Morning Devotionals
by Don Emmitte
 
April 22nd, 2008

 

"The Sound of God's Voice (Part 4)"
Home

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV).

 

I love this passage today. While it is centrally about the time of the Second Coming, it also has bearing on our study in recognizing the voice of God. We have already seen that God's voice is clear and specific. The third principle is that God is not in a hurry. I have learned through the years that God rarely runs, He walks. And like Enoch who "walked with God" (cf. Genesis 5:22), He invites us to walk along with Him.

 

God also has been described as a "slow and certain light." If we're in a hurry to do what we think He's telling us, we need to check our sources. God may quietly urge us along, but He doesn't cause compulsiveness. This behavior emerges from fleshly desires or devilish influences. If we're intent on doing something "this minute, and I'm not willing to wait," unless it's a true emergency, the voice we're listening to probably isn't God's. A general rule of thumb is this: God prompts, but the devil pushes.

 

On the other hand, there are times God asks us to operate quickly. But these are still acts of obedience, not obsessiveness. Many Christians tell stories of waiting on God for an extended time, asking Him to move His hand or reveal His will. Then, from what seems like out of nowhere, God acts, and they scramble to follow. Note, however, that these incidences occur after a preamble of waiting on the Lord.

 

I like the way G. Campbell Morgan has put it: “Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.” Is that the kind of waiting you practice? If you want to hear the voice of God, it should be!