Celebrating Hope: Looking Back Stepping UpSample

Speak to Me

I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants - Psalm 85:8 

The funhouse mirror at the amusement park grabbed my attention. I stopped to peer and move into various positions, laughing at my widely distorted appearance. In contrast, distorted, self-defeating, and sometimes self-destructive definitions and expressions of ourselves in real life can occur when we miss looking to God. Wrong beliefs undermine our peace, stability, and the hope of our personal mission and calling. 

The author of Psalm 85 understood the seriousness of communing with God. After recounting the Lord’s faithfulness and asking Him to show up yet again, the psalmist vows to do something we can all learn from. He says he will listen. He will wait on God to speak. For those willing to pay attention, God’s voice can be discerned in the Bible through the spoken or written words of fellow believers, through God’s creation, and through circumstances. He pursues our hearts so intimately that we should be amazed at all the ways our loving Father tries to get our attention. He speaks to our heart and mind through His indwelling Spirit. He communicates specifically to each of His children.

Hindrances that interfere with God’s messages to us include the busyness and noisiness of life. Distractions can make God’s quiet voice nearly undetectable. Let’s set aside time today to really listen and wait for Him to remove our doubts. He is able to provide liberating peace. —Jamal Morris. 

What distractions often make it harder for you to hear God speaking?

Father, help me to be patient enough to hear from You no matter how You may be speaking.