Daily Devotional November 19 - I can't hear the voice of God. What should I do?

"In the beginning God..." Genesis 1:1a "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." Hebrews 1:1-2  "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me." John 15:26

God spoke
Jesus spoke
The Holy Spirit speaks

All of the words from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were written down by men of God, inspired to transcribe the mind of God to the written Word. Don't get caught up in the 'my version is better than your version battle.' There are a few really poor translations and they should be avoided, but overall the message of the voice of God has been preserved intact. Only those looking for loopholes to escape the truth of God's Holy Word are arguing that the Bible is full of flaws and mistakes. Your Bible is God's Word to you.

Today, God speaks to you directly through the Bible and through the indwelling Holy Spirit. You need to utilize both forms of communication to have unencumbered access to the throne of God and for God to be able to reach your inner man. When you read the Word of God, the Word enters through your mind and settles in your inner man. When you speak to the Holy Spirit you speak directly to God, but you don't need to speak out audibly, because the Holy Spirit can hear you clearly within.

All that set aside, when God speaks to you it can be through several avenues:
God can speak to you through the Bible.
God can speak to you through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
God can speak to you through nature.
God can speak to you through dreams and visions.
God can speak to you through your pastor.
God can speak to you through your spouse, children, friends, co-workers, anyone in whom God trusts to carry the message.

That being said, I have found that many people say they do not hear the voice of God. I truly understand the comment. There are times when you just cannot hear the voice of God. There are times when it seems like ages when it seems as if there is no movement in the spiritual realm on my behalf. There are moments when we feel empty or abandoned. These are normal emotions. Please don't put someone down because they are having a hard time hearing the voice of God. And don't be too hard on yourself when you are going through a dry spell.

But even when you are not recognizing that God is speaking to you and in you, God is doing what God does, 24/7. Even if you can't hear the voice of God and even if you feel alone or even if you feel abandoned, that's not what is really happening. Remember the poem, usually accompanied by a picture on a plaque where it shows footprints in the sand and the poem goes on to show how God was carrying you through when you thought He wasn't even there. That's the way it really is. God is continually speaking and working in your life through His Word, the Holy Spirit, your family, friends, co-workers, people you don't even know, nature, your pastor, through dreams and visions and many other ways also.

What I have found is that maybe I should be a little more attentive when my daughter speaks to me, or my son or my parents, or a friend. Maybe I should be a little more attentive to my surroundings and the beauty of nature. Maybe I should go to church with a deep, abiding respect for my pastor, expecting to hear from God through him/her. Your perspective and attitude does play a role in what can enter and stick in your heart. If all you see is the futility around you it's not because God has let you down. Learn to adjust your thinking so that all that is available to you is able to get into you. It might take a little unlearning to make this happen.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find it; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8