Knowing His Voice – The Presidential Prayer Team

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon… and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. – Luke 2:25-26

The Bible does not say how many years Simeon waited for the revelation of seeing Christ before he died to come true. As he aged, he may have had his doubts if he had heard the Holy Spirit right. How excited he must have been to see Jesus.

Did you ever hear something from the Holy Spirit and wonder, “Am I hearing right, or is it just a thought passing through my mind?” As you pray and read the Bible, you will become more sensitive to and familiar with the voice of the Holy Spirit. Just as you readily recognize the voice of someone you know well, you can learn to distinguish the Holy Spirit’s promptings from your own or others’ thoughts.

There are ways to increase your sensitivity to His voice. Ask God for ears to hear what His Spirit is saying to you. Pray in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Get to know Him by reading about Him in His Word. As you read the Bible and pray, keep a notebook handy to record your thoughts and anything He shows you. Determine to live a life that pleases Him. Be committed to the Lord, valuing time with Him over such distractions as television or social media.

Ask Him to guide you in prayer for this country, its citizens, and elected officials. Consider what is most important to the Lord and pray accordingly. Pray for believers in Christ to understand the dimensions of God’s love and how to express it to others. Just as God was faithful to keep His promise to Simeon, He is faithful to keep the promises He whispers to your heart.

Today’s Verse: Luke 2:25-26

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Romans 8:26-32

²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?