He often speaks through the Scriptures, dreams, and prophecies, but sometimes God speaks audibly.

Yesterday, I was roused by hearing my name, “Jacquie.” It was my mother’s voice. There was the briefest disorientation before I opened my eyes because I was in bed. One moment earlier, I was in a salon (in my dream).

Why was Mom in my bedroom? Was she okay? (Her room is on the opposite side of our house.) When I glanced around; she was not at my bedside. Suddenly, I knew. The Lord had called at 7:43am.

Hearing God’s Voice

After many years, I discovered that God does not always speak through my mother’s voice. But He almost always chooses a familiar and calming voice, so as not to cause fear.

We hear God’s Voice through our thoughts. At other times, His inner voice sounds much like our own. So, how can we discern the Speaker? We know Him by His message and His character. Through His “still small voice,” God speaks wisdom. And He delivers it kindly and without condemnation. The Voice I heard was not from within. Fully awake, I responded,

“Yes, Lord. I am listening.”

While waiting, I revisited the salon, but could not remember the whole dream, just the part before I woke up. My mother was in the dream, and she waited patiently for me to finish with an attendant before she could be served.

I had a sinking feeling and became acutely aware that I had kept God waiting. Oh my, what else am I guilty of?

Do Not Judge Unrighteously

As I waited, my thoughts drifted again. This time, I pondered what happened before I fell asleep. I judged myself by my own understanding, and it was wrong to do so.

In my case, I was the plaintiff, prosecutor, defendant, judge, and expert witness at the same time. Furthermore, I attest that the exercise brought me no peace. In fact, I received the exact opposite.

From somewhere in the recesses of my memory the Holy Spirit reminded me that the Apostle Paul did not judge himself. (The Holy Spirit is an amazingly masterful librarian. See John 14:26). So, I searched for and found the Scripture. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

When God Speaks Audibly

I repented before falling asleep. But the Holy Spirit was not finished. Next, I read where Jesus said:

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. (John 5: 30-32)

When God speaks audibly, He wants our attention. God called to tell me He listened to my self-initiated court case. He waited to let me know that His judgments alone are true. We are never to judge ourselves by the flesh, by what we see, or think, or understand. Judge righteously only by His Word and His Spirit.

As I write this, it occurs to me that we are “sometimes” cautious of judging others, but we think very little of judging ourselves. I am sharing this post with the hope it will be helpful to you too.

God called at 7:43am. Seven, four, three.

Is it a coincidence that the seventh book of the New Testament, the fourth chapter and the third verse says: I do not judge myself? I think not. Thanks for visiting!