Introduction
Have
you ever wanted to hear God's gentle, still voice more clearly in your heart?
You are not alone. Many Christians long for this. The good news is that hearing
God's voice is not as complicated as it might sound. This short article (a quick
10–15 minute read) will share nine life-changing truths to empower you to hear
and discern God's voice with confidence.
Hearing
and responding to God's voice holds the potential to transform your life. His
voice—the bringing of the rhema word—dispels fear, silences doubts, conquers
anxiety, and clears confusion.
Let's
start with the foundational truth that sets the stage for everything else: God
still speaks today.
God Still Speaks Today
Some might think that since God is finished
with the Bible, He no longer speaks to humanity. But consider the following
four important truths:
- God speaks in many ways (Hebrews 1:1–2).
- Three key events have reshaped how God speaks today: the arrival of Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the finishing of Scripture.
- God speaks at specific times; He does not always speak without stopping.
- God continues to speak with us today (Hebrews 3:15, John 10:27–28).
Believe
and be assured that God is speaking today. It is your responsibility to know
how He is speaking to you and how to know His voice. Rhema word—God's spoken
message—comes via His voice.
Don't Look for an
Audible Sound
Under
the New Covenant, God seldom speaks audibly as He did to those Old Testament
prophets like Moses or Samuel.
While
God can speak audibly, His voice to us today is not normally external or
audible. It resounds rather in our hearts. In this age of the Spirit, your
heart becomes the ear by which you hear God.
Two Dimensions of God's
Voice
God's
voice has two dimensions: spiritual and physical.
- Physical dimension: This is the audible, external voice, as when Samuel mistook God's voice for Eli's (1 Samuel 3:3–5).
- Spiritual dimension: This is the inward voice that brings God's words into our hearts.
In
Christ, God's voice most commonly comes to us in its spiritual form.
God's Spiritual Voice
Today
You
heard God's voice the day you believed in Jesus as your Savior. At salvation,
God called you and you responded. That inner prompting was His voice. As His
sheep you know His voice (John 10:27).
God's Voice and Rhema
Rhema
is God's spoken word. It's the combination of His voice and the message He
conveys.
What
makes rhema so powerful is that it signifies God's active communication in the
present. For instance, reading John 3:16 might be routine, but when the Spirit
speaks it to your heart, it brings immediate transformation.
Rhema
mainly comes through Scripture, the gifts of the Spirit, and the Spirit's inner
voice.
Prepare Your Ears to
Hear God's Voice
There
are some things you should do to prepare your ears—your spiritual ears—to hear
God's voice:
- Meditate continually on God's Word.
- Continually have a life of prayer and fellowship with God.
- Practice stillness and quietness during devotional times.
If
you haven't been able to discern God's voice, put these practices in motion;
then watch your spiritual ears open!
Recognizing God's Voice
Like
Samuel, we might at first not recognize the voice of God. But a more perilous
error is to mistake some other voice for God's.
You
must have a familiar and intimate relationship with God to distinguish His
voice. The gift of discernment and a deep relationship with God will help you
recognize His voice amidst the noise.
Respond to His Voice
When
God called Samuel, He did not act without waiting for a response. God's voice
always calls for a response: forgiving someone, helping others, or a particular
step of faith.
The
Scripture also warns not to harden our hearts toward the voice of God (Hebrews
3:15). A continuing pattern of ignoring His voice can bring about an apparent
silence from Him. You responded to His call to salvation; now, by all means,
keep responding to His voice with obedience.
Remove Any Obstacles
There
are some things that will hinder you from hearing God's voice:
- Wrong beliefs: If you believe God doesn't speak anymore, you won't hear His voice.
- Spiritual dryness: A heart that is out of tune with God cannot hear Him well.
- Distant relationship: Hearing God requires a close and personal relationship with Him.
- Repeated disobedience: Disregarding God's voice may eventually lead to fewer opportunities to hear it.
Conclusion
Even through this article, you have heard the voice of God speaking to you. He is calling you to open your ears, recognize His voice, and respond.
Whether
you are like Samuel and don't know what you are hearing or like Jonah and are
reluctant to obey, the answer is to grow in your ability to hear, recognize and
respond to the voice of God.
