Finding our voice means seeking and finding God in prayer. It’s what God said to Israel:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:13–14)
There is something powerful that happens when God’s people find their voices in prayer. Jesus said:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9–10)
For Scott Scharpen (my story de jour), it started with God putting the unborn on his heart. Then, he started to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting. As he did this, the Lord ignited his imagination and directed him to fund and create a Go Mobile For Life mobile ultrasound clinic, with the vision of helping women see that there is a living baby inside them—not a “choice”—and to provide alternatives to abortion.
Scott was on the sidelines (like me). Then, his heart awakened. Then, he found his voice with God in prayer. This led him to find his voice in the real world! It’s what happened with Nehemiah.
“I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” (Neh. 2:1–5)
Nehemiah found his voice with God, and shortly afterward, found his voice in the public sphere. God placed him there on purpose. He was to voice God’s heart and purpose to a pagan king, and when he went for the ask, the king accepted! Incredible!
Notice that he was scared to death! Finding our voice may mean facing some of our biggest fears. It doesn’t mean we gallivant into danger without a care in the world. It means that in the midst of the injustice, in the middle of the opposition, we are able, with God’s gracious strength and boldness to go for the ask. To speak into the situation. To give voice to God’s heart, God’s truth, God’s ways.
Also notice Nehemiah’s tone and demeanor. He is gracious, humble and respectful. He prays silently the whole time. He’s looking for openness, for God’s answer, God’s movement. He’s driven by care, not by anger. These thing matter—a lot!
As we pray, God will begin to give us a voice to speak into areas that need change.
As with Nehemiah, forging this new ground for something bigger than ourselves is difficult. But this is how God has chosen to get his purpose advanced: through people like you and me, who at one point did not have a voice, and then, did!
Nehemiah cared, prayed, went for the ask and followed through. He went back to Jerusalem, rebuilt the walls, united his people and worked as God’s change agent. His assignment was unique to him. It was not his brother’s assignment. It was his!
A few months ago, I was sitting at a conference table with seven other pastors in Washington, D.C., talking with our district’s U.S. congressman, Ken Calvert. As we talked, I noticed that he would answer each of us, but primarily talk to one pastor.
Calvert’s attention continued to go back to this pastor. For about 10 nanoseconds, I felt the green sting of jealousy. Then, I thought, “Lord, I see that you’ve given him favor in this arena, to speak with officials, senators and such. Use him.”
Later on, I was able to tell this pastor what I saw, and I encouraged him to seek the Lord and see where that favor might take him. We want to find our voice, and help each other find their voices.
You were made with a purpose. God’s purpose. You were created to speak up for God in some arena or arenas. Now is the time to let your heart be awakened. To ask and pray, and then to step forward as God provides the vision.
- Jim Domen leads a movement of Christian leaders and pastors looking to find their voice and change the direction of our state, and our nation. “As goes California, so goes America!” He is a man of humility and prayer. He is rallying leaders to find their voice. I am a poster-child of his ministry.
- Scott Thomson, pastor of River of Life Church in Oroville, California, felt God call him to run for city council. Actually, he felt someone should run, and everyone said, “Why don’t you run?” He did. He won, and he is a change agent there. He is finding his voice.
- My friends, Allan and Jessica Jimenez, felt God’s tug toward the Spanish-speaking folks of our city, and have fearfully but faithfully moved to gather and start a church. They are finding their voice.
How about you? Where has God placed you to voice his heart, his ways, his message? Find your voice!
Sharing the gospel with others is a given. Here are some other examples of finding your voice to get your imagination going:
- Talk to your kids (or your friendship sphere) about sex, integrity, character and generosity.
- Consistently express your love verbally to your spouse, children, relatives and friends. Say, “I love you,” and keep saying it!
- Run for city council or your public school board, which needs sane, Christian voices steering the discussion.
- Join a pro-life ministry and help pregnant women with viable alternatives to abortion.
- Find homeless people in your area, and take the time to listen and pray with them, as well as meet their practical needs.
- Ask a sick co-worker if you can pray for them (on the spot).
- Share the story of how Jesus became real to you with a co-worker, family member or friend.
- Be a reconciling agent in your extended family by helping them forgive and come together.
- Ask a struggling neighbor, “How can I help?”
- Give a word of encouragement to someone who is sad or depressed. And sit with them.
- Write a song, a poem or a blog post about things you care about.
These are just to get your imagination engaged. Where has God placed you, and how might he want you to find your voice and speak for him?
“Lord Jesus, we open our minds and our hearts for you to awaken us to what you care about. Awaken us now. Breathe into each of us with vision and concern and care. Let us find your heart. Birth in us a spirit of prayer, a boldness in asking, seeking and knocking. Let us find our voice with you, on our knees. And, then, unleash us in your Spirit’s grace and boldness to find our voice in all the areas where you want to see your kingdom come through us. Lord, help us find our voice, our purpose. We ask this in your name. Amen.”
Bob Branch is the husband of Becky; father of Daniel, Hannah, Charis and Becca; father-in-law to Amelia and Nate, and the founder and pastor of The Springs Community Church in Temecula, California. Besides connecting with his family, he enjoys traveling, guitars, watches, football, baseball, Clive Cussler books, good coffee, sushi and almost all kinds of food.
