The Voice of God and the Breaking of Self-Will
When God speaks, there is no mistaking His voice. He does not merely reach our ears; He reaches our hearts, arresting us in the midst of our self-assured plans and revealing how little we truly understand. Paul, once convinced he was serving God by persecuting Christians, was suddenly struck down on the road to Damascus. In that moment, the voice of Jesus shattered his self-made certainty, forcing him to ask the humbling question, “Who art Thou, Lord?” (Acts 26:15). His greatest mistake had not been in his zeal but in the spirit with which he pursued it.
Zeal in itself is not godliness. Many have imagined themselves to be champions of Christ while unknowingly working against Him. Even the disciples, when they sought to call down fire on those who rejected Jesus, were rebuked with the sobering words, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:55). It is possible to advocate for truth with a spirit completely foreign to Christ’s own nature. If our words are right but our heart is restless, if our actions are dutiful but void of love, then we have lost the spirit of Christ and replaced it with the striving of the flesh.
A soldier who marches forward without waiting for his commander’s signal may be full of confidence, but he is still out of step with the battle plan. Many approach their Christian walk the same way—assuming that whatever is hardest or most unpleasant must surely be their duty. But the spirit of Christ is not driven by grim obligation; it is the spirit of “I delight to do Thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). Christ’s way is not one of forced determination but of willing surrender, resting in His leading rather than charging ahead in self-imposed burdens.
Practical Applications
Examine the spirit behind your service. Are your words and actions reflecting the heart of Christ, or are they driven by self-will?
Be willing to be stopped. If God interrupts your plans or convictions, do not resist. His voice often comes to dismantle self-reliance and redirect you to His way.
Embrace joyful surrender. Following Christ is not about grim endurance but about resting in the delight of His will.
Prayer of Trust
Father, we rejoice that You speak with clarity and wisdom, cutting through the noise of our self-made convictions. Thank You for revealing where we have sought to serve You in our own strength rather than in Your Spirit. We trust You to align our hearts with Yours, that we may walk in the love and gentleness of Christ, delighting in Your will rather than striving in our own. Your voice is sure, Your guidance is perfect, and in Your presence, we find rest. Amen.
Final Thought
The most dangerous ignorance is not a lack of knowledge but a confidence in our own way apart from Christ. True wisdom begins not with knowing but with surrender—asking, “Who art Thou, Lord?” and yielding to His voice.
*(Credit: Insights drawn from My Utmost for His Highest, "But It Is Hardly Credible That One Could Be So Positively Ignorant!" by Oswald Chambers.)