by Dr. Johnnie Blount
Something Speaks
There are moments in life that can only be explained by God. This is the story of a God who was present before I ever sought Him. It’s also an invitation for you to stop running from the same voice that has been following you your whole life.
I was too young to have theology, and too innocent to understand doctrine. But something spoke to me. The voice came quietly, and unmistakably. And something deep inside me knew that voice.
That is where my story begins. My relationship with the Lord started not in a church, and not in a revival. But in a yard, as a child, hearing a voice I wouldn’t have a name for until years later.
God was present and speaking to me before I knew Him. It’s the same voice that has been following you your whole life. Father is speaking, do you hear Him?
Everything Is Going To Be Okay
I still remember the day my mother gave birth to my sister, Gail. I was only two years old, too young to understand much of anything. I was outside in the yard playing when I heard her voice coming from inside the house. With it came something I couldn’t explain. I heard the Spirit of God say to me that she was going to be okay. I knew nothing about the Lord, religion, or church. Yet His presence was already upon my life.
Another time, it was cold, and I mean bitterly cold. We had no wood for the heater. I remember my mother and I were in the kitchen pulling planks from the wall to burn them just to stay warm. Again, I heard it — that same quiet voice: “Everything is going to be okay.”
Borrowing Hope From A Better Tomorrow
I could share many more stories like these. Throughout my childhood, I learned to escape the present by living in the future in my mind. I would travel in my imagination to ease the pain. Many times I would borrow hope from a better tomorrow just to make it through today.
Now, as I sit and reminisce, I can see clearly what I couldn’t see then: the Lord has always been with me. He has always made a way of escape. I know that I know, He is real. He is with you. If you will listen, He is also guiding you.
Over the years I have not always known what to do, but my foundation in the Word of God, and also my hopes and dreams helped me see possibilities and gave me hope for the future.
We Must Be Still And Listen
We must slow down. We must take time to be still. Listen for His voice. Look for His presence. Words don’t do it justice, but I can tell you this: He has always been there. It’s true in my life, and I know it’s true in yours as well.
The Lord desires to inhabit us, to communicate with us. He wants to hear what is on our hearts. Talk with Him, share your desires, your fears, and your hopes. Search for scriptures that speak to you, that fill you with hope. This is another way He speaks to you, and reveals Himself to you.
Remember He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He is the One who placed the yearning within us before the foundation of the world. So yield your dreams, worries, and desires to Him. He already knows. He already has a plan for your life.
Think about it. We did not make ourselves. We never chose our parents. We didn’t decide the color of our eyes, the country we were born in, or the season we entered the world. He released us into exactly the right time and the right place for His purpose. However, when we don’t understand our purpose, we may spend our lives fighting against the very reason we were placed here.
Yield And Shift
If you will yield your will, your mind, and your body to the Lord and His Word, He will cause your world to shift. It will happen suddenly and quietly. You may not even understand it at first, but you will know. You will feel it. You will recognize that you have stepped out of one season of life and into another.
This is what it means to come into alignment with His will. Surrender your agenda, trust the Word of God, and let go. Embrace the truth. And with it, you will find the life you were created to live.
When we walk in line with His will, He begins to bring the people we need into our lives. People with the right skills, the specific gifts, the exact resources come at the perfect time to help us fulfill His purpose.
The book of Daniel 11:32 declares: “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
Your Life Is Not Your Own
My friend, you have lived for yourself long enough. Your life can change. It will shift radically and permanently the moment you yield yourself fully to the Lord. Not just as Savior, but as Lord. There is a difference. Your life is not your own. It never was. It was always meant to be poured out for others.
Remember, no prayer is answered in the earth realm unless it comes through a person. You are someone’s answer. You are the response to prayers you may never even know were prayed.
The more you recognize that tugging in your heart as the voice of the Spirit of God, the closer you move toward the life you were created to live.
Every person carries the Spirit of God within them, pressing to be released. I believe that as you read these words, He is reminding you of moments when He spoke to you. You may not have recognized it at the time, but you know the voice now.
After reading this, your relationship with the Lord will never be the same. Because today, you are going to yield — and let Him be Lord of your life.
For More Information
Check out Dr. Johnnie’s best selling book Father is Speaking, Do You Know His Voice, available in our store.