Does God speak to you?

 

 

A Meditation on this much-loved hymn:

 

Dear Lord and Father of mankind

 

 

I started to develop this just as a straightforward meditation on the beautiful words of this hymn, when I realised ways in which God could use it to speak to us.  I have therefore expanded it into something which I hope and pray will help to lead all of us into a dialogue with God.

 

1 Kings 19 talks about the Lord making Himself known by means of a gentle whisper; our trouble is that so often we are too preoccupied with our busy lives to hear Him.  Sometimes, however, God senses that we are not aware that He wants to speak to us and so He comes to us rather more purposefully.  I had a strange sensation recently of God coming with this very gentle approach, but with the piercing sharpness and precision of an arrow so that it would not miss its target, if all of that isn’t a contradiction in terms!  (Incidentally I believe God can overcome the workings of our natural thought processes in the same way that He can overcome the physical world – it’s called a miracle!)

 

Sometimes we may have difficulty hearing God; I have known people to say, “But God doesn’t speak to me.”  Without in any way causing offence, may I dare to suggest that this could be because we are not listening carefully enough?  Hearing God does not come naturally to some of us, but we can train ourselves to receive Him; it’s a bit like the old-fashioned radio receivers, where one had to turn a tuning knob carefully until our receiver was properly aligned with the station we were seeking – and I apologise to those who may be too young to remember these!

 

Every one of God’s children is special and can have a special relationship with Him; God wants to speak to each of us all the time, but we do not always recognise Him.  Here I want to focus specifically on hearing God’s voice directly.  Friends, it isn’t a magic art and it doesn’t require specialist knowledge or spiritual condition, it’s a matter of gently and gradually drawing closer to God over time.  We pray regularly but sometimes just go to Him with little more than a shopping list; He actively wants to speak to us, to have a dialogue with us; He is our loving Father and He loves to have a conversation with us.  This is a feature of our Christian life whereby God is accessible to every one of us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

You can start by sitting quietly in a comfortable position; then quieten your mind; try to put away earthly cares; make sure you won’t get interrupted (turn your phone off!).  Set your mind as for a normal time of prayer and focus on God.  I often find that singing a peaceful reflective worship song quietly to myself helps to focus more easily on Him.

 

It is worth saying quietly a few times, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening“, then perhaps wait in silence for a few minutes.

 

We mustn’t be impatient if at first nothing happens, but should keep coming back to Jesus, He is always waiting for us.

 

You may hear a voice in your mind that you think may be the voice of God, or you may not. No matter either way, persevere.  Above all try to relax; think as if God is just sitting in a comfortable chair in the room with you.

 

Then read through this hymn, one phrase at a time, and allow the Spirit to work in you as you read.  Think about each of the comments and allow yourself to absorb what you think God might be saying.

 

When God speaks, remember to thank Him; He’s always worth listening to.  You may find it helpful to write down what He has said in a prayer journal or other record which you can return to later.

 

God bless you in your desire to draw closer to Him; may He reward you with a greater awareness of Him and perhaps by drawing you into a prophetic or other new ministry.

 

This and other meditations can be helpful in enabling you to feel closer to God more of the time; it naturally follows that as part of this process, you will find that you get feelings that the things which are passing through your mind may in fact have originated in God’s heart.

 

One important aspect is to trust what you think could be a feeling or a Word from God – it quite often is!  I have been known to receive a Word, a Bible reference and even a vision which I did not understand when I first received it, however by diffidently following it through and talking to the person for whom it was intended, I then discovered that it was extremely relevant and greatly blessed the person concerned.  Also the more often this actually happens, the more confident you will become that it can happen.  Just lay yourself open to God and He will often give you something, either for yourself or for someone else.

 

† – o – † – o – †

 

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways.

God the Ceator of each one of us

We have often strayed and not followed your instructions.

 

 

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

Forgive us Lord when we have strayed

and restore us to the right path.

 

 

In deeper reverence, praise.

As we learn to follow you more closely

and approach you more humbly,

may we praise you more fully

in every part of our lives.

 

 

In simple trust like theirs who heard

Beside the Syrian sea

We come to you as little children

Trusting in our loving Father.

 

 

The gracious calling of the Lord;

The more humbly we come to you

and the simpler the place and the style of our approach

the more grace you extend to us;

we thank you and praise you Lord.

 

 

Let us, like them, without a word

Rise up and follow Thee.

So we come; humbly and obediently,

to follow you in everything.

 

 

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

We come into our special place

where we can be alone with you,

with the cares of the world set aside.

 

 

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity

There we can share with you that

intimate relationship that you long

to have with each one of us …

 

 

Interpreted by love!

… where your love can reign supreme.

 

 

With that deep hush subduing all

Our words and works that drown

The tender whisper of Thy call,

And in that silence

where the world is quiet

and only you are there, only you matter …

 

 

As noiseless let Thy blessing fall

As fell Thy manna down.

… so that your silent blessing

on every part of our everyday lives

can reach through and sustain us.

 

 

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

As we reach further into you

and begin to experience even more

of your love and your peace …

 

 

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

 

… so that we stop fighting

and you can take away the stresses

of our everyday life …

 

 

And let our ordered lives confess

… and our lives regain the order

and balance that you

always meant us to have.

 

 

The beauty of Thy peace.

There is nothing better in heaven or on earth

than to be overwhelmed by your love and your peace.

 

 

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Earthly passions can block the way you intend us to live …

 

 

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

,,, but we would always opt for your calm instead.

 

 

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Let our wants take a back seat,

so that we can listen to you properly –

 

 

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

Lord, break into our busy lives …`

 

 

O still, small voice of calm[1].

… with your gentle, calm, loving voice,

Lord, we sit at your feet

and we listen for that still, small voice.

We are now in that place where you want us to be:

clear of worldly care,

clear of spiritual attack,

and entirely your humble servants;

ready to hear you,

ready to do your bidding.

 

Speak, Lord, we pray,

for your servant is listening …

 

Pause…

 

† – o – † – o – †

 

 

If nothing happens for you, don’t be discouraged; come back tomorrow and try again.  God longs to be close to each of us, He is always more ready to speak than we are to listen.

 

If you do feel God speak, Praise the Lord!

 

How do I know if God has spoken?

 

You may find this is accompanied by some physical sensation; some people feel a quickening of their pulse; others a deep warmth in the pit of their stomach.  I tend to get a feeling through my body a bit like pins-and-needles.  The evangelist J John calls it a “Quiver in the Liver!”, which is delightfully vague, implying that it can be different for each person.  Whatever it might be, you will know it if you feel it.

 

May God bless you powerfully as you seek to meet Him and hear Him. 🙏

 

† – o – † – o – †

 

 

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways.

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

 

 

In simple trust like theirs who heard

Beside the Syrian sea

The gracious calling of the Lord;

Let us, like them, without a word

Rise up and follow Thee.

 

 

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity

Interpreted by love!

 

 

With that deep hush subduing all

Our words and works that drown

The tender whisper of Thy call,

As noiseless let Thy blessing fall

As fell Thy manna down.

 

 

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

 

 

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still, small voice of calm.

 

Sir Hubert Parry, 1888

Tune: Repton

 

 

 

If you like you can listen to this version, sung in Westminster Abbey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1MN3chW1Hk

 

 

Peter Sebborn, October 2025

Christian.Footsoldier@gmail.com

 

[1] See 1 Kings 19:11-13