Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Hearing God's Voice?

Wow, it's been a loooooooong time since I blogged!  This morning I was looking online for a photo of Beth Moore (ok, in the interest of full disclosure, it was for my Instagram #wcw ... I do love me some Beth Moore teaching and I think she's super stylish!)    In my searching, I happened upon a blog by a woman who disagreed with Mrs. Moore's statements that she's "heard God's voice" and went on to condemn her for being a "false teacher" because she claims to have heard from God directly.  Of course, the writer also used the most unflattering picture of Moore she could find to hammer home the point...  *smh*


The author of this blog used examples from Moore's teachings: 
God spoke to my heart one Saturday morning while I was preparing for Sunday school: "My child, in between more intense rests, I want to teach you to take Sabbath moments."

"I’m gonna tell you something right now, Beth, and boy you write this one down, and you say it as often as I give you utterance to say it . . ." 

I remember being a "baby" Christian and wondering about people who "heard God".  I wondered if I would ever have that type of relationship, that I would be able to hear His voice as clearly as my own.  Frankly, I never thought it would happen and I kinda thought those who said they heard from Him were possibly ...(whispering) *a little on the crazy side*. 

Then it happened.  When my then-boyfriend/now-husband had a massive heart attack at age 37.  I was at the hospital in the middle of the night, waiting alone in a little - very cold - room outside the cath lab for the doctor to come tell me what was going on.  I was shaking and crying and praying "Please don't let him die. Please don't let him die." over and over and over again.  I remember it being SO COLD in that little room!  After a few minutes, as I sat there with my head in my hands, rocking back and forth and praying - I felt what I can only describe as the warmest blanket being wrapped around my shoulders and a voice saying "It's not his time."

I was startled. I jerked my head up, looked around, and saw the empty room. I got up and walked to the door, looked up and down the deserted hallway....no one was there.  I had just heard - and felt - God.  I'm as sure of this as I am that I have 10 fingers and 10 toes.  No one will ever convince me that it was anything less than God speaking to me, and it brought a comfort that I can't put into words.

My question is: why is it so hard for someone to believe that this happens?  Especially a person who, like this blogger, says that they are a devout Christian who studies the Bible regularly?  John 10:27-28 ESV says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them..."  I believe this verse is as true today as it was in Biblical times, when Jesus himself spoke to the disciples and the crowds in His human body. 

Since that moment 12 years ago when I heard God speak in the hospital, I've felt/heard Him speak many more times on various situations in my life.  I think the thing that separates those who hear God and those who don't is a FAITH that He can and will speak to us - if only we will listen. 

What do you think?  Have you heard God's voice in your own life?  Or do you think those who do are faking it and are "false teachers"?