I Need to Hear from God Today- Do You?

Speak Lord; I’m Listening – Daily Bite-Size Encouragement – Day 1

We all desire to grow in our relationship with the Lord, but do we know how? As Believers, we hope to thrive in our lives, but most of us are just surviving from day-to-day. If you want to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord – it is possible.

To move forward in hearing God’s voice, it takes intentional actions of drawing near to listen to God. Here are six practical ways I’ve learned to hear God’s voice. I’m still learning and growing, but over the years, I have spent many hours fine-tuning my spiritual ears to listen to His still small voice, and today, I want to share these six ways so you can connect with the Lord too.

God’s Word

Just as a night light brightens our home’s hallway or a lamp post illuminates the street, so “His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.”¹ He speaks to us through His Word, bringing understanding, insight, and wise counsel. We go from wandering to walking with clarity and direction.

Prayer

Billy Graham says, “Prayer is a two-way relationship in which man not only talks to God but also listens to Him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with his father.”² It is natural for a child to talk with and listen to his parents.

Journaling

We can use journaling to process our emotions. Similar to externally processing verbally with someone else, but now done privately in writing. We can download our cares and accompanying emotions which somehow brings a release to our souls. Our thoughts and feelings are no longer going around and around in our heads but are out. Get them out! Write them down.

We can also use journaling to practice listening to God. We can ask Him, “Is there anything you want to say to me, Lord?” Then we’ll quietly wait for His response. A lot of times, He affirms His love for us. Sometimes He speaks about something that is bothering us and downloads a solution to our problem. Other times, He drops a phrase in our hearts that speaks to a specific situation or relationship. Because He is “the same yesterday and today, and forever”³ and because “He is love,”⁴ most often He speaks to us of His love so that our hearts are encouraged.

Singing

Singing is a great way to worship, praise, and hang out with the Lord. Sometimes a new song will bubble up in our hearts, and we’ll sing, “I love You! And I worship You, and I honor You, and I exalt You! You are Holy, and You are Worthy! How I love You!”

Nature

Being in nature and enjoying His Creation is lovely and relaxing. I’ll sit in my wooden chair, listening to the doves’ sing, watching the wrens hop around on the ground, feel the gentle breeze and smell the soft scent of the roses and rosemary in the air. In this place, I sense His pleasure. It is delightful to know we are the “apple of His eye.”⁵

Other People

People can be kind, mean, or neutral towards us. When we meet someone so kind and gracious that their very words bring life to our soul, encourage our hearts, and lift our spirits, then we can agree with Solomon, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver, is a word spoken in right circumstances.”⁶

We can’t wave a magic wand and be where we want to be right this minute, but with intentional moments of leaning into listen: through His Word, while in prayer, while journaling, while singing, through others, or while out enjoying nature. We can move forward in experiencing God in a deeper relationship.

To grow in hearing God, you must approach listening for His still, small voice holistically. If you are not where you want to be, there is no better time than right now to start – you will be forever glad you did. Start listening now.

Recommendation:

To learn more about Listening to God’s Voice 3 Keys to Knowing God’s Voice – Strength with Dignity

References:

¹ Psalm 119:105 NASB

² What is prayer? Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Staff. Retrieved September 26, 2021 from https://billygraham.org/anser/what-is-prayer/

³ Hebrews 13:8 NASB

⁴ 1 John 4:8b NASB

⁵ Zechariah 2:8 NASB

⁶ Proverbs 25:11 NASB

New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.

Bible Scriptures were retrieved September 25, 2021, from https://www.biblegateway.com #bgbg2 #BibleGateway