God’s voice sounds like George?

“This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting,

known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you.

I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out

on your own.’” Jeremiah 33:3 The Message

What does God’s voice sound like?

Kind of like George Burns? Or possibly Morgan Freeman?

Except it’s hard envisioning God smoking a cigar with a smirk on his face. And maybe more difficult imaging God to be an illiterate chauffer on his way to the Piggly Wiggly store! Both actors portrayed God in films.

We need more than the help of Hollywood and its imaginative directors. We need to learn what God’s real voice sounds like.

He rarely uses a voice we can discern with our ears. Oh, He’s used it on rare occasions. When Elijah was told to wait for God to speak, he probably thought it would come from the blasting windstorm, or from the subsequent earthquake or surely come from the raging firestorm.

He was shocked that what he heard was a still small voice.

But his voice often comes from within. Samuel as a very young boy experienced this. (I Samuel 3) He thought it was the voice of Eli the priest. After several false starts he began recognizing it as God’s voice.

Of course, any exposure to Scripture lets us know that God can speak to us through circumstances (Psalm 37:23), dreams (Job 33:14-16), and many other ways. However, the most reliable communication God has with us is through his Word (I Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16,17).

Anyone wanting and expecting to hear from God must take God’s Word seriously into their daily living. It’s a sure word, unchanging and forever settled in heaven. That makes its value in our earthly sojourn beyond price.

However this short devotional isn’t intended as a primer on what God sounds like or how He speaks. Rather it’s a reminder that He does speak. Intentionally. Seriously. Regularly.

His voice can come quietly or forcefully … through a friend or family member. It can come from a whisper in the dead of night, or reach you through the noise of a busy day. God may close a door – open another to give you his direction. His voice has the power to hurl a myriad galaxies into the void of space, yet be gentle enough to put a smile on your face and peace in your heart.

Remember, it’s not about how He speaks. It’s all about the fact that He does speak. Keep your ears and eyes open. When you ask, expect an answer. When you’re fearful, expect assurance. When you’re lost, expect directions. When you’re weary, expect encouragement.

Whatever the need, God has the answer … and the voice to get it to you!

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 New Living Translation