Hearing Voices - Martin Wiles

The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” 2 Samuel 5:6 NLT

When I was a teenager, I found myself hearing voices.

“Let’s get drunk,” said the first voice. The 1970s were in full force. Drinking seemed to be a way of life, so I agreed. And since this voice represented acceptance by my peers, I justified my listening.

Then the voice said, “Let’s do some dope.” I listened again—although I was a little frightened this time. I agreed to the Mary Jane, but nothing more.

“Do you want a smoke?” the voice continued. I did, and for the next decade I kept listening to that voice.

Listening to the wrong voices hindered my walk with the Lord and kept me in chains when I could have been free. David was anointed king and needed a central location for his capital. His sights were on Jerusalem. Trouble was, the Jebusites weren’t interested in giving it up. When he approached the walled city, they told him he’d never get in. But he did because he listened to a more powerful voice.

Training our ears to listen to the right voices is essential for good spiritual health. Many voices vie for our attention—most of them attempting to lead us down paths taking us farther from God.

God’s voice comes through the inner presence of his Spirit and will always agree with what is taught in the Bible. Being familiar with the teachings therein is vital if we’re to hear the right voice. Listening takes a power we don’t have. God, however, can provide the power so we don’t succumb to the wrong voice as Eve did when Satan tempted her, causing her to question God’s directive.

Voices of discouragement are rife—as they were in David’s day. Finding friends and acquaintances who encourage us is important if we’re to make respectable spiritual decisions. We can find them through social media outlets, at churches, in small groups, and through good authors. Voices reminding us about who we are in Christ: a new creation, a masterpiece in the making, a child of God who has worth and has been accepted into his family, and an overcomer of unhealthy habits, addictions, and social mores. Voices that will encourage us to seek God’s guidance in every decision we make.

Hearing voices is acceptable; just make sure you listen to the appropriate ones.

Father, give me wisdom and understanding so that I might hear and listen to the right voices. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.