How To Hear The Voice Of God

"Speak Lord for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9)

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27 KJV)

The Prophet Habakkuk knew the sound of God's voice. Elijah described it as a still, small voice heard as random thoughts, impressions, visions, dreams, or feelings (1 Kings 19:12; Hab 2:1). An example of this is when a person feels the need to intercede in prayer on behalf of another. The definition of the Hebrew word (paga) translated as 'intercession' means a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting.

God also told Habakkuk to record his visions and inscribe them on tablets (Hab 2:2). Writing prayers and thoughts in a journal is one of the most effective ways to verify that a person hears God's voice because they can write down what they 'heard' from Him and check if it is in harmony with Scripture (Isa 8:20).

Intimate Prayer

Operating in the power and anointing of God requires a vibrant prayer life. Prayer is no more than having a simple two-way conversation with God. Failure to spend time in prayer is due to a lack of intimate relationship with Him. A person may love and want to learn all about Him and tell others about Him, but many don't spend any real quality time with Him because they don't know Him. It is like a marriage relationship that is struggling. Yet, both people want a good marriage, so they go to counselors and read all the books about having a good marriage, but they don't spend any time with each other to have a good marriage.

Intellectual knowledge about God is not the same as intimate knowledge of God. The head always gets in the way of the heart. To arrive at the place of truly knowing and loving God, a person must first be willing to pray (and live) the Gethsemane prayer, "Not my will Lord but Yours" then they must carry their cross daily because, at any moment, the Lord may require that a particular area of their life be crucified so that they can experience true overcoming resurrection power.

Prayer is nothing more than the internal exercise of love. A dialogue between the person and their Lord doesn't need many words because He knows their inmost feelings before saying them. They pray only for what they desire. Prayer is climbing into the safety of His lap and under the shadow of His wings. It is how we turn away from and release the cares of the world so we can focus on Him. It is the communion of two lovers lost in intimate embrace. It can be done anywhere at any time and requires both speaking and listening.

Pray Without Ceasing

God desires that we "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17 KJV). He wants us to be in embrace with Him at all times. Intimate prayer comes from the heart, not from the head. The Holy Spirit searches the heart and teaches us how to pray.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Rom 8:26-27 NIV)

The Holy Spirit will show how to ask for all things according to the will of God. When a person moves into the realm of deep intimate communion, they seek only to please and do His will. It will lead them to abandon all self-interests and cast off all selfish cares and concerns as they give up their whole being to Him. He wants them to be content with nothing else but Him alone. As they empty themselves of worldly understanding, fears, and concerns, He progressively takes possession, and their spirit feels the freedom and peaceful serenity that "transcends all understanding" (Phil 4:7 NIV).

When people come and place themselves into His strong and loving arms, He will give them the confidence to release those things that hinder their relationship with Him. They shouldn't wait until they have 'purified' themselves. They will never see themselves as clean apart from Him. Self-examination should always precede prayer, yet He desires to replace them as the examiner of their heart.

The "sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings" and focus like a laser beam on those areas that need to be dealt with (Mal 4:2 NIV). His love will hold them and give them the strength to endure the pain of spiritual surgery as He cuts out the cancerous tumors of self. Then, when they can "take refuge in the shelter" of His wings, He will make them "dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8; 61:4 NIV)."

God's Voice

"If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20 NIV).