If you do all the talking, how can you ever hear God’s voice?
A small plane was carrying passengers to an out of the way vacation spot. All of a sudden, the plane entered a cloud bank, where the pilot got sick and could no longer fly the plane.
The pilot then told the person in the co-pilot’s seat to take over. Sheer panic ensued. The new “pilot”, though extremely nervous, got on the mike only to be rebuked, “Who is this? Don’t you know anything about microphone etiquette and protocols?
“Nope, never flown a plane either.” The experienced pilot quickly caught on and got the local airport tower’s controller on the call. Once on, the controller simply said, “Listen to my voice. Do what I say. And we’ll get you on the ground safely.”
As the flight continued, though, the new pilot started listening to and voicing his doubts. In a calm voice, the controller responded, “Just listen to my voice, mine only, and I’ll get you safely down.” He did and they did.
In this journey to allow God to change our lives, we will battle tremendous “head noise” or thoughts/voices that are contrary to the truths Jesus gives.
So, it is vital to do what Joshua did, “Think and ponder on God’s Word all the time – day and night – so you can be careful to follow what God says to do. When you do, you will be successful.” (Joshua 1:8 paraphrased)
The Father, the Son and the Spirit are One God, who always speak truth, and whose voice His children are to focus on, listen to and follow. Sometimes He will even speak directly to and give you specific instructions on what to do, just like that air traffic controller (Joshua 8:18; Acts 9:10-17).
The pilot didn’t see the controller. He only heard the controller’s voice. And as he followed the controller’s voice and instructions, he successfully landed the plane, even though he was “just” a passenger!
Are you open to hearing God’s voice, which will never contradict God’s written Word? Sometimes He will speak, if only we will be quiet to hear it, stay in the Word to recognize it and then faithfully follow it.