Hearing God's Voice

Life presents us with many choices, particularly as caretakers.  For all, God’s guidance is essential. God is talking to you.  Can you hear Him?  The question is, can we take the time, even a minute here or there, to quiet ourselves?  The Scriptures are filled with verses how much God loves to communicate with His people, so He can guide each of us into a fuller understanding of what it means to hear His voice.

God is always talking to us through His word, dreams, nature and other believers. The Lord dwells within us and longs to share the great, unconditional love that He feels for us.  We will not be guided into something that isn’t best for us.  As the God of mercy, He never condemns.  We take inspiration from Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, then I will enter His house and dine with Him, and He with Me.”   

Reading God’s word faithfully, gives us a better guide and fuller understanding, as we grow in grace and confidence to make space to simply listen to whatever it is God wants to say. God’s desire is to have life-transforming conversations, as we seek Him.  When we take the time to truly listen, we are allowing His peace and truth to guide our actions.  Rushing to respond can lead to misunderstanding, but choosing silence can pave the way for compassion.  This is confirmed in Proverbs 18:13, “Whoever answers before listening, theirs is folly and shame.”

Through my experiences, I know that God wants to talk with you about your life, to fully know you and beknown by you.  His voice is a product of grace, unmerited favor for those who believe.  The more familiar we are with God’s voice, the more we are filled with trust, faith and resilience.  The more experiences we have with God, the more we expand our trust, for God is always faithful. Trusting in God will help us pause, reflect and act from a place of love.

These verses are for reflection this month, as we endeavor to hear God’s voice. Psalm 85:9, “I will listen for what God, the Lord, has to say; surely, He will speak of peace.  To His people and to His faithful.”  John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to Me, and I will answer you; I will tell you great things beyond the reach of your knowledge.”  James 1:19, “Know this, My people: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Let us observe our spiritual hearing. May we rely on God, trusting we will widen our understanding, as we are attentive to the way we listen.