Bible – Bible Society of Zimbabwe

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Hearing the voice of God is a central theme throughout Scripture. From the gentle whisper to the thunderous proclamation, God’s voice guides, comforts, and instructs His people. Understanding how to hear His voice is crucial for anyone seeking to follow His will. Here are seven Bible verses that highlight the importance of hearing and recognizing God’s voice.

1. John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus uses the metaphor of sheep and a shepherd to describe the relationship between Himself and His followers. Just as sheep recognize and respond to the voice of their shepherd, believers are called to recognize and follow the voice of Jesus. Hearing God’s voice is not just about recognition, but also about obedience. When we truly hear Him, we follow where He leads.

2. 1 Kings 19:11-12 – “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

God’s voice is not always found in the loud and dramatic. Instead, He often speaks in a “low whisper” or “still small voice.” Be still and quiet your hearts, creating space to hear the subtle yet profound voice of God. It teaches us that God often communicates in ways that require us to listen carefully and attentively.

3. Isaiah 30:21 – “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

God provides guidance, even in the midst of uncertainty. As we navigate life’s decisions, God’s voice directs us, showing us the right path. This promise of divine guidance encourages us to trust that God will speak to us when we need direction, leading us on the path He has set before us.

4. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

In the busyness and noise of life, it can be challenging to discern God’s voice. However, by intentionally being still and acknowledging His sovereignty, we create an environment where we are more likely to hear Him speak. Stillness allows us to focus on God and tune in to His voice.

5. Hebrews 3:7-8 – “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.’”

Hearing God’s voice requires not only listening but also being willing to act on what we hear. A hardened heart can prevent us from fully receiving God’s message and guidance. This verse calls us to be open and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

6. Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

We are encouraged to seek God actively, knowing that He desires to reveal deep and profound truths to us. It emphasizes the relational aspect of hearing God’s voice, where we engage in dialogue with Him, confident that He will respond.

7. Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, knocking and speaking. The invitation is clear: if we hear His voice and open the door, He will come in and fellowship with us. This verse highlights the personal and relational aspect of God’s communication, emphasizing that hearing His voice leads to deeper communion with Him.

Conclusion

Hearing the voice of God is a profound and essential part of the Christian life. These verses remind us that God speaks in various ways—sometimes in a whisper, sometimes in guidance, and always with a heart of love. To hear His voice, we must cultivate stillness, maintain a receptive heart, and be willing to respond in faith. As we do, we draw closer to God, following His lead and growing in our relationship with Him.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.-2

Get ready to dive deep into Independence Day, celebrated every 18th of April in Zimbabwe! It’s not just about parties and flags waving high, it’s a chance to think big. We’re talking about freedom, justice, and how Zimbabwe broke free from the past. And guess what? The Bible has a lot to say about all of this! So, let’s see how its stories help us understand why Independence Day is such a big deal.”

Freedom from Slavery

The story of when the Israelites got free from being slaves in Egypt, like it says in the Book of Exodus, is a lot like what countries go through when they want to be independent.. Through divine intervention and the leadership of Moses, the Israelites were liberated from the oppressive rule of Pharaoh and embarked on a journey toward the Promised Land, Canaan (Exodus 12 – Numbers 33). This narrative underscores the biblical principle that God desires freedom for His people and calls upon individuals to resist bondage and oppression.

Justice and Equality

The prophets from the Bible always said that fairness and being equal are really important. They told leaders and everyone else to treat people who are pushed aside or treated badly with respect and fairness. The prophet Isaiah exhorted, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17, NIV). Independence Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, echoing the prophetic call to advocate for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their social status or background.

Responsibility and Promise

While Independence Day commemorates the attainment of freedom, it also underscores the responsibility that comes with it. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with God’s laws and upholding moral principles. The promise between God and the Israelites, symbolised by the giving of the Ten Commandments, serves as a reminder that true freedom is found in obedience to divine guidance. ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19 v 4-6 NIV).

Conclusion

Independence Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the biblical principles of freedom, justice, and liberation. As you celebrate the attainment of independence, may you also heed the lessons of the Bible, striving to uphold justice, equality, and freedom in our societies. May you be inspired by the courage and resilience of those who have fought for liberation, and may you continue to pursue a world where all individuals can experience the blessings of true freedom.

Jerusalem Will Be Safe

1 You defeated my people.

Now you're in for trouble!

You've never been destroyed,

but you will be destroyed;

you've never been betrayed,

but you will be betrayed.

When you have finished

destroying and betraying,

you will be destroyed

and betrayed in return.

7 Bible Verses to Start Your Day

When you wake up in the morning, start your day with a verse from the Bible. Before you get out of bed, take a moment to pray.

2 Please, Lord, be kind to us!

We depend on you.

Make us strong each morning,

and come to save us

when we are in trouble.

3 Nations scatter when you roar

and show your greatness.

4 We attack our enemies

like swarms of locusts;

we take everything

that belongs to them.

5 You, Lord, are above all others,

and you live in the heavens.

You have brought justice

and fairness to Jerusalem;

6 you are the foundation

on which we stand today.

You always save us and give

true wisdom and knowledge.

Nothing means more to us

than obeying you.

