SIMEON!

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon… and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. –

Luke 2:25-26

The Bible does not say how many years Simeon waited for the revelation of seeing Christ before he died to come true. As he aged, he may have had his doubts if he had heard the Holy Spirit right. How excited he must have been to see Jesus.

Did you ever hear something from the Holy Spirit and wonder, “Am I hearing right, or is it just a thought passing through my mind?” As you pray and read the Bible, you will become more sensitive to and familiar with the voice of the Holy Spirit. Just as you readily recognize the voice of someone you know well, you can learn to distinguish the Holy Spirit’s promptings from your own or others’ thoughts.

There are ways to increase your sensitivity to His voice. Ask God for ears to hear what His Spirit is saying to you. Pray in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Get to know Him by reading about Him in His Word. As you read the Bible and pray, keep a notebook handy to record your thoughts and anything He shows you. Determine to live a life that pleases Him. Be committed to the Lord, valuing time with Him over such distractions as television or social media.

Ask Him to guide you in prayer for this country, its citizens, and elected officials. Consider what is most important to the Lord and pray accordingly. Pray for believers in Christ to understand the dimensions of God’s love and how to express it to others. Just as God was faithful to keep His promise to Simeon, He is faithful to keep the promises He whispers to your heart.