Many of you, like me, may have once been unfamiliar with the voice of the Holy Spirit, preoccupied with life, or not paying attention. It's a journey that some dismiss as unimportant, while others are afraid. They hear God speak but have not been taught about spiritual gifts and, therefore, feel that they are imagining or that something is wrong with them. This was my personal struggle; I even thought I was going crazy. Sometimes, due to past teachings and beliefs, people are unaware that God speaks to them and attribute what they hear as “something said,” “I feel like,” or “I had a feeling that.” Can you relate to any of these scenarios? You can learn to recognize God’s voice and embrace the call God has placed upon your life.

Most Christians know that God speaks to them through the Word of God, a sermon, a song, a circumstance, a dream, a person, etc. Still others live a consecrated lifestyle of hearing God. This means they make a conscious effort to stay in His presence, to pray and listen to Him daily. They prioritize their relationship with God above all else, dedicating their time and energy to seeking His will and obeying His commands. This was the lifestyle of many of the Old Testament prophets. Their entire lives were devoted to God, and they lived in the presence of God daily, listening and obeying His will. Their lives were totally surrendered to the calling God had placed upon them. They expected God to speak to them. When speaking to God, they knew they were not just speaking into the air or speaking to a God who would ignore them because they had a close personal relationship with Him. Isaiah 65:24 God said,

Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Remember, your personal relationship with God is not just important, it is paramount. He values your communication with Him, and it is through this relationship that you can truly recognize and embrace His voice.

1. Do you expect God to speak to you? Reflect on this question and consider your personal experiences. Have you welcomed opportunities for the Lord to speak by asking Him, “Lord, what do you want to say to me now”?

There are times when we need to be persistent in seeking God, just like Jacob, who declared, “I’ll not let you go until you bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Let's be diligent in our pursuit of God, knowing that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). This persistence and determination will lead us to a deeper understanding of His voice and a stronger connection with Him, bringing us the rewards of His presence and guidance.

2. Do you seek Him, wait on Him, and obey when He speaks?

Most of us understand the principle of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a fundamental conventional tradition of the Christian faith. We become Christians because God forgave us. We have been taught that forgiveness is necessary. Still, the psychological process of forgiveness (e.g., the various steps or components of learning to process psychological aspects such as feelings of disdain, anger, holding grudges, and hurt and hatred comes into play as one navigates through the steps of forgiveness) and we have not been taught how to deal with the forgiveness process. Forgiveness is hard, and we sometimes do not want to forgive. If the infraction includes some physical or long-term challenges, forgiving becomes more difficult. However, unforgiveness is also hard on the offended because it disturbs one's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Let me offer a few principles to help you begin the process of understanding how to forgive.

First, forgiveness is an attitude, not a transaction. We offer forgiveness whether the person receives it or not. God has done that for us: “God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:8). Some people respond to God’s gracious offer of restoration, while others reject it. But God made the first move by sending Jesus to die for us whether a person received the offer. He did it by LOVE! That’s an attitude reflecting God’s character. My husband says he once offended one of his students by commenting on her feet (he is such a man, lol). Later that day, he called to apologize. The woman told him, “Oh, I’ve already forgiven you for that.” He was relieved. Now…when was he forgiven? Not when he made the call, but when she made up her mind,- her attitude- that he was forgiven. That’s how God forgives us. God has already decided that we have forgiveness…but we don’t receive it until we call Him! Be prayerful about approaching and forgiving someone, but don’t wait for them to accept it. Martin Luther King once said, “Forgiveness is an attitude, not an action.” He lived his life that way. How else could he have endured what he did for the Civil Rights Movement? Let me share another story of forgiveness in action. A woman, who was a victim of a violent crime, forgave her attacker. She didn't wait for him to apologize or show remorse. She chose to forgive, and in doing so, she found peace and healing. This is the power of forgiveness in action.

Second, forgiveness is a process. When we are offended, we move toward forgiveness, but often in stages. Someone may have hurt you a while back, but you forgave them. Then, something reminds you of the incident, and you get upset again. That doesn’t mean you weren’t sincere the first time. It simply means that God has revealed more of the hurt, and you have to address it through more forgiveness. A friend of mine forgave his grandmother, who raised him for neglecting his health. Later in life, he faced health challenges that his doctor said were directly related to malnourishment as a child. He had already forgiven Granny, but now, his anger threatened to come back once more (you know the devil loves to come back at “an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). He had to revisit the place of offense and forgive again. We grow in grace, and we grow in our ability to forgive. This growth is not just about forgiving others, but it's also about forgiving ourselves and understanding that we are all imperfect and in need of God's grace. This process of forgiveness is a key part of our spiritual growth as Christians.

Finally, forgiveness is not just for the offender but for YOU. St. Paul tells us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger…” (Ephesians 4:31) because it grieves the Holy Spirit. I want “nothing between my soul and my Saviour.”  Before he tells the church to be rid of bitterness, St. Paul says, “Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). So anger may be a first response, but it should not control us. Otherwise, we open a door for the enemy. The word “place” is a translation of the Greek word “topos” or land (where we get our word topography from). Don’t give the enemy any land! Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, and Hebrews 12:15 warns us that bitterness troubles us and, ultimately, those around us. I don’t want trouble or to spread a troubled spirit. Some doctors even warn that unaddressed bitterness can lead to elevated blood pressure, heart issues, and other physical ailments. One psychiatrist even proposed classifying it as a disease’ Post Traumatic Emotional Disorder! While we may not go that far, accepting unforgiveness can lead to health challenges.

There is so much more I can say. More importantly, the Bible has so much more to say about forgiveness. That is why, at Salt and Light Institute, we are exploring topics and teaching the Body of Christ to be accessible to prosper and minister (after all, the purpose of prosperity, including emotional, physical, financial, and social, is to further the Kingdom of God). Join us on this journey to healing and wholeness so that we might spread “the Root of Jesse” (Romans 15:12) rather than bitterness.