Hearing God’s voice is vital as Christians. He directs us, and he speaks to us in a variety of ways. But have you ever struggled to hear Him? Have you ever wondered what His voice sounds like, or how he speaks? How is it some Christians seem so sure that God is speaking to them? In this post, we will look at how we can hear God’s voice and know He is speaking to us (yes even when life is loud and messy).
“my sheep hear my voice, and I know them…”
John 10:27a, ESV
Learning God’s Voice
Jesus clearly says His sheep (believers) will hear His voice. God speaks to us today, however, we’ve often fail to recognize the voice of God. Before you feel like there’s something wrong with you, I want to reassure you that even great prophets of the Old Testament failed to recognize God’s voice.
Samuel was just a boy, sent to live with the priests in the tabernacle and be raised for God’s service when he first heard the voice of God. This story can be found in 1 Samuel 3. While he was sleeping God called Samuel. “Samuel, Samuel,” He said. Samuel got up and went to Eli asking why Eli called him in the middle of the night. Eli, maybe wondering if Samuel was sleepwalking, sent him back to bed. Again, the voice called Samuel and again he went to Eli asking why he called. Eli sent Samuel back to bed a second time. God called Samuel a third time. This time when Samuel went to Eli, Eli realized that it was God who was calling the boy. He told Samuel how to respond to hear the message God wanted to give Him. Samuel went back to his bed, responded to God’s voice the way Eli had taught him, and God spoke clearly to Samuel and thus began his powerful prophetic ministry to the Israelites.
Sometimes God speaks and we simply do not recognize His voice. Maybe we have preconceived ideas about how God speaks to us, or maybe we have no one in our life to tell us when God is speaking to us so we can recognize his voice.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20, ESV
The Intimacy of God’s Voice
I love the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:20. He promises that if we hear God’s voice and open the door he will come in and eat with us. This represents the intimacy that we will have with him. We’re not just dining in some restaurant with Jesus sitting at another table in the building. Jesus promises an intimate relationship. I just picture Jesus sitting at the table over a meal, or maybe across the small table at a coffee shop. The ability to have an intimate conversation when you are sharing a meal with someone is far greater than just knowing one another are in the same room.
Sometimes we can get this view that we need to go to church to meet with Jesus. I know I’ve felt like when Jesus says he wants to speak to me and meet with me that it has to be in a church service. I don’t even know why. While Jesus does meet us in a gathering of believers, Jesus wants something much more intimate.
Scripture primes us for intimacy
I was recently talking with a group of women about hearing God’s voice in an intimate way. In this conversation, I shared that I have recently been journaling my prayers more. I have found prayer journaling to a good practice to help me really focus on prayer and keep a record of what God speaks, how He speaks, and the answers He gives concerning specific needs or requests.
There have been several moments lately where in been journaling my prayer, I would ask God a question and immediately a scripture verse would come to mind. It’s almost as if Jesus was sitting right next to me having a conversation. I began to write these moments down as well and I can read conversations I’ve had with Jesus. I cannot begin to describe the intimacy that comes with hearing God’s voice. In this example God’s voice came in speaking bible verses I knew into my remembrance.
This example highlights the need to be consistently reading and studying God’s word. When we read and study the Bible we are learning the voice of God so that he can remind us of what he has said when we are in an intimate moment with Him. This is one of the works of the Holy Spirit, to remind us of what God has already said (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit can’t bring to remembrance something we’ve never seen or heard before.
Testing the word clarifies God’s Voice
When you hear from God one of the most important things you can do, especially when you are new to understanding his voice is to test the words you feel God has said. I love the example of the Jews in Berea when Paul came to them and preached the gospel:
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonians; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. May of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.”
Acts 17:11-12, ESV
The Bereans were eager to receive Paul’s words, hear from God, and understand the gospel. But they were studying scripture daily to ensure what they were hearing was the truth. We’ve already discussed how scripture primes us for intimacy, but scripture also helps us discern the truth. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever ref- he will never tell us something that goes against what he has already spoken in scripture.
Paul even exhorts the church in Corinth to “weigh what is spoken” by those giving prophetic words. We can only do this when we are able to take things back to scripture. The best way to do this is to know scripture because we are consuming it, reading it, and studying it daily. For a great place to start, check out the free Bible reading plans here.
Hearing God Leads us to Obedience
Hearing God’s voice should always lead to action wherever it can be taken. James exhorts us in his letter to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only…” (James 1:22, ESV). I’ve found that when God speaks to me there is usually some sort of action I can take regarding His words. These are some personal examples of what this looks like, this may look different for you.
When God is reminding me of His love, it’s often because I have been striving to earn His love or acceptance. He is calling me to rest in his love and refocus my sight on his sacrifice that made a way.
When God convicts me of not spending time regularly with him, he is calling me to shift my priorities back to where they ought to be. I’ve slacked on spending time in His word, or prayer, or I’ve gone about my day without listening for Him to speak.
When God calls me to worship it’s usually because I’ve taken my eyes off Him and he wants to remind me of who he is.
When God tells me, “I’m teaching you this.” It’s usually because I’m trying to avoid the lesson any way I can. Many of God’s teachings are uncomfortable.
When God is calling me to share his love it’s often because I have not seen others with the same view that he has.
21 Day challenge
Do you want to hear from God more in your life? Join the 21-day challenge to practice hearing God’s voice. Grab a notebook and download the challenge sheet below.
This is a simple 21-day reading plan that walks through several verses about God’s voice or how he speaks. You will also receive a list of questions. This is not an exhaustive list. These questions are designed to help you understand God’s voice and/or what he is speaking to you. This single page download is designed to fold in half and fit in your bible or journal.
Each day over the next 3 weeks (21 days) set aside time specifically to hear from God. This can be a part of your daily bible reading time or a separate time. Write down anything God says to you. You could write down a bible verse, or a thought. God may give you a picture in your head or a couple of words. Write it down. From there write down your understanding of what God has said. For example:
One day in my bible reading time I came across Jeremiah 9:24. God reminded me in this passage that anything I can do and anything I know is nothing If I don’t know God in an intimate way. God revealed that I had been relying on my own understanding, perspective, and strengths without considering God. From here God called me to repentance and helped me shift my focus back to him and understand him more. I’d like to say I never struggle with boasting about myself, but that would be a lie. However, this moment clearly hearing what God said to me has had such a huge impact that I still remember it daily and can tell when my focus shifts away from God and can bring my focus back to him a lot easier than before.
Check out the companion post: Teaching Your Kids To Hear God’s Voice
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