This week, I have been revisiting a voice that spoke into my life for many years. Dr. Norvel Hayes. Although Brother Norvel is with the Lord now, the things he taught me continue to live on in me. Almost weekly I think of something he said or lessons he taught me. I am thankful for those times, and I want to honor his legacy. Honor is important to God, and He often reminds me of that – today was one of those days where He reminded me to honor the voices that have spoken into my life.
There have been many voices that have spoken into my life over the years. Of course, God’s voice is the most important voice. However, there are also other voices that speak into our life, some daily. I know for me, there have been many voices that have led me and guided me…that have taught me and compelled me to keep seeking God and His Word. It also seems to me that there are often different seasons for different voices. In other words, the voice that is speaking into me right now, might not be the same voice that ministered to me last year.
Those voices may be ministers. They may be friends. They may even be family. God has many ways of communicating with His people and He will use whatever means necessary to get us to listen.
These folks, that speak into my life, they are the ones God compels me to continually honor. Brother Norvel is one of those. His ministry was the first one God led me to when I was born-again. For that I am thankful. I hear his voice quite often. He drilled in my mind that if I can see it, I can have it. Therefore, if I am believing God for something, I must press in until I can see it in my spirit. He taught me much more than this, but it is one thing that stands out to me.
I also remember when Breanne was in the hospital having Bryson. The baby began to be stressed and then subsequently affected Bre’s heartbeat. I heard a voice. It was telling me what to do and what to pray. It wasn’t God’s voice I heard that day, it was the voice of Kenneth Copeland. I heard him shout, “know your authority!!!” Those words and that voice snapped me into action.
On other occasions, if I find myself in a place of pressing in when it feels the enemy is attempting to stop me, I hear Pastor Dave Roberson say to me, “What do you think the enemy is so afraid of?”
It takes me back to the time when I first began praying in the Spirit. Each time, I would get a bad headache. I asked Pastor Dave about this, and he laughed. He laughed and said, “What do you think he is afraid of?” Simple words but they have brought me through so many tough times.
The voice of Pastor Dave, Dr. Norvel and Kenneth Copeland brought me through times of great battle. I am forever thankful for those voices. These are not the only ones, there a many more voices I still hear today, even though the people are no longer with me. They spoke life into me at a time when I greatly needed it, and that life remains with me today. These are shepherds of my heart and always will be. I honor these men and women in my life.
Do you have those voices in your life? People who have spoken to you or written things to you that come up when you need them the most. If so, tell them, let them know how much those words of life have meant to you. Honor them. Let them know they are appreciated.
1 Timothy 5:17 says, Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Galatians 6:6 says, Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 says, And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
Let remember those who labor, not only among us, but often to us. Let’s remember them and honor them. Honor all those voices who have spoken the Word of God to you. Who has spoken encouragement to you. Let them know how much they mean to you, let them know how valuable their voice is to you.
Today, God is again leading me to honor those who have ministered to me. To honor the many voices who have spoken life into me.
To honor means to estimate the value of, to hold dear, to count someone or something as a great price and to revere. That’s God’s plan for us, to hold dear, to revere and to consider those voices priceless who have spoken into us. Not only that but to honor them in a tangible way.
Today, who has spoken into your life? Who has given you just the words you needed most at a difficult time in your life? Who has prayed for you and held you up before the Lord when you couldn’t hold yourself up? That person – that voice – show them your appreciation by honoring them. God will show you how.
Honor is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give, and I can assure you, it will come back to you on waves. You reap exactly what you sow.
As you go about your day today, allow God to bring to mind those who have ministered to you, who have fed you. And ask God how you can honor them, how you can sow back into their life – He will show you. He will bless you for honoring them.
