God Speaking

“The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.”

(Psalm 29: 4)

In our family, July is birthday month and those celebrating birthdays range from 59 to 1. Doing justice to such a wide range of ages, takes some planning and certainly the choice of venues varied as to whom was the honoured guest. This last week we had the five-year-old sharing with his little one-year-old sister and the family dinner party was held at a popular Pizza place where children were welcome. The other celebrant in the same week was our daughter and this meal was celebrated in an elegant restaurant. Both were a lot of fun, but the big difference for me was the noise level! The clamour in the Pizza parlor seemed to overpower one as soon as we entered. The music was loud, televisions blared from every wall, the place was crowded and voices were raised to be heard over all the other extraneous noises. It was hard to hear the conversation.

In the quieter restaurant, it was much easier to hear, and distractions were fewer so we could concentrate on exactly what everybody was saying.

I often think life is like that noisy Pizza parlor. We are inundated with strident voices from the media, urging us:

• to take up this activity
• don’t miss this movie
• invest your money
• think about your retirement
• worry about your health

News of major disasters or terrorist attacks is beamed around the world in minutes of happening causing our hearts to beat anxiously. The clamour of the world can deafen our ears to that all important voice we need to listen to.

The Lord is always ready to have a special quite time with us, where there is no clamour of the world getting in the way, but we must be the ones to invite him to join us.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3: 20) 

Listening for that knock is also is an important part of then being able to converse and enjoy the warmth of sharing time with the Lord and he describes it as sharing a family meal with him.

If our lives are so packed with things:

• we must do
• errands to run
• telephone calls
• excessive exercise

there will be no to time to even hear the gentle knock or the tender voice. The Lord has some good advice to ensure there is time for him.

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46: 10)

The more time we spend being still before the Lord sharpens our ears to hear that small voice as it becomes more and more familiar so even in the clamour of the world’s voices we will still hear his, as we face the cross roads of life.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  (Isaiah 30: 21)