June 4, 2009 - Acts 9:10

“In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.” Acts 9:10.
Saul was in Damascus when God spoke to a follower of Jesus in Damascus, named Ananias. We do not know what this disciple was doing at the time; we only know that God called out to him and he answered. He might have been in prayer or busy at his work, yet it seems that Ananias recognized the Lord’s voice and answered Him. It seems that Ananias had an intimate relationship with God, since he was able to recognize His voice immediately.
This verse challenges me! I don’t know if I would be as ready as Ananias was to respond to the Lord. And while I have sensed God speaking to me in the impressions within my mind, through my reading and studying in the Bible, or through some other means, I am not so sure that I would recognize His voice, if He spoke to me. In those times when I believe that He has spoken to me, I recognize that I had a sense of peace, even though I may not have understood what He said. The challenge for me is to place myself in a position that would allow me slow down enough to hear from Him and to learn to recognize His voice.
Ananias is a good model for me, for it is my desire to recognize the Lord’s voice and to respond right away.
Questions to consider: Have you ever sensed that God has spoken to you? How did that happen? How did you respond? What would it take for you to learn how to recognize His voice when He speaks to you?
Prayer: Lord, help me to slow down enough to recognize Your voice as You speak to me. Help me to do what is necessary to develop a more intimate relationship with You. Amen.