“How do you hear God’s voice?” Have you ever asked yourself that question?
At some point, I’m sure you’ve heard people say, “God told me such-and-such”, and your inside voice says, ‘How’d you know that was God?’
“I heard God say”, for me has been one of the most misunderstood phrases I’ve ever had to deal with. Creating misunderstanding, confusion, hurt, rejection, jealousy, pride and plenty of other negative emotional responses.
Watching the facial expressions, body language, and behavioral responses of others in the presence of someone who often says ‘God told me’ might lead me to believe that some might as if they don’t understand how to hear God’s voice, or even feel inferior, thinking that God never speaks to them.
For me, the ability to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit as my prayer life became more active and powerful. Hearing the Spirit speak in my heart and mind as my relationship with God got stronger. Strengthening my active listening skills with an expectant spirit is a constant working progress; for me anyway.
I’m sure that I’m not alone in the struggle with distractions and busyness, in addition to emotional stresses, like exhaustion, depression, fear, anger, grief, and anxiety. Watching the enemy turn up the emotional chaos in my life, I found to be one main barrier that kept me walking in fellowship with God. Jam packing my day with distractions in an effort to get me to tune God out.
So what’s the addition to activity and noise?
Those closest to me have asked, “are you afraid to be alone with your own thoughts?”. Am I? Are we? Afraid of quiet and solitude? Are we avoiding peaceful fellowship with God because we’re afraid we might not be good enough with all of our baggage? Are we afraid of what God might say to us or ask us to do if we sit still long enough to hear Him speak to us? Or are we just unsure of how to handle the responsibility of being still and knowing that He is God?
Throughout His word, God spoke clearly, and audibly. In Job 40:6 God spoke out of a whirlwind. Habakkuk could distinctly identify the sound of God speaking to him Habakkuk 2:2. And Elijah said that the sound of God speaking was as, “a still small voice” 1 Kings 19:12.
Beyond His Word, God will also speak to us by other means, like books, movies, videos, sermons, conversations with other people, and our personal experiences.
Having been fervent in prayer, asking God for an answer, I’ve heard Him answer in the most unexpected ways and times. Some times at the most strangest and out of control moments, or through someone that I least expected to hear that answer from. His “voice” cutting through the noises and distractions of the world, and deep within our souls, He will make His will and His message clear. And sometimes, it’s not what I/we want to hear.
Honestly, I’ve never audibly heard God’s voice, but I’ve heard and felt Him speaking to my heart, and its been undeniable.
Hearing God, for me, has been when I’m in a storm, or in deep constant prayer about something important in my life, or in the lives of those I love, or in a very comedic fashion, leveling up and transitioning from one chapter of my life and moving on to the next.
Today, I encourage you to pray to God to speak to you regarding His will for your life, marriage and family. “Father God, help me to hear your voice. Please give me wisdom and discernment over my own spiritual life, my marriage, and my relationship with my kids. Father God, please stamp and confirm any behavior that might be hurting my family’s relationships, and teach me to listen carefully without being judgmental. Amen.
Make time for the quiet moments, as God whispers and the world is loud. —author unknown
You Tell Me-
Have you ever heard the saying, “Build it and they will come”? Welp, sometimes God will ask us to step out on faith and obedience, and THEN he’ll show us the next step we should take.
How do you block out the noise to hear God’s voice?
