Have you ever noticed the peculiar ability we have to recognize voices of our family, even in a crowd? As a mother, I could always distinguish when it was my child hollering “Mama.” Even now, when my children are grown, my heart beats faster when I hear either of my sons’ voices. It’s as if my heart is reaching out to connect to them. So it was especially neat when, one Saturday at the soccer field as he was at goalie position, I saw our grandson Judah jerk his head around as his dad spoke from the sidelines.  In the midst of all the shouting and general noise of the soccer field, I knew that Judah had recognized his Daddy’s voice and perked up to hear what he had to say.

I believe that typically it takes extensive familiarity for this phenomenon to occur.  With our families, we have lived together for some time and are used to the conversation and all the various tones of our voices. These voices become ingrained in us even when we are apart.  It’s like being on the same frequency, and it’s certainly a special bond.

I believe that it’s also like that with our Heavenly Father, when we know him and are attuned to Him.

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy”(Psalm 11:1). David is offering a song of thanksgiving following a dark time in his life. (Verse 6 of this Psalm reads: “I was facing death, and he saved me,” and verse 17 reads, “I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.”) In Psalm 66:19, David claimed “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” David knew that God not only heard, but he attended, or acted upon, David’s prayer according to his will.

David knew that the Lord would hear his voice when he called out to him, just like my children did when they realized they needed something and cried out for their mama or daddy.  Even in the clamor of crowds, God can distinguish our cries from the multitude when we call upon Him according to His will.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I pray you will find comfort in that fact, as expressed in these verses:

1 Peter 3:12a “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.”

1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

First John 5:15 “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

And just as God hears us when we call out to him, He wants us to hear him. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Next week we will explore how we can best hear God’s voice and make that communication two-way. Meanwhile, continue to call out to Jesus because He hears your voice and will answer your prayers.

In Christ,

Judy