Now that I’m a father of a toddler, I’ve become quite the expert on Disney movies like Frozen. In Frozen II there is a song sung by the snowman, Olaf where he is in the woods alone and afraid. My favorite part of the song is when he hears a noise and exclaims: “Samantha?!” Okay, I understand if you haven’t seen the movie that will probably not make any sense to you whatsoever, but what’s so funny about it is how random it is given the fact that he doesn’t even know anyone named Samantha.
That was my poor attempt to illustrate how many Christians claim to hear God’s voice. Something happens in their lives and they have a strong feeling about what direction they should take and therefore, they assume they have ‘heard from God.’ Others do claim to actually hear God’s voice audibly or at least clearly in their hearts. For those of us who have not experienced that, it can be frustrating when we really need to hear from the Lord, but don’t think He speaks to us like he speaks to other Christians.
So the question becomes: How does God speak to His people? The author of Hebrews begins his letter by answering that question for us.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world”
Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)
Did you catch the part that I underlined? “He has spoken to us by His Son.” If you’re waiting on God to speak to you, don’t miss the fact that He has spoken to you through His Son Jesus Christ who is “The Word made flesh” (John 1). Can God speak audibly to His people? Yes, God can do whatever He wills to do. However, in His revealed will (the Bible) He has informed us that although He used to speak in various ways, His method of speaking is now the Living Word (His Son: Jesus) Who is revealed to us in His written Word (The Bible).
The old adage still holds water: “If you want to know the will of God, read the Word of God.” You see in those moments of life when we are desperate for God to speak, He has given us an eternally gracious gift of His revealed will written down for us to dig deep into. While the Bible doesn’t tell you what job to take, or how to fix your broken faucet, it does reveal to us God’s will for our lives. The Bible is sufficient for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
If there is a time when you ‘felt’ like God was speaking to you, go to the Word and measure what you felt or heard against that. Certainly, we have the Holy Spirit in us who guides us, but Jesus told us that what the Spirit guides us into is the truth of Who Jesus is and what He has said (John 16:13-15).
The beauty is that this frees us to know exactly what God expects of us. As St. Augustine said “Love God, and do what you want.” If your love for Him is first and foremost and you’re seeking to walk in His ways, then allow Him to change your desires to line up with His and then live your life.
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 10:12 (ESV)