Confess it!

I hear the voice of God!

I hear the voice of God!

Notice how I say that without any reservation. “I hear the voice of God,” I say. Notice how I freely tell others. In no way are these declarations meant to cause others to feel less obliged or less privileged. It is simply part of the process. See my beaming confidence when the words pour out of my mouth, “I hear the voice of God.” There is no apology to announce in it, only sheer exultation, sincere rejoicing. This knowing was not always so very confident and sure. It is a process, a process involving faith, love and confession. The process actively uses faith in God’s Word and his promises to his people. It also works best with a longing for God and an ever growing love for Him. However confession cannot be dismissed in this endeavor. Confession plays a huge role in the success of this journey. So may I have the honor and pleasure to introduce you to this process with assurance that you will find yourself closer than ever before to His voice. I am quite certain that many of you will find just what God desires for you – His voice. Although time will tell when God’s plan of introduction will appear, you will undoubtedly come closer to Him by leaps and bounds.


I know we started with an investigation of Hebrews 4:16 and approaching the throne of grace to further improve our prayer life. Although this study seems to have turned down a side road momentarily, it will only bring us back to our approach of the throne of grace in confidence, more confidence than we assumed possible. Learning and seeking the voice of God is a great and admirable choice in our Christian walk. Never dismiss it as too spiritual or unlikely for everyone.


Let’s say you earnestly seek God’s voice through learning His Word, listening and loving Him, yet never hear it. Look at all you gain. You gain time in His presence, His Word and His love. This one, purely human like you, does not feel that would be the case. I believe that a true heart seeking the voice of God will hear it one way or another. I feel maybe we all lack the ability to hear with Spiritual ears, and that is what possibly inhibits the voice to be heard.


Let me start with my own confession for you, lovely ladies of God.
May God circle you in his presence and overpowering love that you may have no doubt or disbelief in his love and desire for you to hear his voice. Let this lesson touch our spirits and open our spiritual ears continually. I will boldly go a step beyond my confession of “I hear the voice of God” to say, “We hear the voice of God.” 


Remember I said this process involves faith, love and confession. We are going to start with the latter of the three. Sounds a bit backward but will become clear later.


Confession.
Confess – to admit or acknowledge
Confession comes from your mouth in the form of words. Confession is spoken. It is said aloud. Let’s look at two scriptures concerning this.


Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.


Pleasing words are sweet to the soul and healing (health) to the bones. Pleasant, positive words can benefit you greatly according to God’s Word. It says it right here in the Bible. Pleasant words benefit your soul and body. They bring sweetness to your soul. Oh my how fantastic is that! And my words bring health to my bones, my body (all the way thru to my bones.) Wow! This is God’s words to us. He is trying to urge us to carefully select the words that stream out. Our confessions can give us absolute goodness – health to our body and soul. Do you truly believe in the Word of God? Then please, please don’t dismiss this verse as a simple proverb, one of many. It is God’s Word meant to be obeyed and taken advantage of in its reward.


Now let’s look at another verse regarding our confessions and words.


Jeremiah 23:36 (KJV) And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden.


Jeremiah 23:36 (NIV) But you must not mention 'the oracle of the LORD ' again, because every man's own word becomes his oracle


Oracle means “utterance” or “burden” here. For every man’s word shall be his burden. Did you catch that? Every man’s (and woman’s) word shall be his burden, his difficulty or his inconvenience. Your very words could be the cause of your burdens in life. Your words can be the cause of your trouble. I know we could easily take this verse alone into a deep study of the power of words and confession, but I will contain myself in that desire for now. I want to concentrate on the task at hand: hearing the voice of God. This is too thrilling and vital to stray from.


What do these two verses tell about your confessions? Your words can cause health to your soul and body as well as become your burden and trouble. That is powerful. Why we use words like breathing air! We mutter anything that springs to mind most of the time. Even in attempts to watch what slips out, the mouth can still follow the determination of a thought to declare itself, whether good or bad. It is indeed a challenge for the flesh to restrain itself from expressing just what it wants. So this truly is a powerful subject. Uh oh, did I start to stray again. I guess this will be another study or maybe a book someday. How does this affect our ability to hear the voice of God? If you believe that God wants you to hear His voice, it plays a huge role in it.


In John 10:27 Jesus said:


“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” KJV
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” NIV


Christians are the sheep. Jesus is the shepherd. Jesus plainly says here that Christians (his sheep) hear his voice. NIV says that Christians listen to his voice. You can’t listen to something that is not there. We (believers) hear his voice. That is all there is to it.


What are you confessing regarding hearing the voice of God in your life? Have you ever confessed with that powerful tool of yours –the mouth- that you can hear the voice of God? Have you ever confessed this verse from the Word of God? Really have you ever, even once, confessed that you can and will hear the voice of God? If not, why not?


Have you ever confessed other scripture for yourself? Have you ever confessed that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you in the middle of a weak time in life? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13. I have confessed many times that verse when it did not appear that I was strong in Christ. It did not feel like I was strong in Christ, but I confessed it anyway because it is a promise in the Word of God. You actually confess a lot of things before they actually can be seen in the physical. You don’t hesitate to say this is going to be a great day before it has actually begun. You can’t know for sure it is going to be a great day. That is your hope and expectation based on the events coming. But circumstances cause changes in our day constantly. However you do not hold back stating your hopeful expectation for the day even though you well know it is not a sure thing.


Let’s not hesitate to say “I hear the voice of God.” So let’s not be reluctant to say what we desire. Do you want to hear the voice of God to give you clarity in his will for your life and guide you along the way? Do you want to hear his voice to enjoy a closer relationship with your Father? Do you want to hear his voice so that your faith grows so strong nothing can dissuade you in God’s power? Then what are you waiting for ladies? Start confessing the desires of your heart, those that God promises you. “My sheep hear my voice,” says the Word of God. We are his sheep. We hear his voice.


Let’s simply start in John 10:27. Again John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice.” This is Jesus speaking. In John 10:11 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” In John 10:30 Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Therefore we know that Jesus is our good shepherd. We are his sheep and we hear his voice. God the Father and Jesus are one. We hear the voice of God.


Confess with your mouth. Say, “I am God’s sheep. I hear the voice of God.” I don’t care if you hear the voice of God now or not. Confess it. This is the beginning of our process. Why start at “faith” when “confession” can create and develop faith? Or at least spur it on.


The voice of God is very close. It comes closer and closer the more we talk about it, the more we learn about it and the more we seek it. I will just continue in hope and resolving my faith that you will hear His voice one day soon. Start with confession this week. Remember words are health to the soul and body or can be a burden. Let your confessions bring not the burden that you will never hear the voice of God. Let them bring sweet assurance that you will hear His voice.


“I hear His voice.” This is your confession. Use it often so that you may find his voice in the strength of your words.


A personal piece on the subject:
When I did begin to hear God’s voice I did not often confess it to be true either to myself or others. However as time passed and the voice became certain to me, I did share this information more. So it turns out the more often I confessed to myself and a couple of my faithful friends, the more I heard Him. Confessions of the truth in God will bring out powerful results. Take this step in faith. Trust God. Begin confession if to no one else: yourself. Start as your day starts, first thing in the morning. Wake up to God’s beautiful day and say, “I am God’s sheep, and I hear his voice.” It is that easy! Say it throughout your day. Before you know it your faith will increase to a point that your spirit will begin to convince your mind that you can hear the voice of God. Then you are just a few steps from spending time with God and hearing his voice directed to you.

I love you all.
Truly