By the Rev. Sandra Tonsing, Member First Baptist Church

As I was contemplating writing this column, I was asking God what He would have me say. He told me the following:

“I want my children to know how much I love them. I want you to tell them, no matter what is happening in their lives, I am with them. Tell them they can hear my voice; all they have to do is listen.”

What audacity on my part some who are reading this will think. Who can hear God’s voice? Each and every one of us. I was taught a method in seminary as to how to hear God’s voice, and I practiced it for some time. Then I dropped the practice of journaling and just listened. Both are effective. Does that mean I have everything figured out? No, because sometimes I don’t do what I hear God saying to me. I don’t rest in Him as much as I ought to.

What brought me back to the journaling? A series we are in at my membership church. It is entitled “4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice.” The author is Mark Virkler. It is very effective and has brought me around to where I should be in listening. One caveat I will give you however, it is that when I first became so tuned in to the journaling again, I forgot to listen outside of journaling and in one particular case, it got me into trouble. So, now, I am using journaling in the quiet of my home but still listening for God’s voice no matter where I go or whom I accompany.

The principle Virkler teaches is that if we allow the “intellect” or left side of the brain do all the work, we can miss God’s voice. We are then placing ourselves in charge and not allowing God to be in charge. All of the intellectualizing in the world cannot give us the wisdom or direction that just listening to God will give us.

A priest/teacher/professor is my seminary told us that way back when. That the enemy grabs our ego, our will and our personality, telling us we are so smart, we can figure it out, etc. Yes, we have intellect, yes we have what God gave us in that regard, yes, we are to use it but not above what direction God wants to give us. He will tell us how to use our spiritual gifts and where to use them.

Look at the mess our country is in right now. No matter what your political party, it is obvious the “intellect” of the presidents and the Congress have not solved our problems, they have created them in most instances. Our job is not to criticize them but to pray for them. To pray that they will listen to God’s voice. Our job is to follow what God teaches us to do. Jesus says (yes present tense because there is no linear timeline with God) love one another as I have loved you. Jesus told us to be willing to serve and to work.

So why are we experiencing the joblessness in our economy now? Because we haven’t been operating under God’s economy and therefore, we are suffering the consequences as a “body” a national body. As a matter of fact, few in the whole world have been operating under God’s economy. Therefore the mess.

What does that mean for us right now and in the near future? That is what I am asking God. This is what he tells me: “Sandra, pay attention to what is important from my perspective. Let go of wanting what you have, let go of desiring more, concentrate on loving those around you, keep your emotions in check for I am not talking of mushy or romantic love. I am talking about the love that Jesus talked about. Be in my will, not yours. Let me direct you.

Material things are not all that there ought to be. Just as your colleague told you by preaching on Ephesians Chapter 2, emulate Jesus, think not of yourself as more important than anyone else. Think not of yourself as better than anyone else. Empty yourself and let Jesus, my beloved Son, fill you. Your colleague gave the examples of Moses, Joseph and himself with his struggle to learn humility. For without humility true servanthood is not possible. Some will learn it as they age and can no longer fully take care for themselves but others won’t have to wait for the aging process, if they listen to my voice and submit themselves to Jesus, they will suffer less, and gain joy, peace, love and fulfillment beyond their imaginings. Peace, my child, my love, mercy, and grace are yours. As I heard this, I knew he means it for you as well, for he loves us all.

Remember, Jesus gave us the example, as John Maxwell put it, Jesus has nothing to fear, nothing to prove and no need to survive, for he knew eternity was his. Do we want eternity? Jesus loves you and so do I.