3 keys to hearing from God

Rob Streetman Feb. 19, 2019

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“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…” (Romans 10:10 NKJV). 

The heart of man desires—perhaps more than anything else—to be filled with faith. Consequently, the Christian heart is hungry for the (rhema;spoken) word of God.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). 

Jesus explained to His disciples that our ability to hear and understand God’s voice was proof of our belonging to Him. 

“And He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand’” (Luke 8:10 NKJV).

However, having ears to hear does not guarantee hearing. Sixteen times in the New Testament, Jesus encouraged His listeners with:

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15 NKJV). 

It is the heartfelt desire of everyone involved—Father, Son, Spirit and children—to know, hear and understand God’s voice. So, why are so few hearing and understanding? Why are so many disappointed and frustrated regarding their ability to know it is God’s voice? Should it really be this difficult?

How do we respond to Jesus’ command to let ourselves hear? Consider the following three simple and easy keys for knowing, hearing and understanding the Word of God.

Key #1: Become an active listener during quiet times of prayer.  

Hearing, even for those blessed with ears to hear, is not a passive exercise. As with any conversation, the hearer must give attention to the one speaking (Mark 4:24). Perhaps we do not hear more from God because we fail in this area. Who would continue speaking to someone that is obviously disinterested or unaffected by what is being said?

Hearing God’s voice has been compared to listening to the radio, as if God continually talks to us, waiting for us to “tune in.” The comparison is preposterous; an insult to the Living God. He is far too relational to communicate in this way. He waits for us to turn a listening ear and attentive mind to His words of faith.

Consequently, the carnal mind seeks to distract, discourage, and discredit. It distracts us with a thousand other thoughts, discourages us when we fail to hear and discredits God for seemingly ignoring our pleas for attention and asking impossible things of us. The carnal mind seeks to convince us that investment in hearing from our Creator is a waste of time and energy.

Key #2: Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

If God speaks to you and you are not obedient, then you have sinned against Him, and 1 John 1:9 is your only recourse. It does not matter that you did not hear, you were distracted or you did not understand. God does not speak to be ignored or misunderstood. Excuse-making, deflection and blame-shifting are tactics of our carnal mind in its war against God and His children.

Key #3: Take responsibility for your obedience to God.

If you are feeling uneasy about hearing and understanding, receive that feeling as loving conviction to pay more attention, listening for clarification. If you seek Him with your whole heart, you will find Him. God truly loves speaking with His children.

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV).

Excerpted from An Enemy Lies Within: Overcoming the Presence and Deceptions of Our Carnal Mind, by Rob Streetman and Steve Lester (inLight 2019).

Photo source: istock 

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Rob Streetman serves the body of Christ as President of two parachurch ministries: inLight Consulting (a workplace transformation ministry) and 2:2 Collective (a unity and church growth ministry). He is the author of two books: The Map Maker and A Storm is Coming. Rob’s heart desires is to encourage, edify and equip Christian leaders as disciple-makers and transformation agents—that they would become houses that stand in the storms of this life. He previously worked in various IT industry positions. Learn More »

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