Listening for God's Call. . .

My Mother's Call. . .

In her later years, my mom once made the comment that she always knew where her children were.  This remark had been given rather smugly in a conversation where all five of her children were present. At once, we all burst out laughing. "You never knew where we were," we assured her. She  looked around with a frown and said, "You always came when I called."

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We did come when she called. We were tuned in to the sound of her voice and when she stuck her out out the door and yelled our names, we answered her call and came running. That is not to say that we were always in hearing distance. Sometimes we might be playing three blocks away and another child would come up and pass the information that our mother was calling us. We would instantly run home.  My mom was quite shocked when we explained this to her.

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Tuned in to the Sound of Her Voice. . .

The truth is that we were tuned in to the sound of our Mother's voice, actually listening for her voice as we roamed and played. Sometimes it was so faint that I could barely hear it, but I recognized her voice.  I would seek out my brothers and sister and we would all run home. I can actually remember being on the playground at school and pausing, still and attentive, because I thought I heard my mother's voice among the happy shouts and noise of the children on the playground. Of course, she would not have been calling me at that time. However, it illustrates exactly how tuned in I was to listening for her voice.

In her final days, as she slept in her hospital bed in my living room, I slept lightly always listening for her call. Six years after her passing, I sometimes come  awake, listening, thinking that I hear her voice calling out to me.

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God's Call. . .

It would be wonderful if we were all tuned in to listening for the voice of God. God calls to each of us.  He calls to us through his word, through other people, and directly to us. However, most of us our so caught up in our busy, stressful lives, that we do not hear his call. Unlike my mother, God does not always shout your name. Most of the time, he speaks in a still small voice. 

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A Still Small Voice. . .

 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
                                             1 Kings 19:11-13 (KJV)

Listening for God's Call. . .

In order to understand God's truth and his will for our lives, we must be in tune to the sound of His voice.  We must take the time to listen after we pray. We must meditate upon His Word. We must recognize the still, small voice that seeks to lead and guide us, according to His will.

How can you tell the difference between God’s voice and Satan’s voice?  Test it against God’s Word. The Voice of God’s will never contradict the Word of God.

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God's Voice vs Satan's Voice. . .

• God's voice calms, while Satan's voice obsesses.
• God's voice convicts, while Satan's voice condemns.
• God's voice enlightens, while Satan's voice confuses.
• God's voice reassures, while Satan's voice frightens.
• God's voice comforts, while Satan's voice worries.
• God's voice leads, while Satan's voice pushes.
• God's voice encourages, while Satan's voice discourages.
• God's voice stills, while Satan's voice rushes.

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God is speaking. Are you listening? 

If God is calling you, he is doing so for a reason. God has given you gifts and talents and he calls you to use them in service to him. He is selecting you for your exact qualifications. Answer God's call. Run home to him to discover his purpose for your life.

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