Hearing From God

I have been a Spirit filled Christian for over twenty years, and in that time I have heard many Christians say how they wish they could hear from God. In this blog I want to discuss how God talks to us and how we can put ourselves in the right position to hear from Him. To be clear, God can speak to you in any number of ways,Including angels, and even through a donkey or burning bush (Hebrews 1:14, Numbers 22, Exodus 3). But there are few more common ways in which He chooses to speak.

First, the best place to hear from God is in His word. That’s right, the Holy Bible is full of the Word of God. His word is alive and just as applicable now as when it was written (Hebrews 4:12). The written (logos) word is the foundation in which all doctrine should be based upon. The spoken word (rhema) is more of an utterance, amongst other things, at a specfic time and place. Both are from God and are in complete agreement (John 16:13-14). The Holy Spirit would never tell you anything that contradicts the logos (1 John 5:6-7 NKJV). So if you want to hear from God and know for certain it is Him talking, read His word.

Another way God speaks to us is through the Holy Spirit. He can give you utterances, visions, dreams and so on (Acts 9:10-12, 10:1-4). The Holy Spirit can remind you of things in the past, speak to you about the present, and also tell you of things to come (1 Corinthians 12:8). In most cases, being able to hear the Holy Spirit requires spending quality time with Him, so you can discern His voice (John 10:27). Sometimes the Holy Spirit might not say anything but just affirm something with peace. That feeling that even though God hasn’t spoken specifically about a certain issue, He has given peace about it. I remember years ago, I felt like I was supposed to quit my job. I prayed and prayed but never got a specific answer. I asked others to pray and still nothing. a couple of months went by and I just didn’t feel right about being at my job, so I wrote my letter of resignation and gave it to my boss, and immediately I had peace. So if you are ever in a situation where you don’t know what to do, take the path that gives you inner peace. It is the best place to be, even if He is guiding you right into a storm.

God also speaks to us through other believers. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a sermon and thought that sermon was just for me. God can speak a direct message to you through a sermon, or teaching, or just a conversation with someone. He will often speak to you through a song as well. If you are going through a trial He may make sure you hear a song that ministers to you regarding that specific circumstance. If you are going through something in your life and aren’t hearing from God, it is wise to find trusted people in your church who are well versed in the Word of God and also operate in His love. Seeking Godly counsel is a wise choice (Proverbs 15:31-33).

Now that we are aware of some of the ways the Lord speaks to us, we must learn to put ourselves in the right position to do so. How many of you have tried having a conversation with someone who is in another room? Or how about one person is upstairs yelling down to the person below? In order to hear that person you have to put yourself in a position to hear them. The same goes with God. If you want to hear Him speak to you, you have to put yourself in the right position mentally, spiritually, and physically. Sure, He can speak to you in the middle of a rock concert but you will have better luck actually hearing Him when you are alone, and in a quiet place. I always tell people to lie prostate on the floor and just be still. This does two things, it shows submission but it also puts you on the same level with Jesus. Jesus is a humble God. If we have a haughty spirit and expect God to put on a big production to speak to us, we will be let down. If Jesus is humble, we ought to be as well. I encourage you to put on some good soaking worship songs just to get into His presence and wash the world off of you before expecting to hear from Him. I would find a place in your home, or if that is not possible for some reason, go to your church, or somewhere else and find a place to get on your face before the Lord. The bible says that if we search Him with all our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13). If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8).

Your Heavenly Father wants to have an intimate relationship with you. He loves you and desires to speak to you daily. Once you make it a priority to commune with God, you will find He was not far (Acts 17:27). God wants us to be just like Him, we are made in His image. God is holy and we are to be holy too (1 Peter 1:16). The more we become like Him, the more He reveals Himself to us (John 14:21). Jesus is already standing at your door, let Him in, not just for salvation and then shut the door, but for everlasting friendship (Revelation 3:20).

God loves you and wants all of you, not just your leftovers. Give Him your best and He will bless you beyond your wildest dreams (1 Corinthians 2:9).