Podcast: How to ‘Hear’ God Part 2

Scroll down to listen to the podcast from April 18, 2010 – Brant Reding & Katie Reding

Hearing God’s Voice

By Katie Reding

The “art” of hearing God’s voice is so misunderstood, so overcomplicated.

We are in a RELATIONSHIP with God, he isn’t some distant far off creature, he is my Daddy, my comforter, encourager, lover, friend, and husband, it’s a relationship of based on LOVE. Love is the core of how we relate with Jesus. If he could get you to understand one thing about him, it would be that he LOVES you.

In a marriage relationship, the key is communication! A two-way conversation, where we express our emotions, thoughts, concerns, silly ideas, desires, needs, wants, and remind the other person of things. It’s the same with Jesus, we are in a relationship with him first and foremost, and he longs to hear all these things from us, as well as speak TO US.

WHY does he want to speak?

Jesus LOVES US with a love far greater than we can even imagine, I asked God for a personal revelation of the cross- showed me that he sent his son to die on the cross because he wanted TO TALK TO ME. I am so sinful in nature, and he is so holy holy holy that we wouldn’t have been able to communicate, he had to send Jesus to bridge the gap between us.

Exodus 34:14 (NLT) “You must worship no other gods but only the Lord, for he is a God who is PASSIONATE about his relationship with you.”

Passionate is a strong word. He is madly, sold out in love with us, there is no other place he would rather be is with us, speaking to us. We have a right to be with him, he has made us worthy.

Why does God want to speak to me?

He wants to encourage me, confirm things in me, guide me, heal me, and show me things in my life that I can’t see.

He doesn’t require us to “do” anything; he just wants to BE with me.

WHO can hear God’s voice?

Anyone can hear his voice. Not reserved for pastors, leaders, super spiritual people, we are all the same. But the key is that some of us have walked with Jesus for a longer time, some of us cry out to God to hear his voice, some ask to hear God, some GIVE HIM THE TIME to speak.

John 10:27 (MSG) “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

We are his sheep once we are a follower of Jesus, we can hear his voice the bible says, and we follow him because we can hear him. How can we follow where Jesus is leading us if we can’t hear him?

The more time you spend with a person the more you will recognize their voice. The longer you know a person, the better you recognize their voice. Eg: My mom, I know her voice, I could pick it out in a crowd because I Spend time with her, I know what her voice sounds like, I am familiar with it.

It’s a growing process, a practiced thing. Hearing his voice doesn’t happen always immediately, it’s an art, that yes we can practice and need to practice on a DAILY basis.

John 10:4 (NLT) “After he gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they KNOW his voice.”

We need to KNOW God’s voice, and then we can follow him

WHEN does God want to speak to us?

On a daily basis. Not just on Sundays, when we feel extra spiritual, on good days, bad days, on missions, home group meetings. NO ALL the time. Yes he does speak special things to gatherings of people, as he promises in the bible when 2 or more are gathered there he is with them. ANY TIME WE CHOOSE TO LISTEN he will speak.

HOW does God speak to us?

Others, Bible, his creation, circumstances, our conscious (He made us- so he made our conscious- that reminder in the back of our heads is often God speaking to us), and through impressions of the Holy Spirit which I am focusing on. (This can be things like visions, emotion expressed, phrases, words etc)

Humans speak with vocal chords and it generates thoughts and images in our heads when we hear them- God works in the same way minus the vocal chords. The Holy Spirit will just drop a picture, word, phrase, emotion into your spirit.

WHAT does his voice sound like?

Sense of authority, brings peace, Never contradict the Bible, love, never cuts you down (he does correct us- but its done in his love), may not immediately understand what he saying to you- write it down he reveals things at a later time often.

It’s such a beautiful thing to sit before the Lord, your Daddy and hear what is on his heart for you. He knows exactly what you need to hear at that exact moment. So intimate- once we practice it often. The creator of the universe longs to pour out his heart to you. (Crazy love book- Francis Chan- He tells the story of his aunt Clara. She had a place where she would always go and “be with Jesus”. She simply had to walk by her room and she would start crying- because she would see the spot where she would kneel by her bed and meet Jesus. She had such intimate times with Jesus, she longed for the next morning when she could do it again. God longs to have intimate moments with us like this.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY?

