Listening to God
The Lord desires to speak to you and to me…..
Knowing Jesus’ voice:
“But as it is, My Kingdom is not here. So, Pilate said to Him, Then, you are a king?’ Jesus answered. ‘You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth, EVERYONE who belongs to the truth listens to My Voice” John 18:36-37.
“The gatekeeper (shepherd) opens it (the gate) for him and the sheep hear His Voice, as He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has driven out all His own, He walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him, because they recognize His Voice” John 10:3-4
“I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief (the devil) comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11
“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father, and I will lay down My Life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to the fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear My voice and there will be one flock, one Shepherd.” John 10:14-16
“This is why the Father loves Me, because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE IN ORDER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN.” John 10:17
“My sheep hear My Voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of My Hand. My Father Who has given them to Me is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s Hand. The Father and I are One.” John 10:27-30
“And no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3
“Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10. The spirit of prophecy: as the prophets were inspired to proclaim God’s Word, so the Christian is called to give witness to the Word of God made flesh.
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From my own personal experience, Jesus first came hidden in “my own voice”. As I began to “know of His Presence in my voice”, He then let me hear His Distinct Voice. It is similar to praying before the Blessed Sacrament – you slowly learn His Presence and then you recognize Him in a deeper way of knowing. Sometimes, the Lord might “infuse” or place within your heart or mind understanding or knowledge, which then, you will need to “put into your words”. Remember He is not just limited to words.
He always desires to speak to each of us… HE IS THE VERY WORD OF GOD John 1:1
When the Lord “speaks”, remember He is not just limited to words. The following may be evident:
A knowing in your heart-sometimes He will speak softly and gently, giving direction or encouragement, John 10:3-4
A message to be shared-sometimes He speaks words not familiar to you or not common to your vocabulary. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5
Peace-comes to abide in your soul. John 14:27
Assurance of His Presence-Isaiah 30:15
A Light for the darkness John 12:13
Clarity-Always will Jesus speak clearly. 2 Corinthians 1:19-22
Unity of mind and heart. Proverbs 3:5-6
God’s exhortation to Christian virtue & apostolic witness 2 Peter 3:21
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Other voices can taint our lives by bringing the darkness and the effects of the other side-opposing the kingdom of God. When there is: doubt, confusion, a worldy peace, solutions but with them will also come condemnation, unhealthy guilt anxiousness or restlessness, discouragement or depression, conflict, no peace, deception and untruths, you are being tempted by the evil one.
Immediately, call upon Jesus and your guardian angel or the Blessed Mother or your favorite saints to assist you in this moment of trial or temptation.
Remember to always pray for your graces to live in the present moment. The devil can only tempt you “out of the present moment” to have his way; he deceives us; for he is incapable of being in the present moment with God.