As I gathered my things to prepare for our women’s group, I discovered my Bible was missing.

I searched everywhere–my desk, the bookshelf, my tote bags.  It was probably home on the kitchen table.

Since I work in a church there’s no shortage of Bibles around, but I wanted my Bible–the one with keepsake notes stuck snugly between well-worn pages yellowed by highlighter. 

Time was ticking.

The colorful binding on my Children’s Ministry Bible caught my eye.  Perfect, I’ll use this one. After all, we are called to have faith like a child, right?

When God Speaks Loud and Clear

Our study that night brought us to one of the most prophetic books in form, poetic and oh so relevant for today. 

A short yet powerful message, seven chapters long, sandwiched between Jonah and Nahum. Micah.

The passage?

 Micah 6:6-8

Nearing the end of our time together, an old sermon outline fell out of the pages of that Bible I had not originally planned to use that night. 

I felt compelled to read the outline aloud–an outline dated years earlier, October 29, 2006.

After reading down the front page of the outline, I flipped it over and continued reading.

As my eyes continued down the page, my expression must have been priceless.  I gasped.  There it was again. 

Micah 6:6-8 

Why Are We So Surprised?

Why are we so surprised when God speaks loud and clear?

We’ve all used the phrase that doesn’t surprise me when an occurrence lines up with character. 

A conscientious student makes the honor roll, a person habitually late loses a job.

So why does it surprise us when we hold faith tangibly in our hands in the form of a sermon outline written years before? 

Doesn’t that divine occurrence line up with God’s character? 

He speaks to His children today  just as He did yesterday, just as He does today, and just as He will tomorrow.  Perhaps surprise is not the right word, but rather wonder, amazement, excitement, awe.

Awestruck Wonder

God’s confirmation is a powerful thing.

So what was God saying loud and clear? 

That He does not require from us empty ritual, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him.

Our eyes could hear Him speak.

By the way I was right, my Bible was at home, right where I was supposed to leave it.

With what shall I come before the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

                                                        Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

Are you walking through wilderness longing to hear God’s voice?

Check out this post for more encouragement

What Happens in the Wilderness?

Struggling with regret and having a hard time forgiving yourself?

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Goodbye Regret: Forgiving Yourself of Past Mistakes