2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 1:18-20, Romans 10:9-11, Romans 10:13, Psalm 119:105

Suzie Brock

The other day while doing my grocery shopping, I was busy grabbing goodie's off the shelves fulfilling my grocery list with my usual two handed fervor. All the while talking away to my daughter on the phone without having to crick my neck while balancing my mobile precariously between head and shoulder. The wonders of technology I thought to myself, I for one not only want to thank profusely the individual who came up with cell phones, but also the genius who invented hands free'! How awesome is it that I can clean the house, do my gardening, prepare a meal, and oh yea, drive, all the while chatting away to the people I love. Never again to be tied to a cord or subject to shoulder-neck pain from trying to free a hand while talking.

Crazy if you think about it. There I am, walking around a grocery store with my daughters audible voice in my ear, and not a recording but live as she speaks!! I can be thousands and thousands of miles away from her and still I can hear her sweet voice in my ear and not another soul would hear it at that moment, or even have a clue that I was speaking with her!

Yet ....there are those that still struggle with the possibilities of God being able to speak to an individual. Why? If man could manage to figure out a way to put my daughters voice in my ear, do you think maybe God might be able to accomplish the same task?

Seriously, why is it that people struggle so immensely with God's abilities, God's 'technology? I for one have heard the voice of God countless times in my life. No, not the audible sound of it, although some would say they have, but I have most definitely heard Him. You can say that it's not possible, but I have heard Him. His voice has guided me, warned me, and comforted me on many occasions. When I chose to accept that God was real, that His son was in fact His son, and that He had died for me...something happened. On that day, newborn as I was, it was the beginning of communication with Him...like a baby, it was often misunderstood on my part, but it was for sure a start.

For 30 plus years I have been married to the same man. When my husband calls me on the phone (even without caller ID) if he even sneezes before speaking, I recognize it's him, I know the sound of the mans sneeze! Time spent with him, hearing his sneezing, sniffling, breathing, sighs, and oh yea, talking has caused my ears to be so familiar to his sound. I like that. And pretty much it has worked the same way over the years with God's voice. Although I am not yet as tuned in as I would like to be, I am definitely more familiar than I was. Chatting with God daily has really helped, but obviously if I were the one doing all the talking all the time, well I would then only know the sound of my own voice.

Once while teaching at a Christian school, a student came to me with a problem. He said "Mrs Brock you say that God talks to you, I never hear Him talk", without a moments hesitation I replied back "that's ok Jacob, He wrote it all down".

Eureka! That's it, it's all written down! He left us the 'handbook'. The more I read the more familiar I become with what His voice sounds like, I begin to 'recognize it!

I read somewhere that "B.I.B.L.E. stood for "Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth! Awesome, we have a manuel, we have a connection, full bars, I don't even have to stand outside in the rain looking for a better signal! Today, like a mobile, you can buy a Bible in all shapes and sizes, you can find a version, as there are many, that will bring a clear signal to you. Can't read, no problem you can get it on CD, tapes, put it on your ipod! No money? No problem, walk into any church, find any believer, tell them you need or want a Bible and I can almost guarantee they will find one for you. Should you stumble into a church that can't manage to give you one in your time of need...run, your in the wrong place! Number one best selling book of all time, they don't even bother to list it any more on the charts because it's a 'given'. People risk their very lives to smuggle it to those that don't have it. Why would anyone or any country ban a simple book if it had no power to influence. They're not smuggling in 'War and Peace" at least I don't think they're risking their lives to do so. There's a reason it's so popular, it has been guiding men women and children for years, inspiring hope, causing faith to grow, giving clear cut and precise direction, and helping us all to recognize the sound of His voice. I love it! I love it more than my mobile that allows me to hear the voices of those I love when they're far from me.

In my darkest hours, when fears and pressures have clouded my 'signal' and disabled me from hearing, I have had His voice at the end of my finger tips, within reach. I have been so changed by the availability of it that I carry it around with me, I even have it available on my phone. No, I'm not the crazy lady walking around with the 40 pound Bible, arrogantly slapping it down on the table at Starbucks demanding notice. Although, I am in no way ashamed that it is my favourite book, I just don't need to brake my back running around with a 40 pounder when they sell little ones, thin ones, pink pretty ones, camo ones, they even make them 'waterproof'!

Neither you nor I are sitting here on this earth without instructions or help, or the ability to hear God. We have no reason to flounder in desperation for God's voice or to wonder what his ways would be, or what He might say about this or that.

There are 31,103 verses in the Bible, all of them inspired by the Holy Spirit. 7,478 of them are direct promises with a resounding yes to those that love him. Yes, it's true that very often they are taken 'out of context', twisted to be used for selfish gain, abused to hurt and bring down others. But if you were to really read, really seek after, study and search for and desire the truth held in it, you would find the truth because it says you will. To meet the author of this book is to take the first steps to being able to hear the authors voice. Even the how to of that process is found clearly written as if God were speaking it aloud. The why, the who, the when and where of mankind's relationship with his creator, all contained in this masterpiece of writing. Forged by men inspired by God's Holy Spirit and driven by their love and knowledge of a living speaking God. Depth that is inexhaustible, to be studied for a lifetime yet never running out of the truths and treasures found in it, yet simple enough to be understood by the weakest of minds, and the youngest of hearts. Truth to keep you living in a lifetime of fullness. No need ever to worry if you could be one to hear His voice...after all...... He wrote it all down.

• "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
  2 Timothy 3:16-17
• "As surely as God is faithful, my word to you does not waver between "Yes" and "No". He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God's ultimate "Yes", He always does what He says. For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for His glory."
  2 Corinthians 1:18-20
• "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the scripture tells us, anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.
  Romans 10:9-11
• "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
  Romans 10:13
• "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
  Psalm 119:105