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| We
can train our ears to hear God's voice whether it be in a still small
voice or through a child or through a preacher or a writer or however
God wants to speak to us. |
| Photograph by Graham Cooper |
One of my all time favorite preachers is Peter Lord. He used a great illustration in a series entitled, "How to Hear God Speak." In the illustration, he said that one night he was entertaining some people in his home and one of the guests was a graduate student in entomology. After dinner, Peter stepped out onto his patio and found the student had gone out there as well. It was late evening and they stood quietly at first and looked up at myriads of stars. There was a beautiful stillness except for the usual night sounds from frogs and insects. His guest told Peter that no longer than he had been out there on the patio, he had already identified more than 12 different types of crickets. Peter was amazed. He was like me: a cricket is a cricket. But this young student had been taught and had his ears trained to distinguish the subtleties of different varieties of crickets. That kind of discernment took a lot of study and a disciplined and well-trained ear.
We can train our ears to hear God;s voice whether it be in a still small voice or through a child, or through a preacher or a writer or however God wants to speak to us. The way we do this is by regularly meditating on his Word, and not with just a "get-by" kind of intake either. We have to make it a priority to get our "tanks" filled up. Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Luke 8:8). This is how we develop ears to hear.
Suppose my husband calls me on the telephone while he is away on business. I have heard his voice so many times that I instantly know it is him. Then, suppose it was not my husband, but someone who had learned to imitate his voice. That might fool even me, except there is another way I could determine if it really was my husband. That would be the content of his conversation. I know what he talks about. I know his interests. And I would know if it was not him because the voice on the phone wouldn't converse in the same manner as my husband. I know his heart and mind and therefore, I would quickly know if it was an impostor.
"Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3-5).
Copyright Daphne Harrington 1999