Truly God’s ways and thoughts are higher (Isaiah 55:9), yet He summons us to tap into what He is thinking and where He is leading us by telling us to meditate His Word and wait for the Holy Spirit to reveal them to us.  When He breathes in the word, it no longer stays as letters on the paper, but it becomes spirit and life that touches our hearts and changes our lives.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

When we believe what He speaks, it becomes reality to us, for us to step out in faith to explore and experience what He has spoken.

When Jesus came to His disciples walking on the sea unrecognized and thought of as a ghost, the disciples hearts were troubled.  But immediately He SPOKE and said, “Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27).  The word may not mention if their hearts became peaceful when they heard and recognized Him or not, but SURELY PEACE must have reigned in them.

But Peter did not stop there while he SAW Jesus walking on the sea.  He pressed on further.  He said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water.”  So Jesus said, “Come!” (Matthew 14:29)

At His word, it became a reality to Peter.  His word triggered Peter’s faith and he responded by coming down out of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus.

While walking, Peter got distracted by the NOISE of the wind and the waves and SAW that it was boisterous. As the NOISE grew louder inside him, the VOICE of Jesus that said, “COME!”, that he once heard just a few minutes ago became softer and fader until the NOISE of the wind that he HEARD and the waves that he SAW became more of a reality to him.  Then, fear gripped his heart and he began to sink.

Our life’s challenges are the NOISE that distract our closeness and intimacy with Jesus. The enemy knows it too well that when we come to HEAR the VOICE of Jesus, be it audible or a still small voice, he does not stand a chance. This is the reason why he is always on a lookout whom he can devour by taking our focus from hearing God’s voice into hearing and seeing our difficulty as our reality.  He keeps our focus on our inabilities and shortcomings that brings condemnation in our hearts.  He tries his best to hinder us from hearing and hearing the words of Jesus for it is where our faith comes.  He does everything he can to prevent us from being born again, knowing that when we become one, we shall SEE the Kingdom of God and render him powerless and defeated forever by the power of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Thus, His word says,  ^“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

There is always a fight of influence in our lives every single day. What catches our attention and dwell in it becomes our reality. This is why we are to meditate His word day and night that we get to be more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we hear, listen and obey HIS VOICE.  When His word becomes our reality, we walk in victory.

God is always summoning us to hear WHAT HE IS SPEAKING for when we hear HIS VOICE, there is an enabling power that is always attached to it. God will not call us to a place to do good works and leave us hanging.  When He calls us, He graces us with His power, strength and might because it is a part of His wonderful plan for us.  After all, He foreknew us before the foundation of time.

When He spoke to Peter, “Come!”, He already knew it beforehand.  Nothing catches Him by surprise.  He is our ALL-KNOWING God.  He knows the end from the beginning.  He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  And the beauty and security of our journey with Him is that He promised these words to us.

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC)

I love the MSG Paraphrase of this verse:  “I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING.  I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

Learn to be still because it is in the stillness of our hearts is where we get to hear Him speak crisp and clear.

Learn to get into His Word and KNOW WHO JESUS IS, WHAT HE HAS DONE, WHOSE WE ARE and WHO WE ARE IN HIM.  Knowing our identity in Christ as our Daddy God’s beloved and the best friend of Holy Spirit, who can come against us?

As we meditate His word daily, we are turning up the volume of His VOICE and silencing the NOISE of the enemy.  Then, we get to BE STILL and KNOW that HE IS GOD!

Learn to dwell in the secret place of the Most High God where ONLY HIS VOICE is heard. This is His dedicated assigned frequency and His designated lifeline for us to enjoy.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!”  (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for thinking of me before the foundation of time. Thank You for choosing me to be conformed into the image of Your Son, Jesus, and calling me to a wonderful destiny that I may live a good life that you have prearranged and made ready for me.  Jesus, thank You for being my Good Shepherd Who laid Your life down that I may have life and have it more abundantly.  Thank You for anointing my ears to hear Your voice, my eyes that I may see You face to face and my heart that it will beat in rhythm like Yours.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for revealing to me ALL TRUTH about Who Daddy God is, what Jesus has accomplished at the cross, whose I am and who I am in Christ.  Truly, when my identity in Christ is established, victory is always at hand.  Amen!