Communion With God

Chapter 43—Listen for God'S Voice

BIBLE GEM

“Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”—Jeremiah 7:23 CWG 102.1

QUESTION

What can we do to enable us to hear God's voice speaking to our hearts? CWG 102.2

ANSWER

We must listen: “Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for His voice.”—The Ministry of Healing, 509 CWG 102.3

Get away from human voices: “When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God.”—The Desire of Ages, 363 CWG 102.4

Study and pray: “Through study of the Scriptures, through earnest prayer, they [every soul] may hear His message to them, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ ”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 441 CWG 102.5

“He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray, or his prayers will become a formal routine.”—Steps to Christ, 101 CWG 102.6

The Bible—God's voice: “The Bible is God's voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears.”—Testimonies For The Church 6:393 CWG 102.7

“The Scriptures are to be received as God's word to us, not written merely, but spoken.... CWG 102.8

“So with all the promises of God's Word. In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice.”—The Ministry of Healing, 122 CWG 102.9

“Never attempt to search the Scriptures unless you are ready to listen ... to the Word of God as though His voice were speaking directly to you from the living Oracles.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:919 CWG 102.10

The voice of duty—God's voice: “Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer.... Plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before you.”—Testimonies For The Church 5:163 CWG 103.1

“There is no help for man, woman, or child who will not hear and obey the voice of duty, for the voice of duty is the voice of God.”—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 402 CWG 103.2

Conscience—God's voice: “Conscience is the voice of God.”—Testimonies For The Church 5:120 CWG 103.3

“We must resist and conquer inclination, and obey the voice of conscience without parleying or compromise, lest its prompting cease, and will and impulse control.”—Selected Messages 1:28 CWG 103.4

The Holy Spirit: “Another way in which God's voice is heard is through the appeals of His Holy Spirit, making impressions upon the heart.”—Testimonies For The Church 5:512 CWG 103.5

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

Eventually every sincere and true believer in the Holy Trinity will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. That voice will become stronger and clearer as we obey revealed truth and follow with all of our hearts and minds. When by God's help we bring our whole being under the control of the Holy Spirit, we will hear His voice. There are no shortcuts, there is no easy way, casual seekers will not be guided by that still small voice. CWG 103.6

Loving Trinity, please help us to develop a relationship that is real, alive, vibrant and ongoing by heartfelt earnest prayer of faith. Thank You that You have promised! and we wholeheartedly believe it! that we will hear a voice behind us saying: This is the way, walk ye in it. Thank you Lord, for your voice that guides us. CWG 103.7