A Breath Away: Hearing the Voice of God

Have you ever considered how many voices are speaking to you every day? Of course, we interact regularly with friends and family, classmates and coworkers, but this is barely the beginning. Every day, we are listening to the voices of television, books, podcasts, music or talk radio, movies, newspapers, Twitter feeds and Facebook streams, and on and on. As Christians, one of the most important questions we can ask is, “Am I hearing God’s voice?” Are we hearing God’s voice in the Bible as just another sliver of noise in the echo chamber of our minds? Or do we give God’s word the undistracted audience it deserves? Think through the habits of your life, the voices you listen to — does God’s voice shape and color, amplify or silence the other voices you hear? What we hear and what we listen to every day is the material that will make up our faith (Romans 10:17). Are you letting God’s word feed your faith? Learning to discern the voice of God can be difficult in the world of gadgets, social media and the mental lad. When you do hear his whisper, it is a game changer. Have you ever considered that when you feel like God's voice is nonexistent and couldn't be farther from you, that maybe he is only a breath away and you aren't listening?

There are four voices that surround you everyday:

1.The Voice of God: Always loving. May convict, but never condemn. Speaks life, hope & redemption. Always agrees with Scripture, just maybe not our wounded understanding of Scripture.

2. The Enemy's Voice: Steals, kills, destroy. Full of shame, death and condemnation. Sounds accusatory and creates negative thought about yourself. Uses "You" language instead of "I" and often feels intrusive. Contradicts, twists, or half-truths Scripture.

3. Your Voice: Feels familiar. May be positive or negative, but the lines of thought are traceable. Uses "I" or "Me" language.

4. The Voice of Other People: May be positive or negative. You tend to be able to remember who said it and when it was said.

10 Ways God Speaks:

1. Throughout His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
2. Whispers, AKA, a Still Small Voice (1 Kings 19, 1 John 14:26)
3. Shouts, AKA, Circumstances (Acts 16:6-10)
4. People- Who Find You (2 Samuel 12:7-15, Acts 9:10-18)
5. Wise Counsel- People You Find (Proverbs 19:20-21)
6. Thoughts (Amos 4:13, Matt 19-21)
7. Dreams and Visions (Acts 2:17)
8. Creation, AKA, Nature (Romans 1:18-20, John 12:27-30)
9. Supernaturally (Exodus 3, Numbers 22)
10. Peace (Col 3:15)

Is it God's Voice or the Enemy's Voice?

1. God's voice will convict but in love, whereas the enemy's voice will bring guilt and condemnation.
2. God's voice will encourage and reassure, whereas the enemy's voice will discourage and frighten.
3. God's voice will lead, guide, and still, whereas the enemy's voice will push and run.
4. God's voice will calm us, whereas the enemy will make us obsess and worry
5. God's voice will bring comfort, whereas the enemy's will bring chaos and compromise.
6. God's voice will bring clarity and confirmation, whereas the enemy's will bring confusion.
7. God's voice will bring Christ closer, whereas the enemy's will bring controlling spirits.

How to Listen Intentionally

Spend some intentional time alone in your room with Jesus. Begin praying and I encourage you to begin to genuinely repent and confess your sins to God. Lay down your burdens to him. Give yourself fully to him in that moment and not just your attention. Bring to him everything and allow him to see your heart. Unplug the well of your soul. After you open up and confess, speak in the Holy Spirit for a mended heart, for guidance, for clarity, for help....however you feel led to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to mute every voice that isn't His. Ask Him to reveal to you in Scripture what you need to see. Listen to that voice and that intuition that he is laying on your heart. Pray on that voice and intuition for clarity if it is from Him. Be still in the moment. Realize that His voice may seem completely different from what your voice is saying. Obey that voice. Pray that He bumps into you in your thoughts. Ask Him to reveal if there is anything that you need to subtract or add in your life that will bring you closer to Him and His voice. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (Jeremiah 29:13). Scripture says that His sheep know His voice (John 10:27). Psalm 29 gives a description on the voice of the Lord and I think that it is worth checking out! He is only a gentle breath whispering. Listen closely and it could lead you into the land of milk and honey. Lastly, praise him in the waiting as you wait on His voice and direction. Give Him praise for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is about to do!



Prayer to hear God's Voice:
"Hey God, Here I am in your presence. Speak to me Lord. Fill me with your Spirit and transform me. Father, allow me to now be distracted from the many voices speaking to me, including my own. I seek your voice and your guidance alone. Allow the enemy's hands to be lifted from my ears so that I can hear your whisper. Give me the gift of hearing and obeying your voice. Let me be in tune with your Holy Spirit that I may here His call. Let me not hesitate or be afraid, for when the Lord speaks, His will be done. Let me listen and trust your voice. Teach me to depend completely on you. Let me abandon myself, and present myself as a living sacrifice to you."