There’s a little place in the woods that I love to steal away to in the early morning hours. Where it is just God and I. No phone and sometimes not even a Bible. But no matter what, there are always some critters, dogs, squirrels or rabbits and always birds. One morning I was at this special place, but I wasn’t talking to God. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I needed to say. Sometimes I just don’t have words, but He knows my heart, sees my tears and sometimes that’s enough.
So, I was just being quiet and listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit. After a moment, I heard a crow as they come through occasionally and I just love to hear their call. As I was listening to the crow call to the others and hearing their answers, I immediately thanked God for my ability to hear them. And just like that my mind was shifted to Praise.
You see, I have very little natural hearing. In fact, I am profoundly deaf. But I have a hearing aid that magnifies what little I do have in one ear and an implant that provides mechanical hearing on the other side. Most of the time it’s too much sound. These devices can’t discern the tones of speech like normal hearing does, allowing you to hold conversations with people whose faces you can’t see. It magnifies everything. Jumbling it all up together unless I’m concentrating very hard. Most of the time, I can’t separate all those sounds. It is a deliberate effort to “hear”, and it can be overwhelming at times.
But in the stillness, in the quiet, individual sounds become clearer. I knew without a doubt that what I was hearing was a crow and I loved it, so I gave thanks. And then I realized that hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit works like those devices. In the noise of the world around me I must pay attention and concentrate if I want to discern His voice. But it’s in the stillness, in the quiet, in that secret place that His voice is loud and clear. There’s no mistaking it for anything else! Don’t neglect that quiet time friend. It will turn your turmoil into praise! “Thank You Lord for that reminder!” and He said, “write that.” So, I did.
(Psalm 27:8 NLT) My heart has heard you say, “come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
