Hearing Him Clearly
As we begin a new year and honestly at any time in the year, one of the most important pieces to our walk with the Lord is learning to hear His voice. I still meet believer’s who claim God never speaks to them. Or they struggle in deciphering His voice from their own thoughts. The truth is, there are many voices that we hear.
God has a voice, Jesus said in John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow Me.” In many cases His voice comes to us simply as a thought. Never forget that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. The Scriptures describe the voice of God speaking to the prophet Elijah as a still small voice. But I have learned it could be much louder when He desires to get our attention. So, sometimes His voice may show up small and sometimes loud or any other endless variations. Still, there are other voices speaking to us which we ought to discern. The enemy also has a voice and be trying to rob our attention. The voice of the enemy is not super hard to recognize because of the content of what he's saying. Usually pulling us into sin or provoking us to distance ourselves from God. Perhaps one of the most challenging voices to recognize is our own voice or thoughts and we must learn to discern the difference.
There's some great keys to learning to recognize the voice of God. Such as intimacy through prayer. Also hearing His voice through His Word. Another huge key is obedience. But how could you know unless you attempt to walk out that you believe you're hearing from God? When your communicating with God and you believe you have heard the voice of God, speaking back to you, step out in faith. You may not always know for certain it's the Lord's voice, but sometimes you won't know unless you begin acting on what you've heard.
My only caution to you is to be sure that what you think your hearing does not violate His character or His Word. Be sure it lines up with these key safeguards. When you do obey and you see the fruit show up, you'll know you are fine-tune your hearing. The more you hear rightly, the more you become familiar with His voice.
Years ago, I was going to a prayer meeting and as I was preparing to leave I heard God say, “Don’t go.” I stopped for a second only to tell myself it couldn’t of been God because I was going to a prayer meeting. I got dressed and left. I never entered my freeway but pulled over in a parking lot across the freeway and turned off the engine and prayed, “God, speak to me clearly.” I immediately heard Him say, “I spoke to you clearly.” I went back home and as soon and I parked in my driveway and turned off the engine, I received a phone call from a friend. He had a 29 year old heroine addict and needed my help. I knew that’s what God wanted me to do. That moment of hearing and obeying started a journey of helping a young lady through her addiction to a healthy place of freedom.
Engagement:
Begin and end your day by praying, "God speak to me today." He will. He won't miss an opportunity to speak to you when you show Him you'll truly listen and be willing to obey whatever He says.
There's so many ways the Lord may speak to you, be open to all of them. Let Him speak His way to you on His terms. I have been having many God-dreams lately. It's beautiful when He speaks in the night hours.
Declare - I rebuke and push back every cloud of confusion from the enemy. God, teach me to be obedient to Your voice to a greater degree as I begin this year. Meditate on Isaiah 50:4-5.
Isaiah 50:4-5 (NKJV) 4 “The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to [him who is] weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.
As you pray and enter this desperate plea to have clarity of mind and heart, know that God will test you. His job is to equip and train you to become a vessel He can partner with to further His purposes in His Kingdom.
Timothy 2:20-22 (NKJV) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Don’t give up until you know you understand and hear His voice clearly. He will speak to you.
-George Elias
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