I’ve started the blog “Hearing God Like….” for several reasons:
To study the abundance of ways He speaks to people in the Bible.
To practice and experience the ways He speaks.
To show that God speaks today.
The essence of the blog will be studying scripture and doing what it says, so let’s get back to basics.
STEP 1: Dedicate Time Daily to Devotion
If you want to hear God, you need to start spending time with Him.
That seems like a strange statement, but devotional time is your number one priority in your journey of learning to hear God’s voice no matter your age.
What does “devotion” mean?
What does it mean if I am devoted to someone?
Devotion means to have love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for someone or something.
You might be devoted to ballet, football, your new puppy or a bunch of other things in life, but the most important devotion that we can have is to God.
How do we show devotion to God?
We spend time daily with Him.
We listen to Him.
We do what He says.
Frequently people say they don’t know HOW TO hear God or that they never heard His voice.Perhaps the reason is quite simple-you aren’t spending time with Him. The simplest way to do that is start with reading what He has ALREADY said in His Word-the Bible. You will not learn to hear the voice of the Lord without becoming familiar with what He sounds like--and THAT is developed by being in the Word daily.
The disciple John clearly shows us that the Word came first!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” - John 1:1–5
Right from the beginning was His Word! God’s Word existed before the earth was made, before dark and light, and before the animals, fish, and birds were created! This Word was with God and was God. All things were made through His Word! Our first step to learning to hear God is get into His word DAILY first thing in the morning.
My spiritual father, John Paul Jackson, loved the Word and encouraged me to read, study and meditate on scripture daily. Another mighty man of God that I admire greatly because of his faithfulness in ministry, R.T. Kendal says that his longevity in ministry is from developing a Bible reading plan. If you don’t know R.T. Kendal, he has written numerous books on the Bible, preached for ___years and has been a faithful servant of God. I made a decision 20 years ago that I too wanted to be like these two mighty men of God-faithful, lovers of God and doing mighty things for His kingdom, so I started a Bible Reading Plan. Since that decision I have read through the Bible every year.
You need to make a decision and stick to it. Read God’s Word daily. Some days it will be manna in the desert and some days you won’t understand a thing, but just keep showing up to spend time daily with God and his Word. It will produce an amazing harvest. Why?
You can read R.T’s blog on developing a Bible Reading Plan here. https://rtkendallministries.com/how-much-do-you-read-your-bible
YOU NEED THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!
The Word is Powerful: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The Word Guides Us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The Word Transforms Us: “ Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
The Word Equips Us: “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 16-17).
The Word is Part of Your Armor: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
STEP 2: DO GOD’S WORD
Jesus’ brother James tells us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
Jesus had some very important things to say about keeping His word. He explained that true disciples abide in His word and if you truly love Him you’ll obey it!
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
“"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments...Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him...Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14: 15, 21, 23).
STEP 3: LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit will remind us what Jesus said. To be reminded means you’ve been told at least once before so as you spend time in God’s Word the Holy Spirit will remind you when you need it.
After Jesus exhorted his disciples to keep his commands in John 14 He went on and told them that the Holy Spirit would help them do what He asked,
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
So make today a new day that will change the rest of your life!
I see you in the future:
You are a mighty lover and disciple of God.
You hear Him clearly.
You are faithful.
You are strong in the Lord doing powerful things for Him
Make a decision today to start and continue a Bible reading plan.
Do what the Word says when you read it.
Listen to the Holy Spirit when He is reminding and helping you of God’s Word.