It was with Words, holy Words, that the Lord created the world (Gen 1). And it was by His voice that the Lord called Moses to bring His people out of Egypt and toward the promise land (Ex 3). It was the Word of the Lord that the prophets of the Old Testament shared with the people (Isa 6). It was with Words that the Jesus encouraged, affirmed, and commissioned His disciples before the ascension (Matt 28). And again, it is the voice of the Holy Spirit that directs and informs us (Acts 13:12). Scripture, His Living Word is transcendent, perfect and true. And the still, small voice of the Lord always communicates Love and Hope to us in agreement with the Word (1 Kings 19:11-13). Truly, it is the Lord’s Word and His voice that are the sweetest and most powerful ways that He communicates with us.

He is speaking, Dear Saints. Are we listening?

We must ask ourselves if we have truly positioned our hearts to hear and obey our Shepherd. Such a heart posture is developed in the secret place and the secret place alone. It is in stepping back and seeking our King, Friend, and Counselor that we are able to build both trust and history with Him (Matt 6:6). This paradigm of experiential knowledge tunes our hearts to the wavelength of His voice, His heart (Ps 91). The more familiar with are with the Lord, the better we will be able to discern His voice and hold to His direction (Mark 4:9).

It is important here to recognize the Trinity. To be sure, the Lord our God, the Lord is One (Deut 6:4). There is no division or discontinuity within Him. And yet, our God is three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Spirit (Matt 28:19) (1 John 5:7-8). Each speaks to us in a way that affirms and glorified the others. For instance, the Father speaks to our identity as His children and calls us forward into the fullness of what He has prepared for us that we might be a unified and pure bride, ready for the Son (Eph 1:3) (Gen 1:26) (Matt 22:3). The Son, our Friend and Brother, empathizes with us while (Heb 2:11). Taking an intercessory position, He advocates on our behalf before the Father while encouraging us to approach the Father in nearness and sincerity (Rom 8:34). Holy Spirit is our Counselor and Helper (John 14:26). His guidance, encouragement, and exhortation empower us to walk in the realities of resurrection life that we might reflect the beauty of the Son for the glory of the Father (Gal 5:25). These distinct roles are always in agreement and cooperation. But still, the way that Holy Spirit will speak to you may be of a different form or manner than the Father or the Son would speak to you.

When you spend time with the Lord, I would encourage you to ask Him whose voice you are most familiar with and whose voice you could grow in capacity to hear. When I asked the Lord this very question earlier this week, I felt Him say that I know the Father’s voice best, but could listen to the Son at a deeper level. Taking those words to heart, I have intentionally sought to listen to Jesus more. He has been so faithful to respond, and the time that I have spent talking with the Son, despite the challenge and unfamiliarity on my end, has been refreshing, encouraging, and sweet.

Indeed, there is nothing sweeter than the hearing the Lord. There will be moments where what He has to say to our hearts might seem bitter, but His Word always brings true life in abundance. So, set your heart before the Lord and listen to what He says.  And surely, most surely, we will hear His voice (John 10:27).