Was it the voice of God that I heard this morning while sitting on our couch?
January 30, 2018
I was not latching onto the current sermon series at Trinity Church in Lansing, Michigan where the topic had been on how to hear the voice of God and to get on his Frequency, the name of the four sermons. I come from a denominational background where there had been minimal teaching about the topic of listening for His voice.
Being in the "Third Act" of my life, I really wanted to get this down. I want my wife, my kids and grandkids to remember me as having a close and personal relationship with God. I want to be on his Frequency. I can say that I've never heard his voice in the same way I'd hear my wife. I know her and how she speaks and most of the time I listen closely.
I can't say the same about God. However, I can say that I am recognizing his voice more and more. Take this morning for example.
As retirees, my wife and I have an early morning ritual where I sit on one end of a long couch and she sits on the other with our devices either in hand or on our laps. Typically, I will start my morning--about 6 a.m.-- by going to the Our Daily Bread website to read that day's devotion. It's about 200 words and serves as a connecting point to real life. There's also a Scripture that it's based on.
I try to let my thoughts marinate on both and I try to learn how both apply to my life. This morning it was based on Psalm 46 on which the hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" was based on. The Psalm states "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.." It goes on for nine more verses.
After reading this, I went to the New York Times, Washington Post and Drudge to follow the latest turmoil in Washington, D.C. You can see the tumult coming and the dark clouds are very visible.
This Psalm says very clearly that I shouldn't worry. God is bigger than all this. I don't interpret it to mean that I should be apathetic about our government and our leaders, but it shouldn't worry me.
Was I hearing God's voice? I think so. He was saying "Don't worry." He's in control. As Pastor Williams said and as I recorded in my notes, God will reveal himself to each one of us. I'm learning.