The Lord Will Do Something

7 Listen! Our bravest soldiers

are running through the streets,

screaming for help.

Our messengers hoped for peace,

but came home crying.

8 No one travels anymore;

every road is empty.

Treaties are broken,

and no respect is shown

to any who keep promises.

9 Fields are dry and barren;

Mount Lebanon wilts

with shame.

Sharon Valley is a desert;

the forests of Bashan and Carmel

have lost their leaves.

10 But the Lord says,

“Now I will do something

and be greatly praised.

11 Your deeds are straw

that will be set on fire

by your very own breath.

12 You will be burned to ashes

like thorns in a fire.

13 Everyone, both far and near,

come look at what I have done.

See my mighty power!”

Punishment and Rewards

14 Those terrible sinners

on Mount Zion tremble

as they ask in fear,

“How can we possibly live

where a raging fire

never stops burning?”

15 But there will be rewards

for those who live right

and tell the truth,

for those who refuse

to take money by force

or accept bribes,

for all who hate murder

and violent crimes.

16 They will live in a fortress

high on a rocky cliff,

where they will have food

and plenty of water.

The Lord Is Our King

17 With your own eyes

you will see the glorious King;

you will see his kingdom

reaching far and wide.

18 Then you will ask yourself,

“Where are those officials

who terrified us and forced us

to pay such heavy taxes?”

19 You will never again have to see

the proud people who spoke

a strange and foreign language

you could not understand.

20 Look to Mount Zion

where we celebrate

our religious festivals.

You will see Jerusalem,

secure as a tent with pegs

that cannot be pulled up

and fastened with ropes

that can never be broken.

21 Our wonderful Lord

will be with us!

There will be deep rivers

and wide streams

safe from enemy ships.

The Lord Is Our Judge

22 The Lord is our judge

and our ruler;

the Lord is our king

and will keep us safe.

23 But your nation is a ship

with its rigging loose,

its mast shaky,

and its sail not spread.

Someday even you that are lame

will take everything you want

from your enemies.

24 The Lord will forgive your sins,

and none of you will say,

“I feel sick.”

1 Woe to thee that spoylest, and wast not spoyled: and doest wickedly, and they did not wickedly against thee: when thou shalt cease to spoyle, thou shalt be spoyled: when thou shalt make an ende of doing wickedly, they shall doe wickedly against thee. 2 O Lord, haue mercie vpon vs, wee haue waited for thee: be thou, which waste their arme in the morning, our helpe also in time of trouble. 3 At the noise of the tumult, the people fled: at thine exalting the nations were scattered. 4 And your spoyle shall be gathered like the gathering of caterpillers: and he shall go against him like the leaping of grashoppers. 5 The Lord is exalted: for hee dwelleth on hie: he hath filled Zion with iudgement and iustice. 6 And there shall be stabilitie of thy times, strength, saluation, wisdome and knowledge: for the feare of the Lord shalbe his treasure. 7 Behold, their messengers shall cry without, and ye ambassadours of peace shall weepe bitterly. 8 The pathes are waste: the wayfaring man ceaseth: hee hath broken the couenant: hee hath contemned the cities: he regarded no man. 9 The earth mourneth and fainteth: Lebanon is ashamed, and hewen downe: Sharon is like a wildernes, and Bashan is shaken and Carmel. 10 Now will I arise, saith the Lord: now will I be exalted, now will I lift vp my selfe. 11 Ye shall conceiue chaffe, and bring forth stubble: the fire of your breath shall deuoure you. 12 And the people shall be as the burning of lime: and as the thornes cut vp, shall they be burnt in the fire. 13 Heare, yee that are farre off, what I haue done, and ye that are neere, know my power. 14 The sinners in Zion are afraide: a feare is come vpon the hypocrites: who among vs shall dwel with the deuouring fire? who among vs shall dwell with the euerlasting burnings? 15 Hee that walketh in iustice, and speaketh righteous things, refusing gaine of oppression, shaking his handes from taking of gifts, stopping his eares from hearing of blood, and shutting his eyes from seeing euill. 16 He shall dwell on hie: his defence shall be the munitions of rockes: bread shalbe giuen him, and his waters shalbe sure. 17 Thine eyes shall see the King in his glory: they shall beholde the lande farre off. 18 Thine heart shall meditate feare, Where is the scribe? where is the receiuer? where is hee that counted the towres? 19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a darke speache, that thou canst not perceiue, and of a stammering tongue that thou canst not vnderstande. 20 Looke vpon Zion the citie of our solemne feastes: thine eyes shall see Ierusalem a quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that can not be remooued: and the stakes thereof can neuer be taken away, neither shall any of the cordes thereof be broken. 21 For surely there the mightie Lord will be vnto vs, as a place of floods and broade riuers, whereby shall passe no shippe with oares, neither shall great shippe passe thereby. 22 For the Lord is our Iudge, the Lord is our lawe giuer: the Lord is our King, he will saue vs. 23 Thy cordes are loosed: they could not well strengthen their maste, neither coulde they spread the saile: then shall the praye be deuided for a great spoile: yea, the lame shall take away the pray. 24 And none inhabitant shall say, I am sicke: the people that dwell therein, shall haue their iniquitie forgiuen.

Isaiah 33