Introduction
How can we embody God’s heartbeat through our lives in a world where the divine whispers often go unheard? The question remains: do we resonate with the rhythm of eternity or merely echo the symphony of the ages?
Consider this: Jesus’ first call to you and me was not a grand declaration, but a single word – “Follow.” It was an invitation to surrender, trust, and become His foot soldiers in a world that desperately needs redemption.
The next command? To be an “Echo” of our Savior. Not a reflection of the status quo, but a vibrant duplication of His life. Echoing His words, His love, and His compassion—for all to see and hear.
The question is, are you ready to take up the mantle of your calling? Now you can experience the echo of His heartbeat, but you can never pass on the echo. The echo is a personal experience that we alone must pursue. Are you ready to be the instrument He’s setting up to create music in this world?
Definitions
Echo
Usually, the term echo is used to define a repetition of a sound resulting from the reflection of the sound waves. But it can also be used to define as repeating or reflecting what one hears or sees. It can also be a reply that repeats what has just been said or a close parallel of a feeling, idea, style, etc.
Let’s Begin
To echo the heart of God in our lives, we must first hear it beating, then we must sound off as though that beat were reverberating throughout our lives to others. As a child hears the heartbeat of its mother in the womb, so we should hear the heartbeat of God.
Hear it Beat
“Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind and earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12 ESV
A heartbeat is the first sign of life. Hearing it often requires a stethoscope. For this instrument to be useful, you must be close to your subject. The thought here is that to hear God’s heartbeat, you must be close to Him. He may come as a lightning bolt, but usually it is a whisper. His stethoscope may be the Bible, an encounter during prayer and meditation, or perhaps some good teaching. In my case, He has often needed to use a two-by-four along the side of my head. I suspect this may be true of many. Hearing His whisper is not easy.
To hear and obey, I must understand and follow this scripture closely.
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 ESV
Let’s be clear. What thoughts?
“…sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice (Echo) these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
Example
The Bible is full of examples of what I am trying to say. Let’s take a look at Peter in Matthew 13:20-30.
“He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:29-30 ESV
The wind and waves were all around Peter before he answered the call to “come”. It was only when he started walking that he noticed what was going on around him and probably said to himself, “This is stupid and sunk”. When we hear the whisper of His voice and the Echo of His heart, we take the risk and step out. Then we see our surrounding and circumstances, forgetting that He is engineering our lives, and say “Was that Him. My family is in jeopardy, my finances are depleted and I’m sinking fast. Why did I ever think I could do this?” Hearing the whisper of His voice and the echo of His heart is risky business. Do we continue doing this “risky business” or let our circumstances dictate otherwise? The adventure lies in following His whisper and the echo of His heart. It is risky business. It’s interesting to note that in verse 31, when the Lord saved him but he lost the opportunity to hear His heartbeat a moment longer.
The Bottom Line
Here is another example of what I am saying, taken from scripture.
“But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17
Many emphasize from this text the recognition by Peter that Jesus is “the Christ” – true, but let’s not overlook another crucial aspect. The significance lies not only in Peter’s acknowledgment but also in his unique experience of receiving revelation directly from the Father, rather than through someone else. This brings us to a profound truth: we must attune ourselves to hear the echo of His heartbeat for ourselves.
It’s only by doing so that we can truly follow Him and show others how to do the same. We need to learn to listen to the subtle whispers of God’s presence in our lives, to discern His guidance, and to respond with faithfulness. Only then can we share this revelation with others, inspiring them to do the same.
This approach requires a willingness to slow down, quiet our minds, and open ourselves up to receive from God. As we cultivate this sensitivity, we’ll discover that hearing His heartbeat becomes an everyday experience, guiding us on our journey and equipping us to bear witness to His love and redemption in the world.
By focusing on this inner encounter, we can break free from external influences and instead develop a deeper understanding of God’s presence within ourselves. This, in turn, will empower us to live out our faith with greater authenticity, compassion, and joy – reflecting the beauty and wonder of His loving heart.
Let’s Break This Down
Some key points you might want to consider further:
1. How do we typically seek God’s revelation? Do we rely on scripture, prayer, or other practices?
2. What role do external authorities and influence play in our spiritual lives? Are they a helpful supplement to direct communication with God?
3. How can we cultivate the ability to hear God’s voice and respond to His guidance?
These questions might help clarify the importance of seeking direct communication with God and avoiding total reliance on secondary sources.
In general, there are many ways to seek God’s revelation:
1. Reading scripture: The Bible is considered a sacred text by Christians.
2. Prayer: Talking to God through prayer can be an effective way to hear His voice.
3. Meditation: Focusing one’s mind and heart on God can help us tune into His guidance.
Caution
I love to dig deep into the things of God, uncovering His secrets and solving the mysteries of the Bible. Many of us do. But sometimes, in our pursuit of the profound, we need to return to the simple—back to our first love—and ask ourselves the questions that truly matter:
Do you love your wife or husband?
Children, do you honor your father and mother?
Can you hear the echo of His heartbeat so clearly that it empowers you to love your enemies?
If you can, then obey. And as you walk in that obedience—loving deeply, honoring faithfully, and forgiving radically—hear His voice calling: “Feed My sheep.”
Some may argue, “But we’re not all called into the five-fold ministry.” True, but my response is this: if you can hear the echo of His heartbeat, then your very life becomes a living testimony. Christ in you sets a standard, a visible example of a better way—one that nourishes the hungry souls around you. So yes, this call applies to you. Not because of a title, but because His heartbeat is alive in you.
Conclusion
Hearing the echo of God’s heartbeat is very personal. It involves doing what He tells you to do. Here is where we get involved and often get into trouble. Hearing and immediately doing is risky business. Did I hear Him correctly? Was it Him or another voice? I don’t have the resources or ability to do that. Hesitation begins, and doubt sets in. Our heroes of the faith often acted foolishly in the eyes of the world, but not in His eyes. We want to be heroes, but we hesitate. When we see this happening, we need to step back and remember the simple things like loving our neighbor, watching our mouths, or maybe just simply remembering the 10 commandments. When our compass is again corrected, let us venture out into the unknown, take a chance, believing He will never let you down. He will always be there to catch you if you fall. I would rather fall believing than fall by not even trying. Let’s listen to the echo of His heart and step out.
Enough Said
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
