“Mama, how can you hear God’s words?” my 7-year-old asked as she licked the honey dripping off the side of her toast.
We had just read our morning family devotions. Today’s particular devotion spoke about hearing God’s voice in our lives. This question, my sticky-fingered little girl had just asked, was one I had asked myself not so long ago. When my heart was full of worry and doubt. Doubting my career and life journey choices…
“How do I know what you really want me to do God?” my heart cried out in a mix of emotions. The more frustrated I became the more I cried out, “Please Lord, help me!”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV
God promises that he has a plan for us. It includes a blessed future. He want’s us to lean into Him, talk to Him. He wants us to trust in Him that He is with us and listening. And the more we speak to Him the more we are able to recognize His voice.
“How do you know which voice is Mine? Spend time with Me-quiet time in prayer and praise. Just as good friends know each other’s voices, you will come to know Mine. And I will tell you the right way to go.” Jesus Calling for Kids, Sarah Young
That was an excerpt from the devotion where my 7-year-old’s curiosity was sparked… just how do we know and recognize God’s voice in our lives?
When I was doubting and worried about my next career steps He encouraged me to wake up in the mornings to hear his voice and see his guiding hand in my life. Well, he didn’t actually encourage me, He woke me up. And I know this because I have never been a morning person, well I desired to be one but could never bring myself to stay consistent with it. Until the moment when I was hurting and frustrated enough to finally listen to God and get up to be with Him.
(Read more about my morning routine, click here.)
Since spending time daily with God, his voice has become very clear to me. I now am very confident in what I am doing and know I am following His lead in my life.
Back to the breakfast table…I looked at my sticky sweet 7-year-old and her two sisters, whose curiosity was also peaked, and said… “Spend time with Him.”
I went on to share a few tips to help them hear God’s voice in their lives that I am about to share with you but first…
Has this ever happened to you?
You send a text asking someone a question while your phone is on silent and you put your phone down. An hour goes by and you realize you never “heard” back from the person. You check your phone and to see you missed them.
“The answer to your question is….”
“Hello?”
“Did you get my answer?”
“Where did you go?”
“Okay well text me back if you need anything else!”
What?! Why didn’t you hear your phone? After further inspection, you realize you had forgotten to take your phone off silent. You text the person back and continue the conversation.
How many times have you prayed to God in silent mode?
You pray, crying out desperately for an answer and keep going. You walk through your day or days doing your thing but never stop to switch your time with God on. You never sit down read, pray, listen to Him.
If you don’t stop to spend time with Him you won’t hear His answers. Yes, it’s that simple. Spend time with God. Start to recognize His voice and you will become more aware of the answers He wants to share with you.
He is that friend on the other end of your text, waiting and ready to help you out when you are ready to stop and listen.
This is where taking time in your day, anywhere morning or evening, to spend quality time with Him is so important. And using the following tools will help you hear Him loud and clear.
Ways to Hear God’s Voice in Your Life…
The Bible: It may be somewhat obvious, but the Bible is full of answers!
Read the Bible from beginning to end and you will understand God’s character, how He works and how He speaks to us. You can also pray and ask God to show you answers in His Word and He will take you to the scriptures you need to see.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Journaling: The answers you seek can be revealed simply by working your thoughts out on paper. Always pray and ask God to guide you first.
God can use your words to help you draw conclusions that have been inspired by Him. It’s incredible the therapy, answers, and blessings I have received just though the simple act of journaling. A great example of this is the book of Psalms. See the words that David journaled to God, all the inner workings of David’s heart written down for God to use to speak back to him and us!
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3
Praying: This is a time for us to pour our hearts out to God. The Spirit helps us pray and leads us. Prayer is our direct line of communication with God.
“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 through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Fellowship with others: Wise advice and loving comfort are good things! How many times have you read a devotional, blog post, talked with a friend or listened to a sermon and you’ve felt inspired, comforted or motivated? God’s voice is in those places as well.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
Music and nature: Does your heart rejoice or feel comforted when you hear a beautiful song of praise to God or see an incredible sunset? Those are ways God shows his love and comfort to you. Again I will refer to the James 1:17 verse above for proof of this!
So how do you know if God is speaking to you?
Take time to spend with God he is there waiting to listen and speak to you. He always has been and always will be.
Struggling to find time to spend with God? God knows what season of life you are in. He sees your “busy” and he wants to help you with it. I have found that the more time I give God the more time He gives me…
Today I have a special free gift for you to help you find time with Him no matter what season you are in! In addition to this gift, you will get entered into my monthly drawing for a $10 Starbucks gift card and the book of the month. Click the large pink button below to receive your free gift.
Blessings,
Mama, I want to buy you coffee and give you a free book! Click the button below for my FREE Simple 3-Step Morning Routine and get entered to win the monthly drawing for a $10 Starbucks coffee card and the book of the month!
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
