Knowing His voice - recognizing His voice, hearing His voice
We all have a “voice”. In one of my “earlier lives” (just kidding), I used to teach English. One of the topics we used to teach was “voice”. Not the voice that we would normally think of but that of the written voice - whether or not we realize it, we each have a very distinctive way of putting words together, written words, as Wikipedia states, “Writer's voice is a literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author.” An author’s voice or individual writing style is so distinctive that often it is possible to recognize the writer without their identifying themselves.
Just heard this morning of a report that a person was convicted of murder even though there was a suicide note left by the victim on his computer. It was able to be proven that the victim did not write the note and, more than that, proven that one of his roommates had written it –all from comparing the two people’s way of writing, of written expression, of their “voice”.
That made me think of the expression we hear so often, “hearing God’s voice.” In John 10, part of verse 4, “ and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”
Voice in the strict sense of the English language (grammar) does not have to mean audible sound, but can also mean written expression, one’s particular writing style. Most of us have not heard God’s audible voice but we do, with the help of the Holy Spirit, recognize His voice.
Over the past year and a bit, as brother Randall and I have been writing blog entries, and some friends and others we do not know, have been commenting, it has made me realize that for the most part, I would be able to recognize the authors of the comments without their names being attached. Also I’m sure our readers can distinguish Randall’s entries (so thoughtful and interesting) from mine, even without our authorship attached.
In fact, after seeing my friends’ writings over the past months, and them mine, I think it would be hard for us to fool each other in who is the author. After a short time of reading any person’s writings, I think we would be able to recognize their, even unsigned, writings.
If we can recognize each other’s “voice” (written expression), it would not be very hard to believe that we can recognize His voice. We “hear” each other, when we read each other’s writings.
We receive blessings and encouragements from each other’s writings, each other’s voice - how much more we can also receive blessings from “hearing” His voice.
In my earlier years, I could never really understand the phrase that I had heard that the “Word of God is His love letters to us.” But about 20 years ago I was away from the area for a year and at first, I got lots of letters from my parents and friends. But as the time went on, the letters became fewer. I found myself, when I was a little homesick, getting out the old letters and rereading them. It didn’t matter that I knew what was in them; they made me feel connected and less lonely. One day suddenly I realized what God’s Word is to me - truly His love letters to me. It’s funny how that works, how we, all of a sudden, get it!
What a blessing it is to hear His voice. Most of the tenth chapter of John’s gospel talks about His sheep, hearing His voice, and being led by His voice. Very comforting part of His love letters to us, vs. 3, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out”; vs. 4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” and again in verse 27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
What a blessing it is to recognize His voice and follow Him. As we read His Word, we “hear His voice.” I pray that I will always recognize His “voice”; it is as easy as my recognizing the “voice” of my friends . . . in their writings.
Submitted by Naida
We all have a “voice”. In one of my “earlier lives” (just kidding), I used to teach English. One of the topics we used to teach was “voice”. Not the voice that we would normally think of but that of the written voice - whether or not we realize it, we each have a very distinctive way of putting words together, written words, as Wikipedia states, “Writer's voice is a literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author.” An author’s voice or individual writing style is so distinctive that often it is possible to recognize the writer without their identifying themselves.
Just heard this morning of a report that a person was convicted of murder even though there was a suicide note left by the victim on his computer. It was able to be proven that the victim did not write the note and, more than that, proven that one of his roommates had written it –all from comparing the two people’s way of writing, of written expression, of their “voice”.
That made me think of the expression we hear so often, “hearing God’s voice.” In John 10, part of verse 4, “ and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”
Voice in the strict sense of the English language (grammar) does not have to mean audible sound, but can also mean written expression, one’s particular writing style. Most of us have not heard God’s audible voice but we do, with the help of the Holy Spirit, recognize His voice.
Over the past year and a bit, as brother Randall and I have been writing blog entries, and some friends and others we do not know, have been commenting, it has made me realize that for the most part, I would be able to recognize the authors of the comments without their names being attached. Also I’m sure our readers can distinguish Randall’s entries (so thoughtful and interesting) from mine, even without our authorship attached.
In fact, after seeing my friends’ writings over the past months, and them mine, I think it would be hard for us to fool each other in who is the author. After a short time of reading any person’s writings, I think we would be able to recognize their, even unsigned, writings.
If we can recognize each other’s “voice” (written expression), it would not be very hard to believe that we can recognize His voice. We “hear” each other, when we read each other’s writings.
We receive blessings and encouragements from each other’s writings, each other’s voice - how much more we can also receive blessings from “hearing” His voice.
In my earlier years, I could never really understand the phrase that I had heard that the “Word of God is His love letters to us.” But about 20 years ago I was away from the area for a year and at first, I got lots of letters from my parents and friends. But as the time went on, the letters became fewer. I found myself, when I was a little homesick, getting out the old letters and rereading them. It didn’t matter that I knew what was in them; they made me feel connected and less lonely. One day suddenly I realized what God’s Word is to me - truly His love letters to me. It’s funny how that works, how we, all of a sudden, get it!
What a blessing it is to hear His voice. Most of the tenth chapter of John’s gospel talks about His sheep, hearing His voice, and being led by His voice. Very comforting part of His love letters to us, vs. 3, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out”; vs. 4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” and again in verse 27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
What a blessing it is to recognize His voice and follow Him. As we read His Word, we “hear His voice.” I pray that I will always recognize His “voice”; it is as easy as my recognizing the “voice” of my friends . . . in their writings.
Submitted by Naida
posted by Randall | 8:10 p.m.
3 Comments:
Hi Naida
When you are talking about recognizing His voice,it makes me
think about when I am reading His
word and all of a sudden something
that you read many times before,
becomes so clear that you wonder
why you never seen it before.It is as if someone just told you what it means.We may not hear His voice
with our ears,but we can with our
hearts.When the spirit speaks to you ,you can not help but be touched.It is a blessing that we all can and should have every day.
C.M.
Not that often I get to comment on a blog(hint,hint)so I am happy when my blogging sister posts one.One thing I have appreciated is that she sees the flip side of the proverbial coin and provides a balance to an otherwise one-sided thought process. She has given credibility to the blog. So here's my comment. You are so correct that our writing voice is our signature; I think I recognize "anonymous" most times and it is not the same person each time. Our lives are known and read as it were of all men whether or not we identify ourselves. I think the police call it an "M.O."
Your absolutely correct
We do recognize people by their writing .
We know even though different men wrote the bible it is GOD’s voice we hear when we read it.
Coffee
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