Growing up when preachers said they heard the voice of God, I was in awe of them. It seemed that they heard the voice of God in the same way that I heard my mom or my friends speak to me. I wish I had that experience. At that time, no one taught me what it meant to hear the voice of the Lord. It seemed to me that only pastors had that special ability to hear God’s voice.
Yet, we read in 1 Samuel 3, that a little boy named Samuel heard God’s voice (although he initially did not know it was the Lord).
God can speak to little children as well?
As I grew older and spent time diligently seeking the Lord, reading His Word and writing in a journal during my quiet times, I still did not understand that it was God who was speaking to me during those times. Like the little boy Samuel, I failed to recognize that I was hearing God’s voice, because it was not an audible sound. Yet, the Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart during those times. If I go back and read my journals now, I am certain that those words of wisdom did not belong to me. In fact, I am surprised when I read some of the things I wrote. So does God speak to anyone? Even to a little child?
The Bible makes it clear that He does. God started speaking to Samuel even before the little boy had an intimate relationship with the Lord.
“Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.”
1 Samuel 3:7 NIV
So God does speak to us, irregardless of our faith or whether we preach from a pulpit. The real question is, are we listening?
My husband and I had a conversation about this topic recently, which allowed me to reflect on it further. It also gave me insight on how God spoke to me over the years. So, how do we tune our ears to hear God’s voice?
1. Devote daily to God’s Word
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
God speaks to us through His Word. When we seek Him, we WILL find Him. His Word assures us of that truth. Are you daily spending time in God’s Word? When you do, it becomes much easier to recognize if a particular thought is from the Lord or your own flesh.
What differentiates a friend from an acquaintance? Is it not directly related to the time that goes into forming that friendship? Your mom can yell something out in a crowd and you would quickly recognize her voice. Why? You have heard her voice possibly every single day of your life. Is that not true of our relationship with the Lord? Spend quality time in His presence and you will learn to decipher God’s voice from the other voices seeking your attention. God is not hiding His Word or His truth from you.
“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” Deuteronomy 30: 11-14 NIV
2. Get a journal
We are so hungry for what preachers have to say. What God speaks through preachers may be a good Word for some, but not for others. However, when God speaks directly to you, that is always what you need to hear. So write it down. Get a little notebook or write in the corners of your Bible. The Bible never says anywhere it is a sin to make notes in your Bible or to highlight in it. In English class, we learn to analyze a book by doing exactly that. God wants you to enjoy His Word. If you prefer to make notes in your Bible instead of a journal, you can most definitely do that. That is far better than letting your Bible collect dust high up on a shelf. Nowadays it is even easier to write notes without pen or paper. You can simply use make notes and highlight in your Bible app. Whatever way you do, take notes! And allow God’s Word to speak to you again when you read the same pages months or years later. Your journal can be your own book of sermons you can refer to at anytime. My mom still writes in her journal and will share things with me that she wrote years ago.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35 NIV
3. Spend time in worship
Does God ONLY speak to our hearts through His Word? No, that is in essence, putting God in a box. The Lord can speak to us in all kinds of ways. God spoke to Job out of a storm (Job 38:1). Many times, God has spoken to me through music and lyrics. At just the right moment, God will bring certain lyrics to mind which are just what I need to hear at that moment. It could be while I am cooking, going for a walk or a drive. It is amazing to be singing a song and suddenly realize, “Wow, this is exactly what I needed to hear today.”
If you fill your heart with only Top 40 music, then those are the songs which will typically come to your mind. So spend time in worship and fill your house with music that glorifies God. Then, even when you face difficulties, those lyrics and the truth of God’s Word will come to mind when you need it the most.
And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
From “Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns
4. Walk in Obedience
One thing I have learned from walking with God over the years is that He rewards obedience. When He speaks, we need to obey. Parents can repeat the same thing to a child five or six times before they do what is asked of them. Let’s not be like little children. God wants us to obey His voice and not run away because of fear or doubt.
In Scripture, God spoke to Jonah clearly about His plans for the people of Nineveh. What did Jonah do? He found a ship that was sailing in the opposite direction and tried to run from God’s plans. Ultimately, we see Jonah preaching to the people of Nineveh after he experienced the unbelievable fate of being swallowed by a huge fish. Things would have been much easier for Jonah if he had simply obeyed God from the beginning.
How does this relate to hearing God’s voice?
“But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
“As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:27-28 NIV
We receive God’s blessing into our lives when we choose to obey His voice. Do not just listen to God’s Word. Do what it says (Read James 1:22-25).
How do you differentiate God’s voice from your own? Ask: Does my intended action honor God and is it keeping with God’s Word? Am I hurting others by my actions? If you are still unsure, spend time in prayer and take some steps toward your proposed plan to see if God is blessing and guiding you along the way.
During 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I had a strong desire to help the victims. I wanted to do something more than just make a single donation. That is how I came up with the idea to host a talent show at our local church and send proceeds to a relief organization. That was an incredibly busy time in my life and it seemed like a huge task. I had no idea if we would have enough performers or if anyone would attend. It was easier to toss the idea out of my mind instead of taking any risk by trying to make it happen. However, I felt at that moment, that God had put that desire in my heart and HE would make it a success. And sure enough, He did. That was such an incredible night and a great memory for everyone who attended and everyone who performed. Local restaurants even sponsored the gifts for the winners and we raised a couple thousand dollars in proceeds to benefit the victims of Hurricane Harvey. That was a major lesson for me. All I had to do was take the first steps and obey God’s voice. He will take care of the rest.
5. Examine your heart
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalms 139: 23-24 NLT
In order to hear God’s voice clearly, it is important to first examine your heart. Is there an area of unconfessed sin that you need to bring before the Lord? Do you need to forgive someone first?
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24
Is there pride hindering you from hearing God’s voice? God wants us to come before Him with humility. To the humble, He shows unmerited favor.
“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”James 4:6 NLT
If we are seeking the Lord’s direction in an area of our life, we need to first examine and renew our hearts with God’s truth.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
Remember the imagery all through the Bible about shepherds and sheep. We are all sheep and we have one shepherd. Let us learn to hear the shepherd’s voice so that we do not fall into traps set by wolves and thieves that come to kill and destroy us.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27-28 NIV
You should ask this do be submitted as a devotional on the BIble app! Loved your post 🙂