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| Memorise: “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (Jn 12:28)
Read: John 12:28-29 |
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| One reason God may appear silent may be that after He has spoken, His voice is taken for that of somebody else. Marrying a voice with the speaker is supposed to be an easy thing for most human beings. Even children are able to recognize the presence of their parents by their voices. But with God, it requires more care and sensitivity. This is because God could use people, symbols, situations, and events to convey messages at different times. If God is speaking and you are hearing something else, you are probably dull of hearing and may not receive the divine message. In John 12:28-29 God spoke but what He said was heard or interpreted in three ways. Jesus, to whom He was speaking, heard it very clearly. Some people with some spiritual perception understood it as an angel speaking, while those without any spiritual perception could only hear the sound of thunder.
This tells us that your spiritual level or standing determines your perception of divine messages. In 1 Samuel 3:3-5, when God called Samuel for the first time, he mistook His voice for Eli’s. You may be wondering why God has been silent but He could have spoken to you and like young Samuel, you mistook it for the voice of the G.O. Or you did not hear anything at all. God deals with us in very unique ways. You are special to Him and He may want to relate with you as He has never related with anyone, if only you give Him the opportunity. Part of such unique dealings is that sometimes, while you are waiting to hear a voice, see a dream or receive a scripture, God may be speaking inaudibly through certain situations, events or accidents. Psalm 91:11-12 says angels are assigned to keep you from any form of harm – including hitting your foot against a stone. Sometimes if you were thinking of something and suddenly you tripped, dashed your foot against a stone or the cup you held accidentally drops, pause and reconsider what you were thinking of when the accident occurred. God could be speaking to you inaudibly! Also, when God is calling you into His service but you continue to resist, He may stop speaking audibly to you, and ensure you meet with disappointments in different areas of your life. By blocking your way all round, He is speaking inaudibly to you. Ask for the grace to hear God clearly when He is speaking audibly or inaudibly. |
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| Lord, help me recognize your voice when you speak to me, and grant me grace to understand and obey. |
