Discern.
Hey everyone! It’s your girl Julie, back with another segment of “Salty & Lit,” and in today’s post, we’re going to be talking about “Listening Prayer.” Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this day. Thank You that You are Alpha and Omega: that means You’re the Beginning and the End. Thank You for knowing our hearts. Help us to know Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
In the book of 1 Samuel, Samuel is beginning to discern the voice of God for the first time. He hears someone calling him and mistakes it for his master’s Eli’s voice, so Samuel goes back and forth multiple times to Eli, saying “Here I am, for you called me” and Eli says, “I did not call you” (1 Samuel 3:4-6). With this back and forth, Eli realizes something: it’s God talking to Samuel, so finally Eli says,“Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place” (1 Samuel 3:9, ESV). We see in this passage that Eli is helping Samuel discern God’s voice for the first time, and that’s the point I want to make:
Community helps in discerning God’s voice. God created us for community, and others are more experienced than us who know what God’s voice sounds like and can help us discover God’s voice too. There are three voices that compete (four, if you want to be fancy): yours, the enemy’s, others’, and finally God’s voice.
God’s voice is powerful, in which it can change things, but you have to know God’s voice to ensure that what you’re following is His voice.
And how can you do that?
Discern with Scripture: God’s voice will never contradict Scripture. I’ll write it again - God’s voice will never contradict Scripture, which is why it’s super imperative to know God’s Word. If not, other voices like the devil and even your own will try to twist Scripture to do their way.
Know God’s Word: The Bible says, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee” in Psalm 119:11. That means it’s important to have an arsenal of verses readily available, so when the enemy tries to come at you with lies, you can fight him back with Scripture (God’s Word).
After you’ve heard God’s voice and gone through the steps, you should move. God doesn’t call you to be idle unless He says wait or no, but even if you’re unsure, you can move, and God can redirect your steps. I’m not saying just move recklessly in life, but sometimes, God invites us to move so that He can steer us in the right direction.
My friend, discerning the voice of God isn’t always easy, but the same way you become intimate with a friend by spending time with them is the same way you grow in intimacy with God: by spending time with Him and His Word. That way, you will grow in intimacy with Him, His Word, and His voice yourself.
Let’s pray:
Father, You are so good. Thank You for teaching us about discernment. Help us to pray and spend time listening to Your voice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I hope you enjoyed this post about growing in intimacy with the Lord! Don’t forget you are loved, salty, and lit! Talk to you soon! 🧡
