Tag Archives: Faith and Obedience

Hearing God’s Voice

Speak, Lord, for Your Servant is Listening

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God is speaking to His people. His voice is not distant or silent; He longs to guide, to instruct, and to pour out His plans for your life. Yet, the question remains: are you listening? Are you ready to respond when He calls, as in the Scripture, “Speak Lord for Your Servant is Listening”? Throughout Scripture, we see men and women who heard the voice of God, responded with faith, and were forever changed. But listening to God is not passive. It is an active pursuit that requires humility, persistence, and surrender.

When Samuel heard the voice of the Lord as a young boy, his reply was simple but profound: “Speak, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NASB). His heart was positioned to hear and obey. Isaiah, standing before the throne of God, declared boldly, “Here am I. Send me!”(Isaiah 6:8 NASB). These responses were not only acts of faith but acts of surrender—offering themselves wholly to God’s purposes.

The same God who spoke to Samuel and Isaiah speaks today. The question is not whether God speaks, but whether we are willing to quiet our hearts, press into His presence, and listen.

The Call to Persevere in Listening

There are times when hearing God requires persistence. We see this in Daniel, who prayed and fasted for three weeks before an angel appeared to him with the answer he sought. The angel explained: “From the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard… but the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days” (Daniel 10:12-13 NASB).

Daniel’s story reminds us that spiritual resistance is real. When you ask God for guidance, the answer may not come immediately. But do not lose heart! Keep seeking, keep asking, and keep knocking (Matthew 7:7 NASB). Your persistence demonstrates faith and trust in God’s perfect timing. God hears you the moment you pray, and His answer will come at the appointed time.

Hearing and Responding to God’s Voice

Hearing the voice of God today may not always look like a burning bush or an audible call from heaven, but He is still speaking to His people in personal, profound, and powerful ways. God communicates through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances, but hearing Him requires intentionality on our part.

1. Through His Word

The primary way God speaks is through the Bible. As we read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit brings passages to life, applying them to our specific situations. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that “the Word of God is living and active” (NASB). To hear Him clearly, prioritize time in His Word daily. Ask Him to reveal Himself through the pages of Scripture, and listen with a heart ready to obey.

2. Through the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit lives within believers, guiding, convicting, and encouraging us. When you pray, quiet your heart to sense His direction. It may come as a gentle nudge, a persistent thought, or peace about a decision. Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26 NASB). Be sensitive to His prompting, and when He speaks, act in faith.

3. Through Prayer and Stillness

In a world full of noise and distractions, it’s easy to miss God’s voice. But when you intentionally set aside time for prayer and stillness, you create space for Him to speak. Elijah didn’t hear God in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12 NASB). Turn off the distractions, quiet your mind, and simply ask, “Speak, Lord.” Then, wait for Him in the stillness.

4. Through Circumstances and Others

Sometimes God speaks through the circumstances in our lives or through wise counsel from others. Pay attention to how He might be orchestrating events to guide you or opening and closing doors to direct your steps. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (NASB). Seek counsel from mature believers and remain open to how God may confirm His Word through them.

The Call to Respond in Faith

Listening to God is only the beginning. The true test comes when you hear His voice—when He calls you to step out in faith, to let go of fear, or to trust Him in uncertainty. Consider Noah, who obeyed God’s instructions to build an ark even when the world had never seen rain. Or Mary, who surrendered to God’s plan to bear the Messiah despite the cost to her reputation. Or the disciples, who left everything at Yeshua’s call to “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19 NASB).

Each of these individuals not only heard God’s voice but responded with trust. They didn’t hesitate, delay, or make excuses. Their obedience brought them into alignment with God’s purposes and allowed them to experience His power in ways that changed history. God is calling you, too. Will you respond as they did—with faith, surrender, and obedience?

An Entreaty to the Reader

Beloved, this is your moment to press in. God is calling you to deeper intimacy, greater faith, and unwavering trust in Him. Quiet your heart, remove distractions, and ask Him to speak. Then, listen. He may whisper to your spirit, illuminate His Word, or nudge your heart through circumstances. However He chooses to speak, remain persistent in prayer. Some answers take time because of spiritual resistance, but do not let that discourage you. Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep believing.

And when He speaks, respond. Say, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” Say, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” Say yes to His will, even if it requires stepping out in faith, letting go of your plans, or trusting Him in the unknown. The God who created you, who knows the number of hairs on your head, and who has prepared good works for you in advance (Ephesians 2:10 NASB) is calling you to a deeper walk with Him. Will you listen? Will you respond?

