How to Hear God

I recently found myself lamenting about the unchanging status of the COVID-19 pandemic, and going on about how much prayer effort had been put for the scourge to come to an end. It seemed to me that God was somehow not hearing, and thus not giving answers to my praying. But I was taken aback with this kind of thinking.

Is it possible that the Lord God, whom I know always wants to hear from us (cf. 1 Peter 3:12), and speak to us (cf. John 5:15), will not give an answer? I remembered the relationship that God had with His creation in the beginning – how they heard the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day (cf. Genesis 3:8), and I wondered if somehow I had hidden from the presence of the God among the many concerns that I currently have.  

The truth is that the Lord God constantly speaks to us; but it is we, who too often, miss to listen and hear God’s messages. Why? Because we seek His guidance only but occasionally, and usually when we are going through some crisis or when we are facing a major decision. In the dire need to loudly and clearly hear from God, we become confused and frustrated because it dawns on us that we are not hearing from God. Then we start to wonder how to hear Him, and why we are not hearing from Him. 

The Bible says all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Lord God reveals Himself to us in writing, which is His primary means of showing Himself and His ways to us. Then those who know Scripture well, also get to understand and know Him well (cf. Jeremiah 9:24). To know God better means to take in what His character and His ways are like so that you get a more complete picture of who He is, and you then recognize His voice more clearly.

God surely wants everyone to clearly hear His messages, but we must discern His voice (cf. John 10:27). Yes, it is possible to hear the voice of God (cf. 1 Samuel 3:4). We do not walk in blindness but have confidence as children of God that we will surely hear Him (cf. Romans 8:14). We rest assured that the Lord directs each of our steps and delights in every detail of our lives, such that should we in some way mess up as we truly try to do His will, He lifts us up and gives us a second chance (cf. Psalm 37:23-24). But we must put aside purported formulations and tactics for hearing from God, and focus instead on developing with God the kind of relationship that empowers us to regularly hear God speaking. This kind of relationship draws us closer to God so that we so much more enjoy our conversations with Him. And in both listening and hearing from God, we even more become transformed into the people God created us to be – His companions. 

How Can You Hear God and Recognize His Voice?

1. Acknowledge that God created you to be in a close friendship with Him. 

You were created in God‘s image, and called to know and love him (cf. CCC 31). When we seek God, we discover certain ways of coming to know Him (cf. Matthew 7:7-8).  It is the will of God to be personally present with you, speaking with you in every moment as you go through life. This way, you grow to understand Him more and you become more like His beloved son, Jesus. Strive to be in fellowship with Him.

• What is motivating you to want to hear from God?

Motives are important in everything that we do. You should honestly reflect on why you want to hear separately from God. Are you really open to whatever God has to say? Do you commit to put His guidance into action and fulfill His purposes? Are you ready for the challenges that you are certain to face in doing God’s will? Is your reason selfish – to feel righteous, to feel favoured, to show off…? Recognize that even to have that openness to hear and to be courageous to respond faithfully, is all by God’s grace. You must ask for it from God.

• Is your goal simply to hear God?

If this is it, then you already have heard God; for the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (cf. Hebrews 4:12). Simply hearing from God should not be your ultimate goal. Growing in a close relationship with God and becoming spiritually mature is the only way to clearly and correctly hear what God has to say to you.

• Be aware that God values you.

You need to be confident that God wills to speak to you inasmuch as He did with the people in the Bible. God values you just as much. But it is with a humble disposition that you will faithfully receive and be able to respond to the messages that God has for you. God will surely speak to you in one way or another – through His Word, through your thoughts, through conversations with others (Acts 21:11), and through circumstances (cf. Acts 16:6-7).

• You cannot force God to tell you what you want to hear

You must learn that God chooses when and how to communicate with you. Yours is to develop a respectful relationship with Him and wait for His chosen time to deliver the messages He has for you (cf. Psalm 27:14). Then you will gain new strength, mount up with wings like eagles, run and not get tired, walk and not become weary (cf. Isaiah 40:31). Still, God may choose not to give you specific guidance about something that you have prayed about. In which case, be confident to go ahead within the Bible’s moral principles, and decide on what to do and still be within God’s will (cf. John 7:17).

