God talks to me, and I hear his voice.
I’ve learned to be careful how I say that and to whom, but it’s true. One of the best explanations I’ve heard is that as a Christian, I can learn to hear the still small voice within me that sounds a lot like me.
I know that feeling. On the verge of sleep, I sometimes “hear” words or see images that feel like they belong in the dream realm. I recognize a similar feeling when I daydream.
As I’ve had more experience, I can now receive this information while I’m fully awake. Single words, sentence fragments, and fuzzy mental pictures, which may reveal a special meaning for me. In the early days of my learning process, the words “sounded” like my own intuition. I was often tempted to dismiss them as not real, and not to be trusted. But I’ve since realized that sometimes, within this soupy thought-swamp, lies a jewel.
Instead of discarding this incomplete information, I’ve slowly pressed in and seized these words and images as opportunities. I pause and give them time to expand. At this point, the single words can become a complete sentence, and the snapshot-like images can become a paragraph.
A confirmation that it’s God’s voice and not my own, is that often a complete, multi-point thought will drop into mind, quicker than my breath. This complex thought can appear in my mind faster than I could ever attempt to create it. This Rhema experience is life-affirming and exhilarating, but humbling at the same time. Glory to my loving and faithful God, because it’s definitely not from me alone!
As I mature in this skill, I hear him talking to me in a more personal and intimate manner. I was on a deadline to turn in a finished written essay, but was stuck in getting started. I found myself pacing back and forth at my desk wondering what I could write about, when I heard the following complete thought: “Sara dear, if you want me to help you, you need to sit at your laptop and put your hands on the keys.” I’m still laughing at God’s wonderful sense of humor! I followed His guidance, and Christ abundantly provided an answer to my prayer. The words poured into my mind, and I finished the essay on time.
This experience taught me to relax and let go of the false burden of thinking I have to do it on my own. It also taught me to show up, breathe, and wait for God’s faithfulness to arrive, right on time!
At this point in my life, the words of knowledge I receive from Christ comfort and keep me moving forward with hopeful expectation. I liken the spiritual impact of these messages to feeling Christ’s hand slip into my own and give my hand a loving squeeze. I am not alone.
I invite you to close your eyes, quiet your mind, take a deep breath, and listen. In His perfect timing, Christ will begin a life-long conversation with you in your own voice. Your internal voice which is familiar and assuring. A wonderful new depth of intimacy with Christ awaits you! Jump in, and start right away. You don’t want to miss a minute of it!
1 Samuel 3:1 & 3:7-9 NLT
Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
… Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’”
So Samuel went back to bed.
About the Author
Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”