When teaching people in parables, Jesus says, "Whoever has ears, let them hear." Are we listening when he speaks to us, and do we even know and recognize his voice? Some legitimately can't hear the Lord because they are unfamiliar with his methods of communication. Some purposely choose not to listen and pretend they don't hear him. But if we're honest, most people are so heavily distracted by movies, music, video games, and other conversations that they cannot discern the voice of the Lord among the noise.
Matthew 11:15 NLT says, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." John 10:27 says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." There's a difference between hearing and truly listening and understanding!
When listening to music, we usually focus on the words and the main melody or beat. But people who are musical in nature or have some type of musical training can zone in and listen to specific instruments or background vocals. The rest of us usually listen to the song as a whole without ever realizing what is being done in the background. Those familiar with sound isolation who have trained their ears can hear.
Similarly, in 1 Kings chapter 19, we see a manifestation of God's power and presence in a windstorm, rockslide, earthquake, and roaring fire… but his voice spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice. Elijah was searching for a thundering voice, but the Lord spoke to him in a whisper so quiet that Elijad had to step out of the cave he was hiding in and draw closer to God to hear him clearly.
Sometimes, in the chaos of life, we think God isn't present with us, doesn't care, or doesn't bother to give us direction. But God is always speaking; we must learn how to listen intentionally! We learn how to listen through examples we can clearly see in scripture.
9 COMMON WAYS GOD SPEAKS
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Through His Word - When we read the Word of God in Spirit and in truth, it comes alive and saturates us. Through scripture, we see the heart and character of God, as well as his plan for humanity, his guidance through difficult situations, and his encouragement through seasons of change. The voice of God is written through scripture and still speaks to us today if we are willing to seek.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
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Through Nature - Scripture is filled with stories of people who encountered God in the wilderness or received revelation through nature. Jesus himself spoke spiritual truths to a multitude of people by communicating principles of nature and relating them to God. In a practical sense, secluding ourselves in nature can quiet the noise around us and help us hear the direction of God for that season more clearly.
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 NLT
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Through Other People - Apart from the gift of prophecy that flows from spiritually gifted individuals, we are told through scripture that the wisdom of the Lod can be found through submitting and yielding to others within the Body of Christ. In Proverbs, we are told that wisdom is found in the counsel of many.
"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." James 3:17 NLT
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Through Music or Media - Music and media have the ability to touch us in profound ways. Like David's music brought comfort and peace to Saul, music can serve as a vessel through which God can communicate to us.
"And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away." 1 Samuel 16:23 NLT
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Through Holy Spirit -The Holy Spirit speaks to us today in various ways, such as feeling a spiritual pull or intuition guiding us towards a particular decision. Additionally, the Holy Spirit gives gifts such as supernatural knowledge, wisdom, and the gift of discernment, which helps believers distinguish between truth and deception.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:16-17 NLT
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Through Prayer - In moments of deep intercession, we may find ourselves travailing in prayer. In these moments, God often reveals his will to us, comforting us in our challenging situation. Additionally, the gift of tongues allows us to access another form of prayer in which our spirit has a direct communication channel with God beyond our own understanding.
"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." Romans 8:26 NLT
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Through Dreams -Just as in biblical times, when God spoke to prophets and individuals through dreams, He continues to do so today. As we pay attention to the symbolism and messages in our dreams, we discover God is communicating his plans, desires, and even solutions to our concerns.
"That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 1 Kings 3:5 NLT
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Through Visions - Visions can occur during prayer, worship, or moments of deep spiritual connection. They often give vivid insights into God's will or purpose for our lives. Just as He did with the prophets in scripture, God still uses visions today to communicate messages to His children.
"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!" Acts 18:9 NLT
- Repetition - In the Bible, repetition often serves as a powerful tool through which God communicates. Repetition is either tied to confirmation or some form of prophetic symbolism. Standard biblical numbers repeated throughout scripture include 3, 7, 12, 40, and 120. When we repeatedly encounter specific themes, messages, or scriptures in our lives, it may be a sign that God is trying to get our attention and convey something significant. We can better understand and respond by paying attention to these patterns and seeking discernment through prayer.
What should we do when we hear God speak? Follow directions! Remain in the will of God by seeking the gift of discernment, remaining in prayer, reading the Word, and staying vigilant to recognize the voice of God through the language of His Spirit.
