How To Hear God's Voice
Do you ever find yourself asking God what He wants you to go, and feel like you are not receiving a response? Do you ever pray through a monologue with all your requests to God, but never stop to listen to what He may need to say? Just me?
It is so easy to coast, distractions pulling us in a million different ways, and we find a quick ten minutes to speak our thoughts to the Lord. However, we cannot operate on cruise control forever. Life likes to keep you on your toes. Through this life, we need God and to be able to hear Him speak. God is our Heavenly Father, and like any good father, God wants to spend time with us to encourage and guide us, and yes, even discipline us when we need it.
I find it no coincidence that as I have found myself desiring to make more room for Jesus in my heart, God has used resources to show me how to do so. I recently began reading the devotional book, The Art of Listening Prayer by Seth Barnes (which I highly recommend) and my pastor preached on the topic of our awareness of God this past Sunday.
So, how do you spend your time with God? Do you feel you have trouble hearing God speak to you?
King David was very specific when speaking to God. 1 Chronicles 14:14-16 tells us, “so David inquired of God again and God answered him … so David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army.”
God even instructs us in Matthew 7:7-12 to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” He also tells us He gives good gifts to His children, they just need to ask!
God uses different methods to speak to us:
1.Scripture
God has used the Bible to lead and guide me more times than I can count. I can look for specific passages concerning my situation and be comforted by the words. Recently, I was feeling unsettled about the season I am in, so I turned to Ecclesiastes 3. I felt an overwhelming peace as God reminded me ‘for everything there is a season’ and ‘He has made everything beautiful in its time.’
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. -2 Timothy 3:16
2. Sermons/Books/Articles/Podcasts
I have written so many notes on my phone or in my notebook when it comes to these resources. If you have a long commute to work, choose a podcast or audio book to listen to on your way home so God can speak to you through it.
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. -1 John 1:3
3. Others
God will use others in your life to speak to you. Many times, people in my church have prayed and shared words of encouragement I know were straight from Heaven.
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. -1 Corinthians 14:5
4. Circumstances or events
I can reflect on my past, and see God’s handiwork at play through it all. As Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for my good” (Genesis 50:20).
5. An audible voice
God has spoken to many people in the Bible with an audible voice. He can do the same with you. Before I was accepted into grad school, I was quite upset and did not know what God wanted me to do. As I went for a run, I began crying and questioning, “Where are you God?” I will never forget Him answering in such a tender voice, “I’m right here. I’m always right here.”
Now as [Saul] went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” -Acts 9:3-5
6. Nature
For me, nature is an easy way for me to stand in awe of God’s majesty.
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” -Job 12:7-10
God speaks to us in different ways, and it won't always be the same way. God is boundless, so do not limit Him and how He desires to speak. Remember, getting to know someone personally takes discernment and has a learning curve, and the same goes with God. You don’t meet a person and automatically know their favorite food, dreams and goals, or what their hobbies are. Get to know God, ask Him to make His voice clear and how He is speaking to you.
Make this a priority - the desire to be aware, recognize God speaking, and the nearness of Him. Don’t allow ‘good enough’ to be good enough any longer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Whitney can be described by the opening lyrics of a few Tom Petty songs. She's a good girl who grew up in a small Indiana town who loves her mama, Jesus, and America too. She practices medicine as a physician assistant at an urgent care. Whitney is a music enthusiast and leads worship at her church. She has a heart for people, and wants to help young girls and women find their worth in Christ rather than what the world says of them. Whitney loves a good dad joke, the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, Southern manners, working on her fitness, attempting Pinterest crafts, and cheering on Indiana University basketball.