Knowing His voice

“I see what the Father is doing and do that,” says Jesus in John 5:19. I love this verse! On the mountain, Jesus met the Father face-to-face to see what the Father was doing. Then He could come down the mountain with mission and power, full of healing and miracles (heaven’s normal). For me, quiet time is not silent, but a set-apart time to come face-to-face with my Creator and let our hearts melt together. I’m completely honest with Him about everything I experience and feel. I want to see God's heart about myself, others, and situations. The deepest longing of my spirit is to be obedient: to see what God is doing, and to do that.

“For me, quiet time is not silent, but a set-apart time to come face-to-face with my Creator.”

During one of those times with God, the following words stirred in my heart: “When you buy a sailboat, name it Jireh.” I was surprised and responded: “God, I've always seen a sailboat as something symbolic—a way of living led by the Holy Spirit and now You're speaking about an actual sailboat?” From then on, I began asking more questions: “What does Jireh look like? What are we going to do? Where can we begin searching?” An adventure with God had begun. In these specific matters, my wife Annemiek and I pray separately. We ask God similar questions and then compare the answers we receive.

Today, we travel the world together led by God. We shape Riverbanks, our ministry focused on "seeing what the Father is doing, doing that, and helping others do the same." All of this was born in our time with God, in our moments “on the mountain.” There, we receive from Him who we were truly meant to be and what we’re called to do, so He can rise up within us as He is.

Through all the adventures and processes, we’ve learned that His main mission is to meet us and shape our hearts and character. He values relationship far above just completing a task for Him. He doesn’t want to be a boss, but a Friend and Father. We may come with our agendas, but sometimes His agenda is completely different. He wants to meet you, refresh you, and flood you with His love. Let’s long most of all to resemble Him.

Throughout the day, I regularly ask the Father what He thinks about the things that come my way. It can be very practical about dinner plans or my children's appointments but also relational: who I might be able to encourage today with a message or a quick phone call. And quite often, the Father speaks about a patient in my consultation room (as a general practitioner). That it's good to dig a little deeper: to ask how someone is really doing, or how things turned out since the previous visit. It often leads to surprisingly meaningful conversations and outcomes.

This practical, everyday listening is walking with Jesus. As His beloved disciple by His side.

Psalm 5:4 “In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.”