Have you ever wished you could hear God’s voice, out loud and in the room? If you were God, how would you go about revealing yourself to humanity? In 2021, you might choose to go live on all social media outlets!
In his tiny epistle, John is clear that, even though we cannot hear God’s voice audibly, he has indeed faithfully manifested himself to us:
…the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.”
1 John 1:2
We don’t stand at the base of a quaking, thundering mountain to hear God’s voice, but, it’s clear that God has revealed his majesty in creation. Sparkling constellations and dewy, delicate spider webs stop me in my tracks. The movement of cloud formations sparks my imagination, and I walk with late summer gratitude into the aroma of fresh cut hay on the breeze.
Even with all this, we need more than beauty to discover God’s great rescue plan, and so God spoke, first through his own son Jesus, the Word, “that eternal life which was with the Father.” The record of Jesus’s coming and everything that preceded it is also referred to as “the Word of God,” because in it we discover God’s desire to communicate with us.
Hearing God’s Voice and Sharing the Message
God could have loved us from a distance. He could have kept us guessing, but, instead, he has provided a written record of his faithful dealings with the human race.
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God could have loved us from a distance. He could have kept us guessing, but, instead, he has provided a written record of his faithful dealings with the human race. The Apostle John was the final living eye witness to Jesus’s years on planet Earth, and he had a loving motive in declaring the truth about eternal life to his readers:
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
1 John 1:3-4
First and foremost a pastor, John longed to bring every believer into loving and joy-filled fellowship, and with this as a motive ourselves, believers will stand out as unique and winsome in our present environment in which politics and polemics lurk behind heated exchanges and the threat of being “cancelled.” Viewed from the vantage point of seeing in order to share a clear view with others who also need light and life, every encounter with the voice of God, every encouraging truth from the Bible, every answered prayer, and even the comfort we experience in grief and hard times–every encounter with God is a manifestation, a setting forth of the truth into clear light for the benefit of someone who also needs to hear, to see with their eyes, to look upon, and to handle the Word of Life.
How’s your hearing these days? Can you discern the voice of God? Are you taking in the Words of Life so you can faithfully share them with others?
Holding you in the light,

Every encouraging truth from the Bible, every answered prayer, and even the comfort we experience in hard times–every encounter with God’s voice is a manifestation for the benefit of someone who also needs to hear, see with their eyes, look upon, and handle the Word of Life.
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May our ears be ever tuned to God’s voice.
Happy Sunday, Michele!
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Yes and amen!
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Praise God for his manifestations of himself that do indeed fill the heart with joy! I’m so thankful I started a journal of God’s faithfulness years ago, which has helped me keep watch for his protection, provision, guidance, and blessings. Another journal titled, “A Celebration of Small Things” gives me a place to record everyday pleasures–gifts that also manifest his love and goodness. Thank you, Michele, for reminding me that, as I share these experiences with others, they too will see that God IS active in our lives. My prayer is not to miss an opportunity to benefit someone who needs to hear, to see with their own eyes that our God is gracious, compassionate, and rich in love.
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What an amazing ministry of noticing you are cultivating!
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Aw, thank you Michele. Praise God for prompting me. The disciplines have lifted my spirits again and again!
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Thank you for sharing this post! It was both encouraging and challenging at the same time! The Holy Spirit gently nudged me! I am so thankful for His love and Grace for us!! 💕
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So grateful when this happens!
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I love this, Michele! And this: “Every encounter with God is a manifestation” – yes! I’m so grateful that God still speaks today in various ways (even though it would be great if I could get an audible message as well! lol).
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That word “manifest” is sure important to our friend John!
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It is amazing how hearing God is in our nature; phyche. May take a while, but then the lightbulb goes on and then we understand that the Holy Spirit has nudged us to understand. Nice reminder of how he manifests in us.
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So thankful for that lightbulb moment!
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“God’s faithful dealings with the human race” – Yes, his dealings are ever faithful even though ours are not. What a blessed challenge and privilege we have to declare these faithful dealings with others, and to listen for all that God has to say to us. I often wish for a more obvious sign or an audible voice though!
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Yes, I do, too, but am also grateful for the record of his faithfulness — in scripture and in my own life!
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Michele, I love that John made sure we knew what he had learned and seen. May I never forget that God’s Word is His spoken word to me (to each of us). All that He wanted us to know and be certain of is contained on those pages. “God could have loved us from a distance. He could have kept us guessing, but, instead, he has provided a written record of his faithful dealings with the human race.” So grateful He pulls me in close!
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I’m working on memorizing it, and I keep noticing all the different ways he stresses his eyewitness status within the text.
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I’m so thankful for the treasury of God’s Word. We can never exhaust it no matter how often we read it.
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I find that to be so true, especially when I return to a portion of scripture I would have considered “familiar!”
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Such a good reminder that “Every encouraging truth from the Bible, every answered prayer, and even the comfort we experience in hard times–every encounter with God’s voice is a manifestation for the benefit of someone who also needs to hear, see with their eyes, look upon, and handle the Word of Life.” Thank you for your insights! And the reminder of fresh-mown hay!!
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Kathy, I love hearing from you because you help me to realize how contextualized my posts are to this country hill in Maine where I live.
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I believe we can better discern the voice of God when we are open to the myriad of unconventional ways he speaks to us. Yes, God speaks to me through his word, however, I also hear his voice through others, on social media, in a blog, a book, or even a podcast. There’s no limit to the ways he speaks to us.
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So true that God is not limited, and maybe someday, I’ll even get a sky written answer to prayer.
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“God could have loved us from a distance.” I’m so glad He didn’t, Michele, and that He makes Himself known to us in all the ways you describe. He gives us ample opportunity to catch and spread that “good infection” that C.S. Lewis talks about, doesn’t He?
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Oooh, great Lewisiana!!
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Great post! You make a good point that just because we can’t physically hear God’s voice doesn’t mean he isn’t speaking to us!
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So much has been written about the silence of God and it takes a lot of patience to wait out the dry seasons. Even so, I think much of the time, the break down of communication is in my court.
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Michele, how essential it is to listen to God, to listen for His voice. This is the third post I’ve read today about listening . . . maybe I need to work on this skill more? 🙂
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I sure do…
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The busier we get , the less we can hear ANYONE, but especially God’s voice.
I will admit that I need to slow down and listen. So many internal pressures push us to solve our problems alone. I know that I’m always glad when I do stop and tune back in.
Thanks for posting this.
Blessings,
Laurie
Please come share your thoughts today they Sunday on our Homestead Blog Hop if you haven’t already! Others need to hear your thoughts too!
https://www.ridgehavenhomestead.com/category/homestead-blog-hop/
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Thanks for the invitation, Laurie, and for the honest assessment that applies to so many of us!
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His sheep hear His voice. Baaaa…. I hear and I listen! SS ♥
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A good sheep follows the Good Shepherd!
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What a lovely post, Michele. May I be ever more attuned to His voice despite the clamor.
Blessings,
tammy
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There is so much competition for our attention. You are wise to be paying attention to that conflict of interest!
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This is great. So many now are searching for God’s voice in their feelings or other’s teachings and opinions. We need to get back to the source.
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Oh, so well said! Yes, he is willing to speak directly to each believer, with no intermediary needed!
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We must always take the time to listen to hear the voice of HIM. Thank you for linking up.
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[…] Morin encouraged me this week with How’s Your Hearing These Days? Can You Discern the Voice of God? So many people today are searching for God in their feelings or others’ teachings and […]
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