Desperate to Hear
O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still (Psalm 83:1). In primitive rituals such as “Bible roulette” (picking verses at random for guidance) frequently practiced by present-day believers, we see a desperate urgency to get a word from God, especially a word on what is going to happen and what we should do about it. If necessary, some people are prepared to force such a word from God or someone else. Hearing God cannot be a reliable and intelligible fact of life except when we see his speaking as one aspect of his presence with us, of his life in us. Only our communion with God provides the appropriate context for communications between us and him. And within those communications, guidance will be given in a manner suitable to our particular lives and circumstances. It will fit into our life together with God in his earthly and heavenly family. This insight helps us in learning to discern God’s voice. Reflect: What methods have you used to try to get a word from God: casting fleeces, wanting something so much that”
—Dallas Willard,
Hearing God Through the Year
Psalm 83:1 reflects the deep yearning of the human heart to hear from God, especially in times of trouble or confusion. But hearing God is not just about receiving answers—it’s about relationship. His voice is best understood not as random messages sent from a distance, but as expressions of His living presence within us. Just as meaningful conversation only flows from genuine connection, so too does God’s voice become clear when we are walking closely with Him in communion and trust. When we cultivate a life rooted in His presence—through worship, prayer, and attentiveness—His words to us begin to feel less like distant echoes and more like the natural language of a shared life. In stillness, He speaks. In closeness, He guides. The more we know Him, the more we recognize His voice—not as an interruption, but as the ongoing conversation of a God who dwells within us. Let us devote ourselves the this end: Knowing Him deeply and abidingly! —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics