Anne Neilson's Christmas Angels: A 5-Day Plan to Focus Your Heart for ChristmasSample

Still, Small Voice

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

Did you know that a baby can pick out the sound of its mother’s voice in a crowded room of women speaking at the same time?6 Similarly, sheep know the sound of their shepherd, and they will follow only his commands. Imagine the hum of your shepherd’s voice echoing over the sound of hundreds of bleating members of the flock.

It can be difficult to hear God’s voice in our busy world and during a chaotic season. It’s easy to miss the divinely appointed words the Creator is uttering to you and for you—whether in a still, small whisper, in a thundering shout, or through the words of a close confidant.

I am reminded of a day when I heard the Lord speak so clearly. I was at the beach sitting in the surf and praying when I heard, What do you want? What do you want in a husband? Undoubtedly, those questions were being asked by God.

I had been on only ten dates with my then future husband. Several months before, I had asked the Lord to forgive me for taking charge of my life, and I’d surrendered to His will for me. I desperately wanted to be married and have children. I was approaching thirty, and time was ticking. How refreshing to hear Him asking me to tell Him my heart’s desires! When I paused to hear from Him and then reply to Him, He heard me and answered with a proposal soon after—and now my house is full of four children.

If we strip away the white noise clogging our ears, we can hear the voice of God that has been imprinted on our hearts from our first breath. After all, He created our hearts to beat and our lungs to breathe. His voice isn’t unfamiliar; it’s in our DNA, but only when we pause and seek His voice will we hear it.

Dear Lord,

Quiet my soul today so I can hear Your still, small voice. The world can get extra loud these days, and throughout this Christmas season, I pray that there would be moments when I hear Your voice and not the voice of the world. Thank You that You would interrupt the busy moments throughout my day to redirect my focus to the true meaning of this Christmas season: Your Son, Jesus, who was born but ultimately died for me.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

If this plan has encouraged you to slow down and reflect on the wonder of the Savior’s birth, we invite you to continue the journey with Anne Neilson’s Christmas Angels. This beautiful Advent devotional pairs Anne’s breathtaking angel art with Scripture, prayers, and reflections designed to deepen your experience of hope, peace, joy, and love throughout the season.

Discover more here.

6. Kate Fehlhaber, “How Babies Know Their Mother’s Voice—Even in the Womb,” New York Post, October 23, 2016, https://nypost.com/2016/10/23/how-babies-know-their-mothers-voice-even-in-the-womb/.