The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. Psalm 8:3-4
The sound of thunder can be awe-inspiring and frightening sound. Many people and animals are afraid of thunder. Growing up I thought God used thunder to speak to us, and at times to express His anger with us. Interestingly, my childish assumption was grounded in scripture. Indeed, many people in the Old Testament thought God spoke through thunder.
David was certainly enamored by the spectacle of thunder. In today’s text, David said the voice of the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. He wanted to capture the majesty of God over all creation. David believed God’s awesomeness was displayed in every awesome natural phenomenon. In Psalm 29, he invites people to praise and give glory to God because of His majesty over all creation, including formidable mountains and raging waters.
But God does not only speak in thunders and other awe-inspiring modes. His voice can also be heard in the quietness of our hearts. His voice can be heard by a newborn as He directs that baby to cling to the woman who brought him into the world. God’s voice can be heard by those who are unable to hear because the Lord’s voice can be audible or noiseless.
God is always speaking, but we are not always listening. The cares of this world often drown the voice of God in our hearts. Thus, it is necessary for us to still our hearts and rest our minds so we can hear when God is speaking to us. It is also recommended that we set time aside to hear from God without necessarily presenting any petition to God.
When God speaks demons run away in fear. The voice of God thunders over diseases, poverty, endemic racism, economic disparity, and every other form of evil that exists. God can speak order where there is chaos, peace in times of conflict, joy in sadness, hope in hopelessness, and healing in sickness. When God speaks the captives are set free.
The voice of the Lord is powerful. After all, the Almighty spoke the world into existence. Jesus was introduced to the world in the book of John as the logos—the word of God. One of the challenges of believers is to discern the voice of God. The devil knows the power of God’s voice. He often tries to deceive believers with noises so we would not hear the voice of God. Thus, it is necessary to remain hidden in God through Christ, read the Bible continuously, and pray fervently so we can remain tuned to the frequency of God’s voice.
David said the voice of the Lord shakes the desert (Psalm 29:8). When believers go through the valley of the shadow of death and are ensnared in desert-like experiences, they can invite God to speak over their situations so they can live in victory. God can speak in major crises and minor issues we face. God speaks in the church house and in the Whitehouse. His voice is inescapable and majestic.
As I write this devotional, I hear the voice of God dictating the words I should write. God’s voice informs my thinking and directs my every step. When I am tempted by the pleasures of this world, God speaks through His Holy Spirit to convict me so I can remain obedient to His will. God speaks His joy to my heart in times of sadness. He speaks His strength in my weakness and gives me the courage to do Jesus’ great commission work.
Questions for Personal Reflection
How do you know when God is speaking to you?
What impact is God’s voice having in your life?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, please unclog my spiritual ears and remove the sinful pollutions from my heart so I can hear your voice when you speak. I invite you, Lord, to thunder over every area of my life; and help me to remain in awe of your majesty.
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