• God will most often communicate through your mind

How God communicates depends on what is best at a particular time in the prevailing circumstances. The message may be dramatic (through angels, visions, miraculous events) or ordinary (reading the Bible, praying quietly, seeking counsel, circumstances happening, etc). Remember God’s goal is to have you closely connected to Him. Therefore, pay attention to His presence – the still, small voice (cf. 1 Kings 19:12). Bear in mind that God’s work is not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit (cf. Zechariah 4:6).

• Change your mindset

We have seen that God often speaks to you through your mind. We also know that God wills for you to develop the ability to make decisions as the Lord Jesus would (i.e. we have the mind of Christ – 1 Corinthians 2:16). It is, therefore, necessary that you follow St. Paul’s teaching and not conform to the pattern of this world, but instead to be transformed by the renewing of your mind (cf. Romans 12:2). Then you will be able to test and approve the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. You must invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind daily. You must allow Him to cleanse it from the dirt and clutter of false beliefs, negative attitudes, unhealthy feelings, and misguided plans. Then be open to having the Holy Spirit replace all this with true thoughts that reflect God’s purposes (cf. John 16:13).

• Invite the living Word to help you with the written word

The Bible identifies the Lord Jesus Himself as the living, creative word of God (cf. John 1:1 & Revelation 19:13). He is actively at work when you prayerfully read God’s written word in the Bible. You must ask the Holy Spirit to enliven the Bible’s words for you so that they become conduits through which God manifests His presence in your soul. When you focus on what He sends you and orient yourself toward it, your life will begin to transform. 

• Distinguish God’s voice above all others.

The mind is always bombarded with thoughts. With experience, you can learn to identify God’s voice when He speaks amidst all the noise, and thus to confidently respond to what He says. As you continue learning to recognize God’s voice, you may seek counsel from godly people who are more mature in their faith and more experienced in hearing from God. These can help you to learn how to discern His voice better (cf. 1 Samuel 3:8-9). 

When you get recurring thoughts, you must pray about them in order to discern where they may be coming from (cf. 1 John 4:1). You will know because God will never send you a message that contradicts the Bible’s principles. You can tell because God’s voice carries the weight of authority within it. That is the voice which tells you to obey the Father’s commands and reveal His heart to others (cf. John 15:10 & Matthew 5:16); or to love the Son and walk as He did (cf. John 14:15 & 1 John 1:7), or to grow in the fruit and gifts of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:6-8 & 1 Corinthians 12:8-10). 

You will appreciate that God expresses a spirit of peace, confidence, joy, reasonableness, and goodwill. You can also ask Him to confirm what He is communicating as you study and meditate on the Bible, as you are alert to the circumstances you encounter, or as you experience the Holy Spirit’s impressions in your mind.

• Regularly have a date with God

You must make a habit of intentionally and expectantly listening for whatever God may want to tell you. Begin by setting aside specific time for this important activity, so that you become a person who listens regularly to God and not one who constantly comes to ask God for guidance. Learn to listen keenly to hear His promises and the plans He has for you (cf. Jeremiah 29:11). You may want to keep a journal of all the things He brings to life for you. 

Take-Home

It is not enough that we hear what God says. More than just recognizing God’s voice, we must be willing to obey Him when He speaks (cf. Luke 11:28). We must delight the Heart of the Father with our obedience (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22). God commands that we obey His voice, and He will be our God, and we shall be His people. That we walk in all the way that He commands us, so that it may be well with us (cf. Jeremiah 7:23). We are the sheep of the Good Shepherd, who are called to follow Him by listening to His voice (cf. John 10:27). We need to know Him through His Word; then we can learn to recognize His voice. Then we will experience the joy of recognizing this voice. Then we will obey and follow Him in the way He calls us to walk; and our joy will then be complete (cf. John 15:11).