Believing Is Real

By Rev. J. Elizabeth Pinkney

In our family meetings with God, He revealed Himself through His actions, physical gestures, or facial expressions. The hiddenness of God was revealed in late August 1988 when I heard the “Voice of God.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973646518

Rev. J. Elizabeth Pinkney

The author was raised in the deep south on a farm in a large family filled with laughter and fun. The author is an ordained clergy. “God told my family of situation in our lives and personal things that would occur in the future. We may have had our doubts initially; however the revelation of God was present through the presence of God.”

Book preview

Chapter 1

Has anyone ever said to you that he or she has heard from God? Who has really heard from God, and who knows the voice of God? As I read the Bible, I think of the major and minor prophets who all listened to what they believed was the voice of God. We know that God is a God who speaks to His people. Isaiah states, I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God (Isaiah 43:11–12 KJV).

We know that God is fully capable of speaking to His people at any time in any way He chooses. We also know that God never changes. That means that God’s nature as a God who reveals Himself to people never changes. But did God always speak to His people in the same way? Did God speak to Israel in the same way as He spoke to Adam and Eve? Did God speak to the New Testament church in the same way as He spoke to Israel? In other words, does God demonstrate in His Word that He speaks differently at different times? If we examine scripture, we find that God spoke to Noah five times over 950 years. He spoke to Abraham eight times over 175 years, and God spoke with Isaac twice and with Rebekah once over 180 years. He spoke to Jacob seven times, and God spoke to Laban only a single time over Jacob’s lifetime. These are just some examples. God reveals Himself to each of us in order for us to understand our purposes in life. He reveals Himself so we can hear His calling on our lives. Does God speak to us concerning our personal issues and situations? Yes, He does.

God not only gives us inspiration that will lead, teach, heal, and deliver His children, however He also gives us inspiration that will encourage us when we are experiencing changes and transformations in our lives and in the lives of our families. How many people today can actually say that God has whispered a word to them, has spoken to them, or has shown them something that no one else sees and hears? How can this be? How is it that God uses the voice of people to speak to others? And how can God use others as the eyes to see through them as well? How is it that God, our Father, is the Father who bears all of our burdens as we communicate to Him? And what allows God to communicate with us? I am writing about hearing the voice of God from heaven and how God reveals Himself through the lives of so many people, but especially through my family.

Imagine someone recognizing a special gift in you, and then that person decided to use you as the lead in a Broadway play. Or imagine someone recognizing your lovely voice and made you a great celebrity singer. What if someone realized your ability to minister and preach the Word of God, and so he or she invited you to preach internationally. Keep thinking until you have thought of someone who has made you known for something you have done or who has recognized you for your gifts and talents. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was chosen by God to carry out the will and purpose of almighty God. I cannot even imagine the anointing that was placed upon Mary to be chosen by God to bring good news to the world. Mary found favor with God. She became a mother and had a son, and she named him Jesus (Luke 1:30–35).

How would you respond if you heard the angel or the voice of God say to you that you would be the parent of the Son of the highest and that you are favored? What an honor it is to be chosen for a particular work or ministry that God has called only you or your family to lead or to carry out! In the book of Luke, it states,

And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore; also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30–35 KJV)

God can use whomever or whatever He wants, whenever He wants. In the Old Testament, God used a donkey to accomplish the mission that had been set in motion (Numbers 22:21–39). Why, then, can’t God speak through anyone at any time or in any way? Hearing His audible voice does not bring doubt to our situations, but it does bring faith to our lives.

But I have heard God speak through music, other people, His Word, family, dreams, my parents, and even my enemies—and it gives me hope. Who can believe the voice of the Lord? Even when we hear it, sometimes we run from the voice that we know is truly God. Have you ever heard the voice of God but ignored this voice you clearly heard? Even when we hear the voice of