Cayce Harris

November 6, 2023

Hearing God Chart, Part 2

We created the Hearing God Chart 1 to help you discern what God sounds like and the place His words come from—let’s call that the “heart intention” of the way God speaks. I often picture this chart in my mind to help me discern what’s going on in my head.

Just last night I told Jesus something I was worried about. Gently, in His gracious voice of conviction, He whispered: “Cayce, that voice is the voice of self-judgement and the fruit is worry.” His voice sounds like the left side of the chart and the judgement is clearly from the “other” column on the right.

I asked Jesus, “What do you want me to know?” The thought formed clearly: “I haven’t judged you.” Peace followed. The chart has helped me discern God’s voice on so many different occasions! This second chart is about the way of God.

What is God’s way? There are so many charts we could create. We could make one titled “Shepard” or “Rock” or “Source” or “Father” or “Mother” or “Friend,” but let’s start with one of the original pictures that helps us understand God’s ways in the very beginning—that of a Creator and Artist!

Just like Chart 1, this chart isn’t made to be exhaustive but short, practical and helpful for processing life.

“Artist” describes one of the ways of God—God is not only the Creator of all, but He’s a good one—The Ultimate Artist.

On the other side of the chart we’ll use the word “Critic.”

The word “Critic” for our purposes is one that is motivated by accusation as opposed to artistry and creation.

The way of criticism is something that only has power if we embrace it. Similarly, the way of being of our Artist God is a way that will forever give us life as we embrace it. We always have a choice!

Artist Critic

Creation Tear down/Build up

Image of God Good/bad

Experience Right/wrong

Curiosity Should/ought

Connection Stupid/smart

Mystery Certainty/doubt

Belonging In/out

Ask Jesus:

“Jesus, what feels like it’s getting torn down or built up?”

“Jesus, what do you want me to know about what you are creating in me today?”

“Jesus, how have I judged myself or someone else as good or bad?”

“Jesus, what does it mean that I am (or they are) made in your image (imago Dei)?”

“Jesus, what am I wrestling with as either right or wrong?”

“Jesus, from your vast experience how do you see it?”

“Jesus, what should’s and ought’s are driving me?”

“Jesus, what do you want me to be curious about?”

“Jesus, where have I decided I’m stupid? Where have I strived to be the smartest?”

“Jesus, you know how you made me, what do you say to the part of me I deemed stupid?”

“Jesus, what do you want me to know about the smart way you made me?”

“Jesus, what certainty or doubt am I claiming?”

“Jesus, what mystery are you inviting me into?”

“Jesus, what parts of me have felt rejected or on the outside?”

“Jesus, what parts of me have scrambled to be approved and accepted?”

“Jesus, what do you know that I don’t yet know about belonging?”

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Expressing thoughts, feelings, needs and wants

Ever struggle to express what you think, feel, need, or want? My hand is in the air. I have certainly struggled with even knowing what I’m feeling, much less what I’m needing and wanting. Forget expressing that consistently in healthy ways!

A Land Flowing with Milk & Honey

The phrase “land flowing with milk and honey” is used 21 times in the Hebrew Bible to reference the place on the earth that God’s family would dwell. This land was promised to Abraham, pursued by Moses, and entered into by Joshua and the Israelites. This land is nothing if not a stage set apart for God to display what it is to be the people of God, the family of God. Why flowing with milk and honey?

Rosalind Hervey

Flow

A while back I was on my way to ONE, and as I neared my destination, I entered the roundabout that is half a block away. I’ve only seen a handful of them in San Antonio, and my trip around that one is usually uneventful. But that day, I encountered a driver who didn’t seem to know how this type of traffic flow works. He made some gestures I won’t describe and appeared to be saying some choice words, as well.

Cayce Harris

What’s God’s favorite story?

Nothing draws me in as quickly as a “real life” story. I love hearing the real deal, straight from the horse's mouth. I don’t want a secondhand story—sure there’s a part of me, like you, that is tempted by the latest secondhand gossip at times. The deeper, more mature part of me would rather just hear it straight up or not at all. I’m tired of secondhand storytelling. We live in a day where there’s little trust of even professional secondhand storytelling. Real stories directly from real people are powerful.

Cayce Harris

Who are you? What are you doing here?

There was a rabbi who found himself wandering the empty streets of a Russian city early one morning. His rambling walk reflected the state of his heart and mind—many questions, few answers. In some despair, paying little attention to his surroundings, he strolled upon a Russian military compound off limits to civilians. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” a voice demanded from the darkness.

Rosalind Hervey

Slipstream

One night during hospital stay about a year ago, I was up all night preparing for testing early the next morning, I noticed a text from a friend who was up late (two hours earlier in another state) who urgently needed prayer for his family. I usually don’t get his texts until the next day, but since I was up, I began praying for him and his family. Each text he sent, brought a scripture to mind that I readily shared with him. None of this would have been possible had I been asleep as usual.

Cayce Harris

Hearing God Chart, Part 1

What does God’s voice sound like? How do you know the difference between your voice and God’s voice? What do you do when the thoughts running through your mind sound like something God would say, it could even be Scripture or a quote from a great message, but the “voice” behind it seems more like fear than the love of a good Father?

Cayce Harris