A Closing Prayer

Father, we come before You with hearts open and ready to hear Your voice. Teach us to be still, to quiet the noise around us, and to press into Your presence. Strengthen our faith so that we may persist in prayer, even when the answers seem delayed. Lord, when You speak, give us the courage to respond with obedience and trust, just as Samuel, Isaiah, Mary, and others did before us. Let our hearts echo their words: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Use us for Your glory, and lead us into a deeper relationship with You. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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Prophetic Symbolism

Grace of the Plumb

“For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” — Zechariah 4:10 (AMP)

Beloved, the Lord teaches us not to scorn small beginnings, for what seems insignificant in human eyes is often the foundation of His greatest works. Zerubbabel’s temple, modest compared to Solomon’s, began with a single plumb line in his hand. Yet, this was no ordinary moment—it was the fulfillment of divine purpose and the grace of the plumb. The “seven eyes of the LORD” represent His perfect wisdom and vigilant care, watching over every step of the process. God rejoices in the faithful work of His servants, no matter how small, because every act of obedience moves His plan forward.

The plumb line, a tool for alignment and accuracy, reflects the Lord’s commitment to precision and righteousness in His work. The construction of Zerubbabel’s temple serves as a profound image of God’s spiritual work in His people. Just as the plumb line ensures a building’s integrity, so does God’s Word and Spirit align our lives with His holiness. “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet,” says the Lord (Isaiah 28:17, AMP). Anything that is misaligned must be corrected, for the temple of the Lord must be perfect and unshakable by the grace of the plumb.

Consider this: the “day of small things” is not a day of insignificance, but of preparation. When the people saw the beginning of the temple, they lamented its simplicity, forgetting that the Lord often uses what is small to confound the mighty. He chose David, the youngest of his brothers, to slay the giant. He took a small band of disciples to change the world. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27, AMP). The plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand is a symbol of this divine paradox: what starts small in the hands of man is mighty when guided by the hand of God.

The seven eyes of the Lord, scanning to and fro throughout the earth, remind us of His sovereignty and omnipresence. Nothing escapes His gaze; every stone, every line, every effort is seen and judged by Him. This is both a comfort and a challenge, for He rejoices in faithfulness but removes anything unworthy of His temple. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He repeatedly prunes so that it will bear more fruit” (John 15:2, AMP). The pruning and alignment may be painful, but they are necessary for the completion of His work.

Jesus, the true Master Builder, is the fulfillment of Zerubbabel’s work. He is the cornerstone, chosen and precious, upon whom the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord (1 Peter 2:6, Ephesians 2:20-21, AMP). He holds the plumb line of righteousness in His hand, and He will not rest until the capstone is laid with shouts of grace and glory. The grace of the plumb is evident in His work. The Lord’s pleasure prospers in His hand, and He will not fail (Isaiah 53:10).

Let this truth encourage your heart: the work He has begun in you, though it may seem small, is being carefully constructed by His wisdom and power. He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6, AMP). Trust in His process. Submit to His plumb line, and rejoice in the grace of the plumb, for His hand will bring all things into perfect alignment.

O Lord Jesus, the true Builder and Redeemer, we praise You for Your faithfulness to complete what You have started. Align our hearts and lives with Your righteousness, remove what is misaligned, and strengthen us to trust in Your perfect timing. May we see Your work rise in glory, as every stone is set in place to reflect Your majesty. Amen.

Go Deep

Life, Spiritual

The Wise Choice and the Right Way

Embracing the Wisdom of God

Beloved, I urge you to embrace the wisdom and guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ and the enduring truths of the Scriptures. Choosing the wise choice and the right way is paramount in our walk with God. As Joshua implored the people of Israel, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Commit your heart wholly to the Lord, as Ruth did when she declared, “Your people will be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16). Moreover, seek the wisdom of Solomon, who asked God for a discerning heart (1 Kings 3:9), and walk faithfully in the path of truth, saying with the psalmist, “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me” (Psalm 119:30).

“But only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). Let us, too, choose the good part by dedicating ourselves wholly to Him. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul urges us to “learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value” (Philippians 1:10). Walk in the discernment given by the Spirit, aligning your life with God’s will. Additionally, Moses chose “rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25). Let us also choose the eternal over the temporary, following the narrow path that leads to life, as our Savior taught: “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).

