Jesus is called “The Word of God” (John 1:1). Adam and Eve heard “The voice of the Lord walking” in the Garden (Genesis 3:8). The Word walked among themfor fellowship. While the Bible is our primary source today for knowing God’s Word, we are also called to hear the voice of THE Word, Jesus, who said, "My sheep know my voice, and they follow me" (John 10:10). While His voice is not always audible, there are many ways He speaks to us. 

  In 1978, as a new Christian, I read Scripture, and the words came alive. The Holy Spirit lifted them off the page and revealed their truth to me. The Apostle Paul tells us to be “Renewed in the Spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23). The Holy Spirit replaces our concepts with the TRUTH, renewing the spirit of our mind with the life that is in His word (John 6:63). This anointed truth reveals Christ to us, the living Word of God, so that we may KNOW Him (Eph. 1:17).

    Later, thoughts came gently, like a cloud, drifting through my mind. These internal thoughts come as a still, small voice. I was talking to a friend when the thought came: “Fear of heights.” I asked him, “Are you afraid of heights?” He said yes, “Just climbing a ladder makes me fearful!” We asked the Lord to remove this fear, and He did. I have learned to pay attention to these “subtle thoughts” of the Spirit when they come.

       God has a heart, and His heart has a voice. In Jeremiah 24:7, God promises to give us a heart so we may KNOW HIM. We can all relate to someone whose heart has been transformed by salvation. The new heart we receive is for ongoing communication with our Creator so we may know His heart. Just as we desire to know another person’s heart, our heavenly Father desires a “heart-to-heart” relationship with us. 

      Often, I feel His love, passion, and desire for a specific person, reason, and purpose. As I align my heart with His, His heart’s voice leads me to fulfill His purpose. This was exemplified in the life of Jesus, who, in obedience, did His Father’s will, even if it meant going to the cross. Knowing God’s heart enables me to step out in faith to fulfill His will, not my own.

     Sometimes the Spirit opens my ears to hear His voice. He does this by anointing the sounds I hear, such as someone's words. By the anointing of the ear, Elijah told Ahab, “I hear the sound of abundant rain” (1 Kings 18:41). He may also speak to our spirit. I was watching the movie “The Prince of Persia,” about a homeless boy who caught the King’s eye. The King adopted him as his own son. In my spirit, it came to me, “Roy, once homeless, your Heavenly Father adopted you as His own son.” As a son of the King, healing came to my broken heart, and I wept.

     God also dwells in our emotions. I have found that His peace is also how the Spirit leads us. One day, I was leaving home to attend a ministry event as the guest speaker. Something didn’t feel quite right; the peace and joy I am familiar with were missing. I turned around and rescheduled the meeting. The next time, I left home in God’s timing. As a result, I went out with joy, rejoicing in His peace and basking in His presence. 

    “You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace…” (Isiah 55:12).

    Furthermore, King David knew that nature had a voice. In a Psalm that he gave to the chief musician to set to music, David stated: “The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament shows forth His handywork” (Psalm 19:1). How did David, in awe, perceive this insight? In another instance, when Elisha received Elijah's mantle, Elijah's anointing rested on him. As the sons of the prophets saw him, they said, “The Spirit of Elijah rests upon him” (2 Kings 2:15). How did they know this? I believe God opened their eyes to see the anointing resting on him—another way God communicates: through prophetic vision. 

      God’s voice was heard walking in the Garden. Today, as the temple of the Holy Spirit, His voice walks in His people. As 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

       You are the Garden of the Lord, a new Creation in Christ. With a new heart and a new Spirit, you have all that you need to hear His voice. As you walk through the day, He walks in you. Jesus admonished us, “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying” (Mark 4:23). Learn to be still within, and as you listen for His voice, He will share His heart with you. 

 In His heart with great joy – Roy