How Do I Seek First the Kingdom? | Seeking His Voice

by Angie Wyatt

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
John 16:13–14
People magazine calls Ben Underwood the “Boy Who Sees with Sound.” Ben is totally blind, but he walks freely without the use of a cane or guide dog. Ben has taught himself to navigate his surroundings using echo location. Like a dolphin, he makes a clicking sound with his voice, and then the sound reverberates off objects and back to him. He has perfected this internal radar device so well that he can tell precisely where to locate a glass of water. The clicking even tells him the difference between a truck and a sedan. When Ben makes this clicking sound, his internal radar tells him how to make sense of his world. His life becomes organized; he knows how to get around and how to function. 

What would it be like if we could suddenly “see” the unseen spiritual world around us? From Ben’s story, we learn that there are so many ways to see, hear and perceive reality. As Christians, we have our own internal radar. This radar perfectly connects us with God’s voice. Some hear God’s voice audibly, some hear God like a feeling that stirs deep within and others hear God through visions. We each hear God in our own way.

Jesus sent us His Holy Spirit to be our internal guide. Throughout the book of Acts, we see how the Holy Spirit fills believers with His presence. Because of our relationship with Him, we can hear Him speak to us. When the Holy Spirit speaks, He guides our lives into truth. With God, we are no longer blind. We can confidently walk into this world because He reveals the truth of our surroundings. Those supernatural things that we cannot see physically are perceived spiritually. 

In John 10, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd. He says that anyone who knows Him also knows His voice. He assures us that we won’t know the voice of the Enemy. As God’s sheep, we can pursue God’s voice to guide our lives like a good shepherd guides his flock.

1.  In what ways do you hear God?

2.  How can you hear God daily?

3.  What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

How Do I Seek First the Kingdom? | Seeking His Presence

by Angie Wyatt

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19–22

Every Sunday, my dad would get up early and go to work. Like most pastors, he got to church early, prayed and made his final sermon notes. As the service time approached, people always congregated outside my dad’s office. They wanted him to be available for prayer or spiritual counsel. But, when I showed up, I ran right past them all and burst into his office without even knocking on the door. When I saw him, I would jump into his lap and give him a big kiss. To me, he wasn’t the preacher, he was my dad. 

My relationship with my dad reminds me of my relationship with my heavenly Father.  No matter where I am in life, I know I’m welcome with my Father. I may be messy and unpolished.  I may not follow all the right etiquette, but He’s always happy to see me, and I’m so happy to be with Him. 

Throughout the Old Testament, God was distant from His people. Only the priests could come to His holy place. But now, all that has changed. In Hebrews, we read that Jesus became the final high priest. We can come to the Father through Him. We can enter the holy place of God’s presence because we are loved, accepted and welcome. 

In God’s presence, we find all of those things that characterize Him. We find His peace, love, mercy and goodness. He embraces us with His love. He answers our prayers. He visits with us. When we seek His presence, we are seeking His kingdom.  The Bible promises, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Enter into His holy place, and you will find Him ready to embrace you.

1.  What keeps you from seeking God’s presence?

2.  How can you pursue God’s presence?

3.  What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?