Day 21: Seeking God's Voice

Jeremiah 14:11-16:15

1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

Psalm 80:1-19

Proverbs 25:1-5

I probably picked up the Kindle to read 3 times today, but each time I was reading I was thinking about something else the whole time...so not really reading. I'd get to the end of the page and realize I had no idea what I just read.

This is not a foreign phenomenon to me, but it was irritating to me today. I had too many anxious thoughts running around in my head all day I couldn't hear God's voice.

Or at least that's what it feels like... am I hearing God's voice? Am I listening?

Finally after a silent (no radio) drive to class I was able to talk to God about what's going on in my head, so when I parked I had enough clarity to actually read!

At this time of my life, trying to figure out what to do with my life, it's very very important to me that I am hearing God's voice. This has always been important to me, but now is one of those times where this is a heightened concern of mine.

Today's reading very clearly highlighted the dangers of not listening to God's voice. Jeremiah 14:11-16.

God's voice is hard to explain without a context, but generally...

God's voice sounds like peace. When I know I hear it, I know it because it comes with a sense that He is present and loving and I feel confident: peace.

Even when what He's saying is crazy: peace.

Even if He's speaking into a really stressful and confusing situation: peace.

And as I read about these people who went around saying "this is what God is saying! No famine! No sword!" when all along that's not what God was saying...it scared me! I don't want to be proclaiming things from "false visions, divinations, idolatries, and the delusions of my own mind."

But I realize, that these people probably weren't actually seeking God's voice. There weren't as concerned as I am with testing each thought: "is this from God?"

And not that I'm trying to sound holier than anyone else...but I think that if one is asking God to show up, asking God to be his/her Guide, seeking God's will, seeking to hear God's voice...I believe that God honors that.

I'm waiting for God's voice and while I wait sometimes it can feel like the opposite of peace.

But today I want to lay down my burdens like Philippians 4 and trust that God is doing something, live today for what today is.

"And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7)