Hearing God's voice is one of the most important skills we can develop as believers. Like growing in love, learning to hear God is something we press into daily. Ideally, we'd like to hear as clearly as Jesus didāand according to Him, that's possible!
God is not silent. In fact, there are 134 references in Scripture where "God spoke." He's still speaking today. The real question is: are we listening?
God will never tell you something that contradicts His Word. Every dream, vision, impression, or prophetic word must align with Scripture. His written Word is the definitive standard for His will.
When we feel led by the Holy Spirit, we can always double-check with Scripture to confirm that we're hearing Him correctly.
In the Old Testament, people like Gideon would ask for physical signsālike a wet or dry fleeceāto confirm God's will. But today, under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us.
āThen Gideon said to God, āIf you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.ā And that is just what happenedā¦ā āJudges 6:36ā38 (NLT)
We donāt need external signs anymore. Instead, God leads us internally, by the Spirit, and confirms His guidance with peace and Scripture.
According to John 14:25-27, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things. Circumstances are not our teachersāthe Holy Spirit is.
āBut when the Father sends the Advocate as my representativeāthat is, the Holy Spiritāhe will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a giftāpeace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So donāt be troubled or afraid.ā āJohn 14:26ā27 (NLT)
He leads us through peace. If you feel unsettled about a decision, that's often the Spirit signaling you to stop and listen.
Years ago, before I met my wife Darla, I was actually engaged to someone else. She was a girl I had known from ORU, and everything looked good on paper. But deep down, I didnāt have peace.
The Holy Spirit was nudging meāno, urging meānot to go through with it. But I kept pushing forward anyway. I told myself I had already committed, the invitations had gone out, and it was only two weeks until the wedding. Surely, I could just āmake it work.ā
But resisting the Holy Spirit takes a toll. I was so out of alignment with His leading that I literally became physically illāfever, body aches, flu-like symptoms. My body was reacting to what my spirit already knew: I was walking in disobedience.
Eventually, I got on my knees and prayed. I said, āGod, I know I shouldnāt go through with this. I feel like I gave my word, but if thereās any way You can get me out of this without hurting her, I give You full permission to do it.ā
The very next morning, she called and called it off. I didnāt have to manipulate it. God took care of it the moment I surrendered.
Not long after that, I met Darla. From the beginning of our relationship, I had complete peace. Our engagement was filled with joy and assurance. I never once second-guessed it, because the Holy Spirit confirmed it over and over with that inner peace.
āAnd let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.ā āColossians 3:15 (NLT)
That experience taught me something powerful: God leads through peace. When you have to force something, strive for it, or push through inner turmoil, thatās not His way. But when you follow His voice, even when itās hard, the reward is always worth it.
God is always transmitting, but we have to tune our hearts to receive. If you're not hearing Him clearly, itās not because He's not speakingāit's because we need to adjust our spiritual "receivers."
Practicing stillness, eliminating distractions, and prioritizing God's Word are key ways to sharpen your spiritual hearing.
Many biblical figures like Jesus, John the Baptist, and Paul spent extended time in solitude. They withdrew from distractions to focus fully on God's voice.
Today, we can do the same by setting aside time without noise, music, or even fans humming in the background. Being silent helps us discipline our flesh and focus solely on Him.
If you want to hear Godās voice better, start with these steps:
Get in the Word: Spend daily time reading and meditating on Scripture.
Get Quiet and Still: Practice periods of silent waiting on God.
Practice His Presence: Spend intentional time focusing solely on Godās nearness.
Be Ready to Obey: If you ask for His leading, be prepared to follow itāeven when itās uncomfortable.
Remember: the more you practice, the more familiar you become with His voice. Hearing Godās voice isnāt about striving; itās about relationship.
God longs to guide you every step of the way. As you seek Him, trust that Heās speakingāand that youāre learning to listen better every day. Stay consistent, stay patient, and above all, stay connected to His Word.
