Sadly, hearing God has at times been a subject of both controversy and frustration in the Body of Christ. Here at Authentic Joy, we believe that from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible records a God who actively communicates with His people. Not just through what is recorded in the Bible, but personally through angels, dreams, visions, prophets, and His voice audibly and in our hearts. Hearing God is the birthright of the sons and daughters of God. He is speaking.
This week, meditate on the following scriptures:
Isaiah 30:21- (NLT)
20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. 21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. 22 Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!”
John 10:27-29 (ESV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
John 16:13-15 (NLT)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
You may recall that a value is something that we do not just believe with our head but that we also have experienced in our heart. We do not just want to believe these scriptures are true. We want to have walked in the experiential reality of hearing God’s voice.
REFLECTION
- Do you experience hearing God’s personal communication to you in your own unique way?
Based on your honest responses to the above, do the following:
- Repent of any areas of disbelief. If you have given up on experiencing what the Bible says you can, repent.
- Use your imagination to create a vision for what it would look like to hear God’s voice more clearly or more often. How would you feel? What would you ask Him? How would it affect your identity, faith, and witness? Write it down.
