Hear from God in 2023

Sign up for free daily emails with Bible reflections! Here are two recommended options.

Hearing from God is arguably the most important thing you will ever do. The wise men were guided to Jesus but we can be guided ­by Jesus. Very very occasionally that might be a Damascus Road experience – the blinding light and voice experienced by Paul on the road to Damascus.  But much more likely and much more often it’s an Emmaus Road experience, like the time on the first Easter day when Jesus came alongside two perplexed disciples walking to Emmaus. Jesus draws alongside us. He gently engages us in conversation. We might not even recognise his voice at first. But he gently points us to the Bible, which points back at him and our heart burns within us.

So the Bible is a key way to hear from God. That often requires some explanation and interpretation. We need to understand the context. Help is at hand.

Scripture Union provide a daily email called Wordlive, which has a Bible passages, a short reflection then a deeper reflection for those who want to go further. You can see today’s passage here and there is an option to receive the free daily email.

Another option is Simon Guillebaud’s award-winning devotional Choose Life 365. His publishers have kindly agreed for him to share it free as a daily or a weekly email. It will help you choose faith over fear, love over legalism and gratitude over grumbling! Take a look at the short video here and sign up if you wish. Simon is an amazing guy with great stories to tell. God called him to Burundi when it was the most dangerous country in the world. And he’s even spent a few days in Weaverham!

Do also check out the excellent Lectio for families app here.

Finally, do check out Peter Greig’s new book, “How to hear God: a simple guide for normal people“. The author John Mark Comer said it was “The best book I have ever read on the most important thing you will ever do”. At time of writing its £12 post free from Re-vive or Google it – it is available from several retailers.

Minnie Louise Haskins wrote a famous poem, loved by the late Queen and quoted by her father in his Christmas broadcast in 1939:

“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”.