Walking in God’s Path

Walking in the right way is underscored when Moses instructs the Israelites to “walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper” (Deuteronomy 5:33). Moreover, wisdom’s paths are “pleasant ways and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17), illustrating the peace that comes from following God’s wisdom. “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21) assures believers of God’s guidance. Psalm 50:23 reminds us, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

Jesus guides us, saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Embrace the light of Christ, who came “to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (Acts 16:17). Let us walk in the wisdom of God’s guidance and the light of His salvation.

Reflection and Self-Examination

Reflect on these questions, dear ones: Are you choosing daily to follow Christ, the only way to eternal life? Do you seek what is truly valuable in God’s eyes, or are you swayed by the fleeting pleasures of this world? Are you walking in paths of peace and righteousness, guided by the Holy Spirit? Self-examination is crucial for maintaining a path aligned with God’s will. Like Solomon, we must continually seek a discerning heart, asking God to reveal areas where we need to grow in faith and obedience.

Consider the peace that comes from walking in God’s wisdom. Proverbs 3:17 reminds us that all of wisdom’s paths are peace. Are your daily decisions leading you towards this peace, or do they lead to unrest and turmoil? Jesus offers us a way to peace and fulfillment, guiding our feet in the way of peace (Luke 1:79). Are you allowing Him to guide your steps, trusting in His path over your own?

Commitment to the Narrow Path

The narrow path, though difficult, leads to life. Jesus teaches us that “the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). This path requires a commitment to following Christ above all else, forsaking worldly temptations for eternal rewards. Hebrews 11:25 tells of Moses, who chose to endure suffering with the people of God rather than enjoy fleeting pleasures. This choice is before us daily: to follow Christ, even when it means sacrifice and difficulty, trusting that His way leads to life everlasting.

Walking in God’s way also means living in a manner that honors Him. Psalm 50:23 states, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” Ordering our lives according to God’s will brings honor to Him and leads us to His salvation. This ordered way is a life lived in gratitude, humility, and obedience to God.

A Prayer for Guidance and Strength

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts open to Your wisdom and love. Help us to choose the wise choice and the right way, to seek what is excellent and of real value in Your eyes. Grant us the strength to walk the narrow path, forsaking worldly pleasures for the joy of eternal life with You. Guide our feet into the way of peace and righteousness, as we follow Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit fill us with discernment and courage to live according to Your will. Strengthen our resolve to follow You wholeheartedly, even when the way is narrow. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

See Also

Biography

Noah’s steadfast obedience

Noah stands as a towering figure in the narrative of Genesis, emblematic not just of obedience and faith but also of God’s grace amid a corrupt generation. Born to Lamech and positioned in a lineage of men who walked closely with God—like Enoch, who was taken to heaven without seeing death (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5), and Methuselah, the longest-lived man (Genesis 5:27)—Noah emerged as a beacon of righteousness in dark times.

The Bible, notably silent about Noah’s early life, introduces him at the age of five hundred. His name, given by his father Lamech, means “rest” or “comfort,” foreshadowing the relief and respite from curse he would bring through his obedience to God (Genesis 5:29). During Noah’s lifetime, humanity had reached a peak of moral decay, prompting God to declare His intention to cleanse the earth through a great flood (Genesis 6:5-7). In this dire context, Noah was distinguished by his righteousness and blamelessness among the people of his time (Genesis 6:8-9).

Noah’s divine commission was extraordinary and daunting. God instructed him to construct an ark, a massive vessel that would house his family and representatives of the animal kingdom to survive the impending deluge (Genesis 6:14-16). This task, from a human perspective, seemed not only arduous but also absurd. Surrounded by a cynical and mocking society, Noah’s faith and persistence were continually tested as he labored on the ark for many years, enduring ridicule without seeing immediate signs of the flood God had foretold (Genesis 6:22; 7:5).

Despite the mockery and immense pressure, Noah’s commitment did not waver. His life exemplifies unwavering obedience to God; he did everything exactly as God commanded him (Genesis 6:22). This obedience was not passive but active, marked by his work on the ark and his ministry to his contemporaries, whom he warned of God’s impending judgment (2 Peter 2:5).

God remembered Noah, delivering him and his family from the flood. After the waters receded, Noah built an altar to the Lord, the first recorded in Scripture, and offered sacrifices. In response, God established a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy all life with a flood, a covenant marked by the rainbow as a sign of divine mercy and faithfulness (Genesis 8:20; 9:12-17).

Noah’s legacy is profound, influencing not just biblical history but also the faith of generations. His life serves as a powerful testament to the rewards of faithfulness and the seriousness with which God regards covenant relationships. As such, Noah’s story resonates deeply, reminding us of the importance of steadfast faith and righteousness, even—or especially—when faced with overwhelming challenges.

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