The Voice of God

Scripture

Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” (1 Sam 3:4-11)

Rev 3:20 “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come to you and eat with you, and you with me.”

Note: This meeting is adapted from https://clc-usa.com/caminos/

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace: To be able to recognize what different voices are at play within our hearts and how they point us toward or away from God.

Use the grace and the suggested scripture above to create your own prayer, or use CLC Opening Prayer.

Note: Ask for a volunteer to lead opening and closing prayers for the next meeting.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

- Share about a time this week when you either felt great energy, cohesion, and sense of purpose, or a time when you felt really detached, distant, and discouraged.

III. Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed: CLC supply box (CLC journal booklets, papers, pens, etc.).

Introduction

Introduce “The Voice of God/the Voice of Love” and “The Voice Not of God/the Voice of Fear” using your own words. Then invite someone in your group who has a gift for reading expressively (maybe the theatre major!) to read the passage below.

I’m being urged from the inside to do something really crazy. I’ve tried to put it out of my mind, get away from it for over a year, let it go, but it keeps coming back to my heart. It is nothing bad, illegal or immoral. In fact, it is something that I could easily say is for the Greater Glory of God, for helping others on their path. You can probably insert just about any healthy dream, wish, hope, or vision you have had in its place. In fact, do that… right now. Say to yourself, “In five years I can see myself… what? What are your wildest dreams? (Ignatius was big on using your imagination to envision your calling.) At first there is this flutter of something in your heart. Awe? Excitement? Inspiration? A YES!

But then… the Voice sets in. The Voice of Sarcasm: “Yeah right, like that could ever happen.” The Voice of Hopelessness: “I could never pull that off. I’m not good enough.” The Voice of Insecurity: “I have no idea what I’m doing.” The Voice of Fear: “I’m going to look really foolish. It’s not worth the risk of being humiliated.” And with that any flutter in the heart is firmly squashed (insert image of smashed butterfly laying on its side with one wing up… weakly waving… weakly…waving.)

That longing to act is still there. That dream keeps coming back. And the cycle begins again. So I asked God in prayer ever so reverently, “What the heck??”

And there is a new Voice, one I almost dare not believe. “Look at the Voice you’ve been listening to,” It implores. “It is not Mine. I see you only as fully capable to be everything I have gifted you to be. I desire your wholeness. I desire for you to shine as my beloved child. The Voice of Sarcasm, Hopelessness, Negativity, Fear, that is the Voice of the Spirit Not of God that seeks your brokenness, your emptiness, your uselessness to serve others.”

I was a bit shocked by the revelation that I have been worshipping the Spirit Not of God in so many messages I believed to be true about myself.

I’m not really sure I have fully come to grips with the Spirit Not of God. I tend to think it is really my own weakness rather than a Spirit from outside me. And yet I know without hesitation that my Strength comes from a Spirit beyond my own capacity. But in the end, whether of my own making or something beyond me, the result is the same reticence to grow and serve as I perhaps, maybe, possibly, haphazardly have been gifted or called to do. Is it easier to believe the Spirit Not of God? Does it get us off the hook to believe for whatever reason we simply can’t respond to that longing in our hearts? Is it too much responsibility to accept that calling as uniquely ours?Uniquely mine. I sit with it for a good while.

The butterfly wing begins to flutter ever so slightly.

The Voice of Sarcasm gives way to the Voice of Certainty: “With God, all things are possible.” The Voice of Hopelessness gives way to the Voice of Hope: “I could pull it off.” The Voice of Insecurity gives way to the Voice of strength: “I have so much to share that other people need to hear or know or be empowered by.” The Voice of Fear turns into the Voice of Courage: “This is absolutely insane and I’m going to love every minute of it no matter what happens!” Even the Voice of Resistance becomes the Voice of Invitation: “Just come and see.” I so want to believe that this is my calling because when I am doing it, I feel so whole, so full, so dead on. But to even chance that that desire of my heart is God’s wish for me is staggering.

And the Voice says, “The Force of the Resurrection is the Force at work within me to do the will of God. Fly, butterfly, fly.

Lisa Kelly, This Ignatian Life blog

Sharing

- In what ways do you relate to the woman who wrote this passage? Does it sound familiar to you?
- When in your life have you listened to the wrong voice?
- Which voice has most power over you?
- In your own life now, where do you think the Voice of Love is speaking and where do you think the Voice of Fear is speaking?

If time allows, use two large cartoon “word bubbles” made out of poster board or large sheet of paper to invite group members to list phrases that could be the Voice of God and the Voice Not of God. Allow people to respond to what is written.

Listening Deeper

Suggested questions to deepen awareness of inner movements and further conversation

- What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any patterns or commonalities?
- How have you been feeling throughout the meeting? Comfortable? Anxious? Curious?
- Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person share?

IV. Moving Forward (5 min.)

Action:
1. Pray with Awareness Examen: Try to notice one time this week when the Voice of God or the Voice Not of God seems to be speaking to you. Take a few moments to talk with God about that movement.
2. Share with your prayer partner
Announcements: Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events

V. Closing Prayer (5 min.)

Pray for each other or use the CLC Closing Prayer.

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