We can hear God speak within our souls

During the first few decades of my life, prayer happened for me “on the fly,” meaning, in the midst of my achieving “the stuff of life.” No doubt God blessed that, but He had something more in mind. I was about to experience an exciting venture.

My morning routine, at the time, found me making a trip to the kitchen every morning after getting out of bed. I was heading for coffee. This trek meant passing through a hallway, dining room, then into the kitchen. I pass the off-the-traffic-pattern formal living room. It is a room that is seldom used. What I can see of the living room, as I pass down the hall, is limited. One morning, as I sleepily make my way toward the kitchen and coffee, I hesitate slightly. For days, I noticed something different about that living room. There is an uncanny sense of someone being present in that room. So, on this particular morning, I slowly venture into the room and look around, wondering. Although I cannot see anyone, it feels like someone is there. I asked aloud, “Is this You? Lord, are You in here?”

Instantly, I felt a resounding “warmth” in my heart. Then, during this sense of “Presence,” I hear these words spoken inwardly, “Come, and be with me.” I know these words are not from my thoughts.  I sat down, nonplused, yet deeply touched. I began to let my heart sink into what I felt that morning. There is a sense of being superbly appreciative as I perceive that God indeed desires my company. How can I doubt it, given this kind of invitation!

From then on, for several years, I went into that room first thing every morning seeking to encounter God’s presence. This became a wonderful time for experiencing prayer, finding it to be less about talking and more about listening. Reading the Scriptures became a prominent part of this early morning practice. Listening for the Lord to speak, while wanting to know what He would say became an adventure.  Sometimes, I would weep, as the presence of the Lord was so strongly felt.

Once in the middle of the night, I felt an encouraging nudge to get out of bed and to be with the Lord instead of sleeping right then. Upon getting up, I noticed the living room light coming on. I think, This is strange. Then figure, there is a possibility I imagined seeing the light had flipped on.

So, I woke Gary up, saying, “Did you leave the living room light on?”

He said, “No. Go back to sleep.”

Still, I know that light was not on when we went to bed. So, I get up and go into the living room. I sit. There. I felt it more powerfully than ever—that sense of being joined by the Lord. Then, I hear these words, “I want to teach you.” I was amazed and of course stayed on. I have lost all interest in sleeping.

Upon becoming very still, having a worshipful heart within the silence of the night words begin to come into my mind. Seems like little rivulets of water, flowing gently and surely. I quickly took up paper as capturing these words seemed important. As soon as I finish writing a sentence or two, more words come, waiting to be written. Throughout the rest of the night, I write what I “hear.”

Looking back, I think of that night as a training session. I filled a book, from that night of listening.  The results were short sentences carrying pieces of wisdom. In the morning I showed these to Gary. Some seemed profound. Others were simply directive. While using a typewriter, Gary decided to create unique and interesting art to accompany these sayings. Here is an example of Gary’s artwork as he used the typewriter keys.​

​This started a serious and life-changing quest for me as I became increasingly involved in prayerful listening—through the day as well as the night. While worshiping during these times, I realized endorphin flows come within the practice of rejoicing in the Lord! It became my pattern to spend the first two or more hours of each day with the Lord in that room. Five o’clock in the morning found me in my “place apart,” where I could worship, write, listen, and pray. This was not only a wonderful experience, but a lot of inner healing took place during this practice. And—sweetly, this was reflecting favorably in my physical body. During those early years, a health condition kept me at home rather than working.  Now, my lungs are getting well! It was happening ever-so-slowly, through my being obedient to how the Holy Spirit was leading my soul. I called it “My Get Well Program.” I was learning that prayer and worship powerfully support the body’s built-in ability to heal itself.

 A verse in Exodus 15:26, says, "I am the LORD who heals you." This verse emphasizes God's promise of healing to those who listen to Him and follow the leadings He can so aptly give. Reading the Scriptures holds power to hear what God is wanting us to hear, wanting us to live.

When what we hear in our hearts aligns with what we find in God’s Word, this serves to confirm we are truly hearing from God. This keeps us from getting off track, hearing what “we want to hear” versus hearing what God wants us to hear.