Listen To Your Inner Voice

Do you ever wonder if you talk too much?  If you think about it, most people are prone to talk, talk, talk, and then, talk some more, but seldom listen.  Sad to say, I believe it is becoming a rarity for people to even listen when the voice inside them is speaking.

My oldest grandson loves to talk, and it’s not a bad thing.  In the work he does, he needs this gift of gab. 

As a young boy, whenever he rode with Nana and me to an event or just across town, he would share, nonstop, from the moment we loaded into the car, to the time we got back from our destination, but I enjoyed every minute.  That boy could talk! 

As a man, now pushing thirty years old, he still loves to talk when we get together, and I just listen.  I am naturally quiet and reserved, whereas my wife is totally opposite from me until I’ve had two or three cups of coffee in the morning and then look out…we trade places.

When communicating with others, it would enhance understanding and clarity if everyone learned the true art of listening, but it seems that most people are fixated on having the last word.  They think they are filled with limitless wisdom and knowledge, or they probably consider themselves the “answer-person.”

It sounds like I’m reaching, but I am old and have listened to many conversations through the years, and it seems that no-one wants to listen.  If I were texting, I would inject LOL at this point.  It is funny when I listen to dialog at how absurd people can be at times in their thinking.

I believe, for the most part, this is what one-sided communication with God is like or lack thereof.  No doubt I am always talking, asking Him for this or that, praising Him of course, questioning why some things are the way they are, and finding it hard to shut my mouth and listen. 

However, I am learning to turn up my spiritual hearing-aid and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to my heart.  These are the times when I am inspired with thoughts and words that make up my writings, of which I post to the blog I created.  They are called, “Thoughts for Today.”

I know the Bible says that we are to pray without ceasing, but I am sure God expects us to stop talking long enough to listen to the voice within us.  He wants to be involved in every part of our life, including, but not limited to every nook and cranny of it.

God is our Heavenly Father and loves our communication with Him.  He adores us with a never-ending love.  This thought brings back fond memories of the times I spent with my grandson, listening, and loving it.

The Bible says in (1 Kings 19:12), that God is not in the earthquake or fire.  He is in the still, small, voice.  I am confident that God desires that we listen when we decide to turn off the television, the car radio, and put other activities on the back burner, in second place to the Godhead.  Things can certainly steal time away from our Maker if we fail to prioritize. 

As I perceive the above scripture, God is not in the thunder, the whirlwinds, or the roar of crashing waves along the shoreline, I’m paraphrasing.  We need to listen to the whispers of His tender, compassionate voice.

Let’s face it, we are busy people, coming and going at all times of the day and night.  No wonder we sometimes question why we are so tired and have less energy and time for devotion or prayer.

Allow me to bring my thoughts closer to home.  How many times have you left a store, went to the car, checked the receipt, and saw that the cashier failed to charge you for an item or gave you back too much change? 

I knew a person that considered these situations as God’s blessings to her.  I didn’t agree with this logic then and I don’t agree with it now.  I believe it is a sin when someone does not try to make things right when they know in their heart it is wrong.

(James 4:17), “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Oil and water do not mix, nor does fresh and bitter water come from the same fountain or spring.  God is infinitely distanced from sin of any kind.  He is Holy—the total opposite of sin.

I am not looking to be addressed as, “Halo-Boy” or anything like this, but when I see an error of any kind, I try my best to make things right.  It seems I am often tested in this area, but I want everything to always be A-Okay between me and the Lord.

My question is this: “What is the difference between keeping $.10 that was accidentally given in change at a checkout, or stealing $100 that is not ours?”  Do we keep the dime, because it is of less denomination than the hundred dollars?  I hope we don’t justify our actions by saying, “It doesn’t matter.  It’s only a dime.”

When I first became a Christian, I asked myself this very question as I sat in my car, counting the change I just received after a purchase.  The lady gave me too much money.  I told myself, “It’s only ten cents.” 

Suddenly, a voice began speaking, quite clearly, within me.  “Is it yours?”  The voice was convicting me of the thought I had, to just keep the dime.  I got out of the car, walked through the front door and handed the clerk the dime that wasn’t mine.

I stepped outside and looked up at the sky and said, “You and me, right God?  and it was like I heard the answer deep within my soul, “That’s right son.  It’s you and Me.”  I felt good about what I did, and I know God did as well.

We must listen to the voice within us and do what we know to do is right.  God expects this of us.  I am not saying to go in and embarrass the cashier or go to the manager and get them involved, or anything like that.  I think we need to use wisdom and allow God to intervene in the way it is supposed to work out.

For example:  I bought several items at a hardware store the other day and the cashier, I believe to be the manager, failed to charge me for a pair of gloves I wanted to purchase.  My wife caught the error as we drove home. 

Yes, I turned around and went back and explained the situation, while showing him the receipt.  He said, “Thank you for your honesty.  Go ahead and take them.”   He didn’t charge me. 

The gloves were on sale for $1.60 plus tax.  It wasn’t the amount that mattered, it was what I did that was most important.  My wife said that it was a testimony to the young man that there are still honest people out there.

I believe the whole situation was for him.  God only knows.  Or maybe it was another test to see what I would do, because I was a third of the way home and it was “only” $1.60 plus tax.  I would spend more than that in gas if I turned around and went back.

About that time, I remembered the dime when I was a new Christian.  The amount was irrelevant.  The gloves were not mine, because they weren’t paid for yet.  We should always listen to the voice inside and obey Him.  Obedience matters to God.

I remember my sister asking me a question in my informative years growing up.  “What would Jesus do?”  I have never forgotten this question.  If you really want to know the answer to your predicament, ask yourself the same question.  Listen to your inner voice and it will always lead you in the right direction.

I call this awareness, the God conscience.  It is the cautioning of the Holy Spirit to do what is right.  We can choose to listen or go about our business and ignore the inner voice.  It is up to everyone how they respond when finding themselves in a tempting, compromising situation.

As for me, I strive to do what Jesus would do and listen to my inner voice.

Written by,

Papa Boyd