We are responsible to “get with” Jesus. Spend that time with him

1) Psalm 47:10? (NLT) “Be still and know that I am God

We must quiet ourselves, quiet your spirit, it looks different for everyone, lie or site, stand whatever. Just get to a quiet place (go to your room close the door says the bible) I like to close my eyes to focus better on what he is saying.

Turn off all the distractions, cell phones, (we need to be serious about this), and give God his deserved time. Don’t put him on a time limit.

2) God desires a humble and contrite spirit the bible says. Repentance is like a sweet perfume that draws Jesus towards us. Ask Jesus is there anything in me that offends you? Any sin that is cutting me off from you? In the bible it says our sins have cut us off from God. Clear the air- get rid of anything -unforgivness whatever it is blocking you.

3) Silence other voices. As believers we have the authority to silence the voice of Satan. In the name of Jesus leave, be quiet. Do this so you don’t get his lies mixed up with God’s great truth. (James 4:7-8)

4) Ask God to silence you imagination and your thoughts. He made you, so he made EVERY part of you, he can silence your thoughts that may distract or confuse you.  (2 Cor 10:5)

He is a rewarder of those who WAIT PATIENTLY ON HIM. Often we have to sit for a while- quiet ourselves, and wait. He loves to just BE with us, don’t rush him. It breaks his heart when we sit for 5 min get up and leave too early and he says “wait wait I just wanted to spend a little time with you, I have so much to tell you, please spend a little longer with me. Everything else can wait.”

5) Its a FIGHT. PRESS IN. Isaiah 48:16 (NLT) “…. Come closer and listen…”

Psalm 125:4 (NLT) “O Lord do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in TUNE with you.” We need to get on the same channel that God is speaking on. Do this by getting rid of sin, and keeping your spirit awake.

1 Kings 19:12 God came in a “gentle whisper” wont be audible, it will be quiet we have to press in to hear.

6) If you get distracted- ask him the question again

7) Wait patiently

8) Have faith- Go with what he lays on your heart first. Often I doubt the first thing he speaks to me. If we continue to doubt we will never move to a place of believing God is speaking to us. Have boldness, often that first thought is God.  (Mark 11:24, James 1:5-7)

Don’t stifle the spirit. 1 Thes 5:19-22 This is as simple as ignoring our conscious for long enough, we drown out the voice of the Lord.

Eg. for me I had to watch what I was putting in my body, the music I was listening to, and the movies I was watching. We can DULL our spirits!!!

Keep your spirits sharp- For those of us who have the gift of Tongues, be sure to use the gift. Paul writes in 1 Cor 14:2 ; “that if you speak in tongues, you will be speaking to God.”

9) Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?? Jesus told his disciples that before they could go do anything that they were to wait for the Holy Spirit.  Why? Paul explains it best..

“No one can know a persons thoughts except that persons own spirit, and no one can know Gods thoughts except Gods own spirit. And we have received Gods spirit (not the worlds spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” 1 Cor 2:11-12

The Promise..

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49

“And I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26

Bonus – Pay it forward; when you realize God not only speaks to you, he will speak through you. He will give you insights, thoughts, and inspiration for others around you. The Holy Spirit has gifts He wants to give away (that’s what you do with gifts, you get to be the conduit!). He knows what his children need – and he longs for them to know Him, know his love for them.  So, he gives gifts (words of knowledge, words of wisdom, discernment, healing, miracles, ie; whatever they most need at that moment, so they may come to experience Gods tangible love.

Why is it important to listen ? not only will you be encouraged, comforted, you can be Jesus to another person who has yet to taste his goodness. You can communicate to them what God is thinking about them ! You can be the means by which God can save, heal, speak, deliver, bring freedom, encouragement, comfort, (even loving correction if directed), to someone who was where you were not that long ago.   Bible calls it being an “ambassador” of Jesus.

Now that’s cool…

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