This post was originally written for the Allume blog.
I hear God. God hears me.
I intentionally go to my quiet time to hear God. God intentionally draws near to me to speak to me.
God promises to speak to me. When He speaks he gives me promises.
I wasn’t brought up knowing that God wanted to speak to me. No one taught me how to hear God outside of reading His Word. I knew I could do the talking and pray. But, I didn’t know to wait for a response.
Hearing God is the most exciting part of being a believer. Hearing God for myself or for others. We need to hear God to know who to marry, what job to take, and at the very start … to respond to him in faith for salvation.
The enemy can speak to us too. He counterfeits everything God does and makes it ugly. And when he speaks it’s always a lie. He often uses the same strategy as he did with Eve in Genesis. “Did God really say that?” He puts doubt in our minds. So, it is important to know God’s Word and make sure everything we “hear” agrees with what He’s already said before in His Word.
Broaden your expectations and ignore your experience.
I love encouraging people to hear God in new ways. God is not limited by your experience. And He is not threatened by your theology. God is not afraid of your limitations. And He is not intimidated by your resistance. But, He will not control you. So, if you don’t want to hear Him, He may (or may not) be quiet. Because we can't control Him either.
Sometimes God is not speaking but watching.
Let me give you an example. I was taking a prayer walk one day. When I do those I start with praising God for all the things I can think of. Even things I can’t see yet (Heb 11:1). I pour out petitions. I ask God what He wants to talk about. And I listen. Often we have a conversation that leads to me praising, praying or repenting again. And sometimes my mind wanders.
One day I started daydreaming … and I said, “Oh God, so sorry … what do you want to talk about next?
He said, “Nothing.”
I said, “Really?”
God said, “Sometimes I like watching you. Just like a parent who gives their kids crayons and a coloring book. They watch them create and think. And see what they do with what they have inside of them.”
God uses all 5 senses to talk to us. But, only believers have the 6th sense.
God has put things inside of you and wants to see what you do with them. He created you unique. No one is like you. He has plans for you that He didn’t give anyone else. He can’t wait to walk you through to your destiny. The way to know what God thinks of you and the plans He has for you is to know Him more.
Here are 10 ways God spoke as recorded in Scripture. Ask Him for a new way to speak to you.
- Circumstances (Jonah)
- Counsel (Proverbs)
- Peace (Col 3:15)
- People (Acts 21:10-11)
- Dreams/Visions (Solomon, Jacob, Mary, Paul, Peter)
- Thoughts (Amos 4:13)
- Natural Manifestations (Jn 12:29)
- Supernatural (Burning bush)
- Bible (Rom 10:17)
- Whisper (I Kings 19:12)
Credit: Top ten list from Robert Morris, Gateway Church, 2010
Photo courtesy of Josh McGinn via Flicker
