Voice of God

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where they didn’t understand what you were saying? I know I have. It can be so frustrating. You know what is in your mind, and so the words that you say make perfect sense to you. So why the misunderstanding? In today’s passage, the apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth that only a person’s own spirit can know their thoughts. I think this is why it can be so difficult to explain our thoughts to another person. Human language can only convey our thoughts and intentions to a certain degree, which can lead to significant confusion.

The good news is, despite God’s thoughts being so beyond our own, we don’t have to be frustrated in our communication with him. We have been given the Holy Spirit, who reveals to us the things God has prepared for us. His message is made clear, not just in words, but in understanding. Whether we are seeking God’s direction in the lyrics for a song, his direction in a relationship, guidance in our choices, or even for the words to include in writing a devotional, we can trust that the Spirit of God knows exactly what God wants us to hear. And we can rest assured that the Spirit is with us, because Jesus promised that he would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to those who love and follow Jesus. What an incredible gift!

And even beyond our ability to hear and understand the mind and will of God, we are also told that the Spirit helps us and intercedes on our behalf to make our deepest thoughts and pleas known to the Father. Unlike that person who just can’t seem to understand what it is that you are trying to say, the Spirit always understands what you’re trying to communicate, even when you don’t.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for sending the Holy Spirit to me. You know my heart, my needs, and my deepest longings. Help me quiet my own thoughts and distractions so that I can listen to and hear your words and will for me. Pour out more of your Spirit in my life. Align my desires with your desires, and my thoughts with your thoughts. Show me the things in my life that quiet your voice in me, and give me the strength to walk away from them. I want to hear your voice, above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.