It was probably the second week in Bali that I shared with my team my longing to hear more clearly the voice of the Holy Spirit. From my time at training camp, launch, and the first couple of weeks on the Race I was amazed at the many ways God is still using to talk to His people. He speaks through visions and dreams, through prophesy, through miracles.
Perhaps I had seen these manifestations of His voice to a small extent before the Race, but the consistency with which I am experiencing it now has amazed me at His goodness and His mercy that He would want to talk to us.
A phrase that our group has sung many times (and can be found in scripture) is that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If I truly believe this that means I can eagerly expect and hope to see signs, wonders, miracles, visions, dreams, and to hear prophetic words — God spoke to the Israelites and the early Christians that way, and He is he same today. How cool is that?! I am jazzed to experience more and more of this. (Insert song recommendation: More and More of You, By: Selah).
With all of that in mind, a consistent prayer of mine recently is to grow in discernment in hearing from God. At first I was expecting that Him to meet me in my dreams or give me clear visions like he does with some of my teammates. Then through sharing this prayer request with my team and the squad leadership, Jesus sweetly reminded me that I do hear His voice, very regularly, as I read scripture and He is always answering the questions I lay down at His feet. In His mercy He has reminded me that He knows me better than I know myself. He knows that I love learning and one very tangible way I love learning is through reading. Because He knows who I am, He speaks to me in ways that I can understand.
So as I bring my desire before Him in prayer, He is sweetly answering this plea for increased intimacy with Him. He is tuning my ear to hear His voice and opening m heart to new lines of communication.
You can and do hear the voice of the Lord too. If you feel that you are distant and desire more and more intimacy, just tell Him. We don’t have to be some perfectly ready version of ourselves to come before Him — He loves us in our mess, He rescues is from our mess. He wants to be on our “favorites” list on our phones, talking to Him incessantly.
Habbakuk 1:5 was shared with me today and the Lord used it to stir more and more expectant hope in my heart — I pray it does the same for you.
“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.”
