Are you listening?

How many times have you prayed to God for an answer or for specific direction; yet shortly thereafter frustratingly concluded that you need to take matters into your own hands? Even though you know that the God in heaven hears your prayers, how on earth is He supposed to answer them? Or does He even answer them? Maybe He just wants us to figure things out for ourselves. After all, that is why He gave us a mind, right?

Over the years I’ve certainly questioned how and if God answers our prayers and I now know with full conviction that YES, God does speak to his children. I have also come to realize that He had been trying to speak to me for a long time through many different avenues and the problem was not Him, but me. The reason I could not hear God’s voice is because I wasn’t listening. Usually my prayer time would consist of a long laundry list of personal requests. I would pour out my heart to God and then walk away without waiting and watching for His answer. The next day I’d come to Him with the same old list, and maybe a few more requests. Over many years, I learned that prayer was much more than just pleading to God on my behalf as well as others’ behalf. Yes, I should make my supplication known to God, yet I failed to do the most important thing of all—expectantly anticipate His answer. I have also learned that things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me!

So how does God talk to us? I believe God can and does talk to us in many different ways. He talks directly to our hearts through the Holy Spirit in our prayer time, through circumstances, in worship, through other Christians, and most importantly through His Word. How God chooses to speak to me may be different than how God chooses to speak to you. Who are we to put God “in a box”? He can manifest Himself to us in any way that He so desires—in a vision or a dream, through the innocent voice of a child, or maybe even through a Christian song played on the radio at just the right time. The question is not Can God Speak to Us but Are You Willing to Listen to Him?

You might be wondering how you can hear that which is not audible, or see that which is not visible, or even sense that which is not tangible? First, we must recognize that we will not be able to clearly hear God’s beautiful voice in the busyness, noisiness, and frenzied activities of our day. We must set aside some time to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and bask in His presence. God longs to speak to His children, but He will not compete for our time. Secondly, we must come to Him with a clean heart. Don’t expect to hear from God if you are harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart. You must confess and turn away from your sins. Remember, you are entering hallowed ground. God is a holy God and our sinfulness grieves the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Next, anticipate hearing God’s voice. After times of prayer, worship, and the reading/studying of God’s Word, sit quietly, expectantly waiting for God to speak to your heart. Don’t just say your Amen’s, close your Bible, and run off to the next task on your To Do List. Linger a little while longer and sit quietly with your eyes closed and ask God to speak to you. “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Most importantly, be purposeful in your listening. Practice active listening, not passive listening. Really open your ears and allow His words to digest the truth in your heart. I’ve heard it said that maybe God gave us two ears and one mouth because He wants us to spend twice as much time listening. Just remember that this type of listening requires participation from you. You must engage all of yourself—your mind, your body, and your actions. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and fully concentrate on Him. What is He saying to you? Is there an example for you to follow? A sin to turn away from?

Above all, when God does speak, be obedient. Remember that Christianity is proactive, not passive. If we seek to draw closer to God, to learn, grow and mature in our faith, we must be "doers" of the Word. Luke 8:18 says to “Be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”

Remember, there is no magic formula for hearing God’s voice. Come to Him with a clean heart, anticipate hearing from Him, and allow yourself time to attentively listen for His soft, still voice. If you are one of his sheep, you will hear Him. Watch your relationship with Him flourish as you no longer will be the one doing all the talking. You’ll learn to decipher His voice from your own and you’ll sense His leading and direction. Above all, God promises you will be blessed in all you do.

The one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, he shall be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Matthew 7:24

My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. John 10:27