Turn around.

Recently, I shared a word that I believed to be from God. That word was titled; ‘Word for today’. After posting it I received a comment from my brother in Jesus and fellow substacker; James. James’ comment had me questioning if what I had shared was truly from God. At first I didn’t know how to respond and I mulled over the comment in a sour manner. I think I knew in my heart that God was using James to help me but I was being proud.

After praying to God on how to move forward, He gave me many Bible verses to ponder. I left the post up, still not 100% sure what to do but I did not have peace about it. I also waited to see if the ‘prophetic word’ I recieved would be confirmed.

2 Corinthians 13:1-4 “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

1 Corinthians 14:31-33 “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

I was also working on another post (my own testimony of how Jesus saved me), however, as I was writing, I felt prompted by God to go back and read the comment again. As I pored over the words and re- read the Bible verses God had provided me, I realised that God was using James to (gently) admonish me and I was in error. God also revealed to me that my own testimony contradicted the ‘prophetic word’ I had shared!

I was saved many years ago, after calling upon the Lord. I thought I knew God but I was so far from Him, wading through deep sin, darkness and completely lost. I had been through difficult, hard times (due to my own sin and rebellion) and I felt like I had just about reached the bottom of the barrel. I was not actively reading a Bible, I did not know or have a relationship with Jesus and I was yet to be filled with Holy Spirit; all I knew, was that I needed the true God to save me. He was my only hope! I called upon God in desperation; “God, save me from the darkness!” It was after this moment that Jesus began to pull me out of my pit of despair and lift the scales off my eyes! In His loving mercy and grace, God inclined His ear towards me. I can also look back and see that God had been, gently tugging at my heart, long before I had called out to Him. God had been and was waiting for me to respond to Him. Just as James said; “He asks everyone loudly now, did you hear My voice yet?” James’ comment also spoke of the relationship between knowing how much God loves everyone and hearing Him, from this place of love;

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

This is what happened to myself when Jesus saved me. I realised that the god I had been chasing after did not line up with the loving GOD that I had heard about as a child in scripture classes; and the forgiving God, that my daddy, my brother (and other believers I had encountered) always talked about. Because of God’s love for everyone, He was calling me, and calling me to respond to Him. God extended His invitation and grace to me, even though I was a terrible sinner and I had sinned against Him!

There is always hope!

I realise that I was in error and the ‘word’ I shared was wrong. I did not exercise the gift of prophecy with accuracy and what I posted did not line up with the Bible. I want to sincerely apologise to everyone who read my post. I repent for my error and I ask you to please forgive me.

1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

2 Peter 1:21 “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from the will of God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Gallatians 5:9 “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus loves us all so much and I don’t want anyone to think otherwise! God is so patient with us and He is longsufferring.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:15 “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”

I believe that what James shared is from God, so full of God’s love and most importantly; it will bring Jesus glory. That's why I also feel led to share James' comment below:

Patiently do I wait for thee, O LORD.

As I lay in bed, these words started coming forth. So, I got up before dawn's light and started writing.

"Hearing GOD'S voice every day.”

"Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD." Psalm 27:14 AB

GOD'S voice can still be heard loud and clear in the Bible. The Words within this book are alive and filled with Almighty power unlike any other. Each word has been placed in perfect order for a reason. Nothing is done randomly but to the contrary by design. For example, His opening Words read, "In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth."

Speaking loud and clear to all humanity, He first wants everyone to know He made everything and has absolute control over all things, big or small. He asks everyone loudly now, did you hear My voice yet?

And I ask everyone this question? Do you know what the most looked-at verse in the Bible is? I checked online. World Vision says, "The most popular Bible verse in the world is John 3:16, which is searched over two million times each month across the globe. With over a million more searches a month than any other Bible verse, it's significantly the most popular around the globe and the most popular in many countries, including the UK."

Why do you think that is? Because I believe, just like in Genesis 1:1, GOD is again speaking loud and clear to all and asking each of us, have you heard My voice yet? In John 3:16, JESUS said, "For GOD so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

This bible verse has undeniably been the people's choice each month across the world year after year. Why? Let's look at how this verse begins. Remembering that GOD always puts everything in flawless order. Nothing's random "for GOD so loved the world." Here the LORD wants all people everywhere to know that He loves them, which is the most important thing He wants to say in His perfect arrangement of things.

Hearing GOD'S voice loud and clear always starts here. Knowing how much GOD loves all of us first. Let's look at another example. In the Bible, most have heard about a big fish and a prophet named Jonah. Again, the first verse says, "Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah, son of Amittai, saying."

Here the LORD is speaking directly to His prophet. Jonah doesn't have a problem hearing GOD'S voice, but he does have difficulty agreeing with GOD'S plans for the people of Nineveh. Jonah feels GOD'S judgment would be better for them than the LORD'S mercy to pardon their sins. Later in the story, we hear GOD speak to Jonah again 3:1 "Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time."

Once more, Jonah did not have a problem hearing GOD'S voice. He heard it loud and clear. And now I ask the question, how did Jonah hear GOD'S voice so clearly? Now let us go further in the story and look at what Jonah says to GOD.

4:2 "So he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate GOD, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people."

Why was it so easy for Jonah to listen to GOD'S voice again? Because he knew something about GOD that always allowed him to hear His voice with clarity. "I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate GOD, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love."

Jonah knew that GOD loved everyone passionately. And that is where we start with wanting to hear the LORD'S voice spoken clearly to us. We begin by knowing how much he loves everyone first, and then it becomes easy to hear GOD talk to us every day as He speaks to us throughout the Bible or as the LORD, in like manner, spoke to Jonah in the past.

JESUS said, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love." John 15:9 ESV

"Give thanks to the GOD of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 136:26 ESV

James Mangano

Thank you,

Emma