Good morning.
In a recent survey by the Barna Group, a highly respected national organization tasked with surveys and polls which are most often directed towards people and issues of faith, the following question was asked: “Have you experienced what you believe to be a voice or voices speaking to you ‘in your head?’” In their survey, they posed this question to Christians, to non-Christians of various religious faiths, and to those identifying as agnostic or atheists. What the survey told them was that an extremely high percentage of people from all of the categories mentioned answered “yes”. Some said that they were alarmed and concerned when this happened. Others passed it off as unimportant. Some, especially those from the categories which included people of faith, said that it was concerning but that they believed they were receiving direction from a spiritual source. There were times when they believed it was the voice of God and there were times that they believed it was a voice with a demonic source. Those who answered in that way made it clear that understanding the origin of the voice was of critical importance.
Genuine schizophrenia is a rare mental disorder, so if hearing such voices is not indicative of poor mental health, what could it be? There are many answers to that question, but it seems reasonable for people of faith to consider if those voices of direction might have a spiritual source.
I have referred to this scripture at different times, but please consider 1 Kings 19:11-13 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
If God were to speak to you today, how would you expect to hear His voice? Are you of the belief that in this modern age God limits His communication with us to the written Word of God? If you are open to the idea that God does, when it is in keeping with His will, speak to people through the inner voice of conscience, how would you recognize that it is His voice speaking?
Does God speak to you through the whispering voice of a loved one? Does God speak to you through the antics and squeals of joy voiced by a small child? Does God speak to you through a Christian brother or sister whose words could be taken as critical? Does God speak to you through sermon messages, Christian music, joyful fellowship, friendly discourse within your Christian family, and various other means that are a part of your regular Christian life and experience? I would hope so!
Does that communication rule out that God may choose from time to time to speak to you more directly, with a voice that is usually called “conscience”? However He chooses to speak, may we all listen for and to the voice of God.
