I hope this doesn't come as a surprise or a huge revelation....God has a voice! He speaks and we are created to hear Him. Look at the first reference to His voice in Genesis 3:8 "Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the Lord God as He was walking in the Garden in the cool of the day....." Mankind was fashioned to be able to hear and to recognize the voice of God. Even "fallen man" knows there is a "voice". Some refer to it as their conscience - a voice telling them how to discern good and evil.

As one of God's "sheep", His very own child, you can be assured that you do hear God's voice! Now you may not be listening because of fear, doubt, or even wrong teaching. That does not negate the truth..."My Sheep hear My voice."

Learning to hear and recognize the voice of the Lord has been one of the most important aspects of my relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! In the past I recall only a hand-full of times each year that I "felt" that I heard the Lord speak to me plainly. At times this came as a scripture verse burned in my heart. At other times, in my spirit, I heard clear and specific words of direction or warning from the Lord.

In 2001 I was taught (everyone say YAY for teachings), that hearing God's voice could be a regular, everyday, moment by moment experience! That makes sense. A shepherd daily speaks to his sheep and communes with them throughout the day, leading them in and out of pastures. They know his voice and they follow.

The trouble with our ability to hear and listen is two-fold. The first is that there are so many voices in the world vying for our attention and our affection. The TV is turned on all day in some homes, the radio blares, the phones ring, the children cry and fuss, and at work, the employers dictate long to-do lists, office conversations polute our ears, and so on. AHHHH! Quiet every one, please! I want to hear God's voice!

The second thing that troubles our hearing is believing lies. Religious spirits try to tell us that we are not worthy, not good enough or not "spiritual enough", to hear God's voice. These inner voices and distractions are like snakes in your garden time with the Lord. They are trying to deceive you from believing the love and the intimacy the Father desires to have with you! Jesus came to show us the importance of hearing the Father's voice. He lived and walked in power because he heard and followed the Father's voice.

So how can we come to recognize the voice of the Beloved? Walk with Him in the cool of the day, early in the morning when the world is still asleep. Come to His garden alone and wait and listen. Cease from your own words. Grab a journal and a pen and sit expecting to hear from your Abba. Write what you hear, you will be encouraged. The Lord wants to communicate His love and His plans to you. Shhhh...be still and know that He is God, the God who longs to speak to you! You were created to hear His voice. He desires an audience with you. He knows your voice. But,do you recognize His? Shhhhh...be still and listen. Then you will follow the Good Shepherd and end up exactly where He has destined you to be....abiding in Him, knowing His heart, experiencing His love! How good is that? Let the words of King David, friend of God, be yours, "I will listen to what God the Lord will say." Psalms 85;8a