact moment that I would begin to cry out for Him every night. He knew that I would eventually become a voice for Him. The wait was worth it for Him. And I believe the process was inevitable. I came out of the womb in dire circumstances, that were obviously out of my control. He knew He would spend years protecting me from being destroyed by the enemy of my soul. The enemy of my voice. The enemy of my heart. The enemy of my testimony. He also knew He would win.
Finally, I surrendered.
The weight of that surrender felt enormous but became light. The threat of the enemy breathed down my neck at every pivot point.
He lied to me incessantly. He threatened me constantly. He placed his voice in other “believers” to assault me consistently.
But I clung to belief.
“You’re too much.” “That’s not how we do it.” “Submit to me.” “Worship can only be 20 mins on a Sunday morning.” “People at church aren’t comfortable with that.”
All the lies I heard on repeat. Now…at this point in life, I know beyond a shadow of doubt that I will never compromise the voice of God in my life again. No matter the cost. No matter who opposes. If a church doesn’t have room for Holy Spirit, then they don’t have room for me either. I just can’t do it anymore. Compromise riddles every part of church as we know it and I just can’t abide by it any longer.
I need Jesus. I can’t pretend I don’t feel His Presence. I can’t pretend I’m not led by Holy Spirit.
When I learned I could hear God’s voice, and not only that…but that I’d been hearing it since I was 8 years old…that transformed my life. Suddenly, so many things made sense.
I can still recount moments when I heard a voice warn me about something, and when I listened, I avoided problems. Then when I ignored it, trouble came quickly. I can still remember times when my spirit felt moved and I knew something was dangerous. Holy Spirit has been the most faithful companion to me, practically my whole life.
All of this to say, when people doubt that we can still hear from God, I know they are sorely mistaken…because my life has literally been led by His voice. I didn’t always realize it, but I have been hearing His voice since I was at least 8 years old.
The best gift that “church” could’ve given me was an understanding that God speaks. I often wonder why I wasn’t taught how to listen.
That’s why I am bound and determined to lead others into this truth. God speaks. His children will know His voice.
Today I ask you, “Are you familiar with God’s voice?”. If not, then I encourage you to take a moment and sit in the quiet and simply ask God to speak to you in a way that you can hear. Then believe Him. Believe the Voice you’ve been hearing all your life. Believe that He would want to speak to His children. What Father wouldn’t want to speak to His children? Of course He does.
Sit and listen until you can move past your vigorous thoughts and tune into that still small voice that’s been attempting to guide you all your life. I promise, it’s worth it.
Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe Me. The proof is the work I do in My Father’s name. But you don’t believe Me because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. John 10:25-30
365 Days in the Presence 