The Father's Voice
He sings over us! Zephaniah 3:17
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" John 10:27 (NAS).
When I was pregnant with our first child, Jared, I read an article explaining
that after babies are born, they recognize voices they'd heard while in the womb. So for the next nine months, my husband Bob and I would talk to
him, pray for him, and sing to him.
Then came the big day; several hours after he was born—I'll never forget this moment—we decided to try out this idea of voice recognition. I
swaddled our precious son close to me, and as Bob stood across the room, he gently called out, "Jared, Jared." All of a sudden,
our little son's head began
to jiggle and turn, until his head was completely turned sideways, looking at his daddy! It was an amazing
and remarkable moment! He recognized his father's voice and
turned towards him!
I treasure this beautiful memory. It reminds me of how God's children learn to recognize our Father's
voice by the same means, through birth, the Word, prayer,
and singing!
First, we can only begin to hear God's voice when we become His children through His
gift of new birth. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" 1 Peter 1:3
(NIV).
Then, God speaks to us through His Word. Just as it took time for our
firstborn to recognize our voices as he was being formed, we learn to recognize God's voice by taking the time to read His
Word. "All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV). God's voice will never contradict Scripture—it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths.
The Holy Spirit will then bring to mind the truths of Scripture to guide our steps and to walk in His ways.
Jesus said, "[The Holy Spirit] will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you"
John 14:26b (NASB). The Holy Spirit prays in our behalf
so that we can be obedient to God's calling over our lives. "The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to
pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words" Romans 8:26 (NASB). The Holy Spirit also gives us the spiritual gift
of discernment, to distinguish God's voice from all the others.
And finally, like Bob and I did to our son, our Father God sings over His children. "He will take great delight
in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing"
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV). What a great encouragement to know
that the Father sings over, delights in, and loves his children! Oh that we
would always turn our heads and hearts back to him!
Prayer: "Dear Father God, help us to hear Your voice, turn to You, and do those things which You have given us to do. Thank You for speaking to us
through Your Word, so that we can recognize Your voice, and for sending the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, and pray for us. Thank You also for the
promise that You delight, rejoice, and sing over us as we learn to follow You! Amen."
Copyright 2015 / 2019- Sarah A. Keith
SundaySchoolNetwork.com
Photography by: Josh Willink @Pexels.com
Your donation to
the site, even the smallest amount, will help us distribute our
children's ministry resources to churches across the world.
Subscribe to our Newsletter - Learn More