Listening to Build Up

 Lord, Help Me Hear Your Voice

“Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, 

try to excel in those that build up the church.”

 1 Corinthians 14:12

In the middle of life’s busyness and noise, hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit is both a sacred responsibility and a great gift. God speaks through Scripture, spiritual gifts, and wise counsel—but it takes humility and attentiveness to hear Him clearly.

John Stott once said, “The Word of God is the voice of the Spirit.” Every time we open the Bible with a surrendered heart, we are not merely reading—we are listening. The Spirit speaks through its pages with authority and tenderness, always pointing us to Christ, the living Word. His voice corrects, comforts, and commissions.

The Holy Spirit also speaks through spiritual gifts. J.B. Phillips paraphrased Paul’s teaching: “The one who prophesies helps others to grow in the Lord, encourages and comforts them.” Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 14:3: “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.” Prophecy, when exercised in love, becomes a sacred channel through which God speaks timely, edifying truth. They are given not to elevate the individual, but to edify the body of Christ in unity and maturity. When exercised humbly and in love, they become visible expressions of God’s care, wisdom, and presence among His people.

Donald Coggan called the Church to be “a listening Church—listening to the Word, to the cry of the world, and to the voice of the Spirit.” This requires more than just quietness; it demands spiritual attentiveness. We must be rooted in Scripture, alert to the suffering around us, and responsive to the Spirit’s gentle prompting.

To be a Spirit-filled people, we must be a listening people—open to God’s voice through His Word, His gifts, and His guidance.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to hear Your voice—through the clarity of Scripture, the power of Your spiritual gifts, and the wisdom of those You place in our lives. Teach us to walk humbly, discern rightly, and obey fully. May we never take Your Spirit for granted. Help us listen, and live accordingly. Amen.