In the early days of living overseas, there was no internet, cell phones or DVDs. VHS videos were our evening ‘TV time’. Our kids watched and re-watched the fifteen or so movies we brought with us. I can’t tell you how many times we watched ‘Honey I Shrunk The Kids,’ ‘Lion King,’ and ‘Homeward Bound.’ Our daughter, at an early age, became skilled at quoting lines from each of her favorites.
But now, years later, I find myself choosing to watch something I have already seen. I prefer a series with reoccurring characters instead of a movie or something new. I was worried it was a type of PTSD or a left over symptom from the over-watched VHS years. But I found, like my daughter, I also have a skill that I have acquired. I may not be able to read the credits or actors names scrolling across the screen, but I can recognize voices. Within minutes of hearing a voice, without opening my eyes, I can recognize an actor. Because of eye fatigue, I often choose to watch things with my eyes closed. So is that really watching or is it just good hearing? Whatever the case may be, it is still a skill that I pride myself in!
It is often said that when there is a deficit in one sense, the other senses are heightened. I don’t know if that is scientifically proven but it is true in my case. I can hear to recognize, hear to locate, and I can hear and ‘over-hear’ conversations like you wouldn’t believe!
Reflecting on this, it begs the question, what about my skills in hearing the Holy Spirits voice? Oh I so want to be quick to recognize Him within minutes of hearing His voice.
What does it sound like?
It is His written Word, that is His voice.
It is that courage offered when I know I don’t have what it takes.
It is His voice offering peace when I’m freaking out with worry.
It is His Words of strength offered when I don’t feel like getting out of bed.
It is His voice offering comfort when I want to cry my eyes out.
It is direction given when I feel like I am all over the place.
It’s in that music.
It’s in nature’s beauty.
It is that nudging felt when He wants us to speak or act on His behalf, or when He is correcting us and urging us to get back on the right path.
I can hear Him!
I may not be able to see Him but I know Him and somehow recognize Him.
I know, in those moment when I am intentionally practicing hearing, that there is no guessing who is speaking.
I know all of this but somehow I want more!
I am not advocating closing ours eyes so our sense of hearing gets better. That’s just my ‘watching with my eyes closed’ skill. But if you are anything like me, I sometimes need help to recognizing His nudging, His drawing and His leading.
I want to know His voice. I want to know Him. I want to know He is near! I suppose the real skill here is not always the physical sense of hearing but more of recognizing, and that is a skill worth having!
Psalms 19:1-4a The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Lord, Thank you for speaking. Help me to hone my spiritual hearing skills so I can know you better. Help me to recognize you quickly and sense your nearness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
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