Walking With Jesus: Five Day Bible Plan With Dr Ernest CrockerSample

Day Two: How does God speak to us?  

As a high school student, I was jogging one evening and the words came, "One day you will be a medical doctor." I was astounded at the time but as a keen young Christian, I recognized this as the voice of God. The experience quickly faded from my mind. Years later, as I stood as a new medical graduate on the steps of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, I glanced down to see words written on the foundation stone, "These three remain . . . faith, hope and love." I understood that day, that God’s word to me many years before, had been fulfilled. 

We have eyes to see, and ears to hear. We also have spiritual eyes and ears to discern God’s word for us. We are designed to see and hear in the physical and in the spiritual sense.

God speaks to us in many ways. This may be through his Word. We may be reading a Scripture well known to us when it suddenly becomes alive, bringing new meaning. This is the ‘rhema’ (Spirit-inspired) Word of God rather than the ‘logos’ written Word, with which we may be quite familiar.

God may speak to us through Scripture, through life experience, prayer, prophecy, word of knowledge, by means of a dream or vision, and occasionally audibly, although this has not been my experience. Dr Reg, a surgical friend, was on the point of being beheaded by the Taliban. Just when all seemed lost, he heard a soft, calming voice. ‘I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.’ After his remarkable release he was told by his wife that she had read those same words in the Psalms on the second day of his capture (Psalm 118:17). 

Most often I find, however, that God speaks to us by that still small voice within. We know it to be his voice. It is assuring, comforting, sometimes challenging but always in keeping with his nature and in context with Scripture.

Reflect: How does God speak to you? Are you listening?