When God Speaks

Ever wonder what happens in us when God speaks?  Hearing God's voice can be a hot topic, but there is no doubt that God wants to and does speak to us.  Many people struggle over hearing the voice of God without being spooky and getting off track.  Some are convinced they can't but I want to share with you today what happens "When God Speaks"

I'm going to pull these thoughts out of my SOAPing this morning from the book of Daniel.

Daniel 10:10-11, 18-19

10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning.  19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

Here are 4 things that can help you to know the voice of God when, not if, He speaks to you.

1. God's voice is filled with love.

• Notice that twice God spoke to Daniel to remind him that he was precious to God.  The voice of God will always be filled with love, even when He corrects us.  The Bible says that God is love, so His voice can convey nothing else.  
• The voice of God, if it's God, will always cause you to feel loved by Him, always.
• Too many people fall victim to the deceivers taunts that God doesn't love you, but it's not true, talk to Him and find out.

2. God's voice will always be personal.

• God spoke to Daniel that "i have a message for you" , and "I've been sent to you".
• God voice will not be vague or confusing, but He speaks directly into our lives and our situations.  
• You will not wonder about whether He's speaking to you, it's so personal that you know it's for you.
• A personal touch is God's plan to connect with you.

3.  God's voice is encouraging.

• Very few people know how to be encouraging, but God voice always encourages.
• Even in correction, the encouragement is there.
• He spoke peace, strength and encouragement to Daniel at a time when he needed it the most.
• God's voice will build you up like nothing else you can experience. 
• If it's God, you will be encouraged.  

4. God's voice imparts faith.

• Daniel said, "I'm strengthened and now I want to hear what You have to say."
• Faith comes through hearing His voice.  His voice carries with it the spiritual faith to obey whatever He commands us to do.  
• You will believe God after He talks with you, and you will belieive that He can help you to do what He's spoken.  
• Make time to hear His voice today, so that you can be blessed.

Daniel S.O.A.P. The Reason for Your Gift

While S.O.A.P.ing the other morning, I came across this powerful verse that spoke to me and I believe it will do the same for you.

And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret to your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.


Daniel 2:30(NLT)


The king of Babylon had a dream and wanted to know what it meant.  He asked his wise men, but they couldn't interpret the dream and so he purposed to kill them all.  When Daniel heard about it, he asked God to help him interpret the dream and God did.

Daniel's keen understanding of God's gift at work in his life to interpret dreams is something we could all learn from.

1. Daniel understood that his special ability was from God and so he couldn't think of himself as better than anyone else.

• It's amazing how we sometimes take credit when in reality God has just given us a gift.
• Whatever you are good at, whatever just comes natural to you, whether it's sports, business, speaking, any talent, God gave that to you, so don't think you are better than.
• I Cor. 12 tells us that God gives everyone of us gifts, at least one.  Have you discovered yours?  
• Our nature is to want to be better than the next person, the best worker, the best looking, the highest paid.  Daniel had dealt with that selfish pride and understood that God had a higher purpose for him than merely being better than another.

2. Daniel understood that God gifted him to get through to other people, in this case the king.

• Your gifts are never about you, but about the people that God wants to use you to serve.
• Without this knowledge, you'll waste your life on personal gain but never find purpose.
• Your awesome, god-given gift is not to make you famous but to make Jesus famous.
• Think about how God wants to use your voice, your skills, your organizational ability for His kingdom.
• The body of Christ is an amazing entity, and you are a part, so do what you were designed to do.
• What makes you angry? You may be called to make it right.
• What breaks your heart?  You may be called to be a solution.
• What are you good at without trying?  That's the area in which God wants to use you.

3. Humility is just remembering that any good thing comes from God.  Worship is when we give it back to Him for His glory.

• God has promised to give grace to the humble.
• You've received it as a gift, so give it as a gift.

S.O.A.P. for Today

I love S.O.A.P.ing.  It's given me a fresh take on my times with the Lord in the mornings.  Let me recap for those who don't get the acronym.

S- Read a chapter from the reading guide or however you read and pick out 1 scripture that

    really speaks to you

O- write down any observations from your reading, there will be some about God, sin, the Holy

    Spirit, others, leaders, fools, wise, church, strength, whatever you see.

A- Your scripture verse should be viewed in terms of application. In other words ask yourself

     "How can I live this out today?" or "How can I do this today?"  Christianity is to be lived not

     just understood.

P- Pray and ask God to help you apply what you've seen and heard from Him.  Also, pray about

    any other needs in your life.

My S.O.A.P. verse today was:

6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.  2 john 6

• Loving God means obeying Him. LOVE = OBEDIENCE
• God always has something for us to do.
• Obeying God always results in me loving someone else.  Remember, it's all about loving  God and loving people.
• Your obedience will always show love towards people, that's God's heart, His passion, and His focus: people.
• This truth never changes, no matter how long we walk with God or to what level we rise in ministry.  
• I'm loving God by responding to His call on my life to pastor HOF church.  When I obey His voice to lead in a specific direction, I'm loving God.  
• When He prompts me to good works and I obey, I'm loving God.
• I've got to hear His voice in order to follow His command.  That's why I S.O.A.P.

Clean Your Windshield

One of the things I absolutely can't stand is when the windshield on my truck gets dirty with bug guts, dirt, and whatever else.  So when I get gas, I often wash my windshield because I love having clear vision when I drive.  I want to share with you how to have clear vision when you live.  I was at small group last night and this verse really spoke to me.

Romans 1:21 says, "Yes they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  As a result, their minds became dark and confused."


Wouldn't we all love to clearly see God, because when I can see Him, then it brings the rest of my life into focus: my relationships, things, finances, ministry, etc..  I've talk to some people with a whacked out picture of who God is and now I know why.

Worship and Thanks

Something powerful happens when we worship, yes that 20-30 minutes before the preaching is included as well as our own private worship time.  By worshipping, God reveals Himself to us, and we begin to see Him as He really is, not a legend, or a fairy tale, or some man's opinion, but God Almightly.
 Thanksgiving is the beginning of worship and it's a great starting place.  If you don't know how to worship always start by giving Him thanks for all the good things in your life.  Just thank Him for the normal, the routine, the incredible and the familiar.  Breath, life, air, sun, spouse, kids, job, you're getting the idea.  Giving thanks is starter worship.  As you thank Him, then you will begin to gain an understanding of how much more He wants to be to you and do for you, and then the worship kicks in.  When you can get a picture of who God is: Savior, Redeemer, Comforter, Friend, Father, it's will clarify how He desires to work in our lives.  He doesn't just want to save you from sin, but give you life and purpose and walk with you through this life as a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
 In reality, some of our ideas about who God is and how He deals with us are just foolish.  You'll never know until you worship and thank Him for what He's done and doing.