Listen Up!: Ways to Clearly Hear From God

Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)

Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

That Busy Brain

I tend to live in my head, so my brain is often just too busy.  There are millions of thoughts slushing through at any point in time and it can be a real challenge to hear God clearly speaking to me.  

When I have a decision to make, the questions keep coming, “What should I do?”, “What if…”, “Where can I…?”, “Who can I…?”, “How do I…?”  And then, a break finally comes when I’m reminded to get quiet, talk to God directly, stay quiet, and wait for His response.

God’s Voice

God is the Great Communicator.  He’s always speaking to us with clear intention.  He’s known for that “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-13), but there are also times when the mode of His message is different (Job 33:14).  Regardless of how He decides to speak, it’s our job to listen well.

Read.  If it’s not in His Word, it’s not in His will.  God sticks to what He says.  If you read the bible, you’ll become better acquainted with His nature and His promises.

Meditate.  Sometimes you just have to sit with a word, scripture, poem, or song that speaks to you where you are.  

Pray.  Pray often, but also leave time for silent prayer- that space (of about 5 to 15 minutes) where all you do is take in the quietness and wait for God to speak.

Pursue peace.  God’s blessings reside in peace (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7; Philippians 4:7).  God will give you peace about your direction, then it’s up to you to accept it.

Write.  Journaling can clear the clutter in your brain and make room for whatever He wants you to know.  You can often notice the patterns of His actions when you read the words you’ve written.

Work out.  When your brain is full of thoughts and your body is stressed out, spending some time in a good workout can be the best remedy.  When your mind is clearer, you’re better able to hear His voice and detect His direction.

Silence opposing voices. Opinions and distractions are everywhere.  If you really want to Hear from God on an issue, limit your access to the voices that pull you in- sometimes that means changing the way you talk about the issue and yourself.  

Wait and act.  There are some things you can do as you wait for God’s response, like preparing your resume for that next job or finding a counselor to help you manage your emotions before making a big move.  Whatever you do, don’t sign any dotted lines before you’re clear about what God wants for you.   

God will tell us everything we need to know to live lives that honor Him (2 Peter 1:3).  Let’s learn to live well by learning to listen well.

Bible Verses to Clearly Hear God:

Isaiah 30:21, Proverbs 3: 5-6, Psalm 119: 105, Acts 24:16, Psalm 27:11, James 1:5, Romans 10:17, Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 32:8, John 14:26

Prayer

Dear Lord,  Thank you for providing everything we need to follow your instructions.  Help us to recognize your voice and follow the path that leads to you.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Live well,

Michele