My Head Cannot Hear God’s Heart Message, Part 1

The Verse of the Day (VOTD) on BibleGateway has been the same on March 14, 2022, 2024, and 2025[1]: 2 Peter 1:5-8. Each year, I journaled my thoughts about this scripture. The yearly appearance of this scripture and the recent appearance in other contexts affected me. I figured God placed this scripture before me in so many ways for a reason, so I decided to write.

I prayed for inspiration, studied commentaries, and researched the original Greek. Because verse 5 begins with “for this very reason,” I expanded to include verses 3-4. But I struggled. What was the message? What was my AHA? I had too many ideas. I could not unravel the message.

My research centered on the list of Christian character traits (vv 5-7)[2]. The relationship of these fascinated me, especially after reading different versions and translations of the Bible. I desperately wanted to understand that relationship. Was faith supported by goodness or goodness by faith, and so forth? Was it a ladder leading to faith? Or one leading to love? But as much as I studied, I could not unravel the message.

Pastoral Wisdom

When I discussed my dilemma with my pastoral mentor, she suggested I stop and just sit with the scripture. So I ceased my research busyness and waited. I recorded myself reading those verses from the Amplified Bible, using first-person pronouns (I, me, my, mine) where appropriate. I listened to that recording for several days at different times of the day. I prayed that God would unravel the message. As I listened to the recording during a woodland trail walk recently, God spoke, revealing two AHAs. I’ll examine the first AHA here and the second in Part 2.

God Called Me

As I listened to my recording, I would get flashes of discernment; however, they were always just out of reach. You know what I mean—when you try to remember something and it keeps slipping away just as you thought you had it. During my walk, I stopped chasing the flashes. I just repeatedly listened to the recording. Finally, a flash became a hot ember in my heart. Verse 3, not the character traits verses, spoke to me.

“For His divine power has bestowed on |me| [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called |me| by His own glory and excellence.” Amplified Bible[3], bold emphasis added

Theoretically, academically, theologically, I know and accept that I am God’s child. That God created me in His image. That God has bestowed gifts on me. That I am to use those gifts to serve Him on earth. That I am a peculiar person chosen by God to proclaim His excellence (1 Peter 2:9). But on that walk, my heart accepted and believed what my head knew…He called ME.

When my heart heard that message, I was reminded of a Season 1 episode of Bridgerton. The character Marina realized that the man she pined for had indeed loved her. She exclaimed, “He loved me,” with awe and incredulity coupled with grief. Likewise, I felt that awe when my heart finally heard “He called me.” However, unlike Marina, I experienced joy and a renewed purpose.

Imposter Syndrome

Sometimes the devil will whisper, “You’re not worthy to serve God. Who are you to talk about God’s message?”—the imposter syndrome. And, yes, I have heard those whisperings and doubted sometimes. During my walk, I accepted that God called me; He has given me gifts and character traits to do His work. That walk reminded me of why I write and created this blog site:

I hope you know that you are not alone in your ups and downs with God. I pray my devotions will inspire a closer walk with God. I desire to honor God with my writings (from the home page of DND Meditation).

Silence the Imposter

I must silence the devil by knowing with my head and believing in my heart that God called me. The gifts I have God provided for His service. The character traits from vv 5-7 that I so desperately tried to dissect are the Christ-like attributes I should develop for spiritual maturity. I am no imposter. I can proclaim boldly, “God called me.”

Reflection

God called you. God chose you. Yes, YOU. Don’t let the devil deny God’s presence in and purpose for your life. How does He remind you that you are His? What has God called you to do?

The next post will explore my second AHA! From that walk: the head-heart relationship with God.

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[1] My journal notes document that scriptural passage on those dates. I do not know about 2023.

[2] Depending on your Bible translation, these traits are:

• Faith
• Goodness, Moral excellence, Virtue, or Moral energy
• Knowledge, Spiritual discernment, or Understanding
• Self-control or Temperance
• Endurance, Patience, Perseverance, or Steadfastness
• Godliness or Piety
• Mutual affection, Brotherly kindness, or Brotherly love
• Love or Charity

[3] Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.