One thing that is often stressed at Adventures in Missions is the power of telling stories. I think that should be the case in life as well.  People connect to stories much easier than they might spectacular lectures, information, and processes because somewhere deep inside a small voice says, "Hey, me too.  I had no idea I wasn't the only one!"  Life stories provide freedom for people to directly relate in ways that teachings often lack, and I think it's one of the reasons Jesus taught in parables so frequently.  The parables related to the lives of the listeners to create space for a more personal level of understanding.  

Two weekends ago, Adventures in Missions invited those from the community of Gainesville to attend a conference called "Hearing the Voice of God."  This was the first time a non-Adventures related group of people was on campus!  As can be gathered from the title, we practiced hearing the voice of God.  This does not necessarily mean hearing an audible voice but rather, the Lord speaks to us in different, and encouraging ways when we take time to listen to what He has to say.  Before you start to become alarmed by the idea of hearing the voice of God, let me just pause and say that in my experience, it is one of the most encouraging parts of my spiritual walk.  How simple, yet extraordinary, it is to look someone in the eyes and simply say, "You are known.  Your father in heaven sees you and deems you worthy of love.  He is amazed by you because you are perfectly and wonderfully made."  

Wow! 

It may be easy to disengage from that while reading it on the screen but when someone looks at you, and I mean really looks and speaks with authority and conviction, it is impossible to ignore the truth being spoken to you.  What's even more amazing is that anyone...did you get that? ANYONE can hear the voice of God and speak it into someone's life.  Part of the conference involved learning how to discern what is the voice of God and a few key ingredients are: the prophetic word lines up with Scripture, other believers confirm it, it produces fruit, and comes to pass.  I'm paraphrasing that a little but even looking at the statement I made earlier, it gets a check mark next to each of those categories.  

I could go on for a long time about the encouragement that hearing from the Lord brings to the lives of the listeners, but I will leave you with a word that God actually spoke to me during worship.  There was a time of sharing and many in the room felt connected to this so I'd like to pass it along:

Come sit at the foot of my throne, bask in the warmth and brilliance of my presence.  Sit. Be.  Remain still.  Allow me to speak without your own agenda.  Be you in front of me.  

Also, for those of you not from a charismatic background, you just read a prophetic word.  Not so scary, is it?

Anyone can hear from God.  You just have to put yourself in a place to listen! It’s quite simple, really.