What Voice Do You Hear?

Sitting in a worship service, Alice was feeling very thankful and blessed as she entered into the spirit of worship. She was singing and praising the Lord with her voice and soon she felt like raising a hand in praise to God for all He has done for her.

But then she heard a voice telling her that people would think she was prideful to raise her hand. You see, Alice had recently had a manicure and her nails looked beautiful. So this voice told her that people would say, “Oh, she just wants to show off her nails.”

Sorry to say, this voice made her refrain at this moment from praising the Lord with a raised hand. Then Alice got to thinking, “What if I didn't have a fresh manicure and my nails/hands were scruffy?” Then this voice would say, “Oh, you don't want to lift those ugly hands up to praise the Lord!”

Here we have the enemy of our souls, the devil, the evil one, Satan, the Prince and Power of the air, telling Alice that no matter what her hands look like, “don't lift them up in praise.” In other words, he put Alice into bondage, or tried to! But it didn't work because the irony of hearing both messages revealed the trickery of the messenger and allowed Alice to break through and praise God anyway!

I John 4:1-5 tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God . . .”

In I Samuel 16:7 we read, “For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

As I write, I want to be more vulnerable. As I praise the Lord, I want to be more free. I heard someone on the radio recently talk about “dancing with joy in praise” and I immediately had a little talk with Jesus, asking Him to help me do that and to teach me how to worship Him more freely. I also found this quote: “You fill us with joy in Your Presence because you want the laughter and the reverence.” Have you ever laughed in your fellowship with Jesus?

Psalm 16:11 says, “You have made known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Alice had to get to the point of obedience and not be concerned with what others may think. Perhaps by now you have discerned that Alice is really me, Anita! I hope that this story will be helpful when you hear voices that are not of the Lord. Purpose in your heart to try the spirits, and then obey the Lord's voice as you discard the thoughts of what others may think of you.

I was given good council that I need to more often practice praising the Lord in private. I have previously written about praying out loud. (Praising God Out Loud With Words) Sometimes our own voice sounds so loud! Get used to hearing your voice. Then give outward expression to your praise. I often pray short “outbursts” of praise. And sometimes my prayers are short petitions whenever I think of a need. But there are also sweet quiet times of sitting in His presence. I am still a seeker. A child of God, learning His ways. And He wants me to raise my hands in praise no matter what my hands look like!

I Chronicles 28:9, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”