Listening to the Lord’s voice is easier than you think
Hearing the Lord’s voice, it turns out, is easier than you may have imagined.
We all know that one Word from God’s Holy Spirit is worth more than anything in the world. Who you should marry, where you should live, or where you should work can be pretty defining.
How can we be sure it is God speaking? Will we have confidence to make a move based upon what we think He said?
I’ve been there.
These four principles should guide you as you seek to discern God’s voice:
1. We have the mind of Christ.
This is a verse of Scripture (1 Cor. 2:16). It speaks of our being able to discern God’s voice because the wisdom of the Holy Spirit lives in our minds.
It’s called “wisdom.” Anything that stumps your mind can be solved with His mind.
Christ is “made unto us wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:30). It is a superior wisdom and knowledge (even higher than AI!).
Trust the Spirit to give you a word of wisdom that will solve that difficult decision.
2. Hearing is easier than deciding.
When you decide, you do research. You stack up the pros and cons. You consult with consultants. You study the odds. It’s exhausting.
When you hear, you get quiet. You ask the Spirit to speak to you. You wait to hear, not from the outside world but from your “inner man,” your spirit. Elijah called it a “still, small voice.”
It may be a picture that springs into your mind. It may be an impression that did not come from your intellect. Sometimes, fasting a meal or two heightens your ability to hear. If you seek the Lord, you will ALWAYS hear.
3. Peace is a green light
God’s inner peace is also a clue. Most of our decisions just need a “yes” or “no.” We ask a question to the Lord like, “Should I do this?”
If you wait on the Lord and sense a deep inner tranquillity in your heart, the Spirit is giving you a “yes.” If you sense an inner turmoil and unsettledness, it is a “no.”
A green light or a red light. That’s what peace is.
4. Scripture is God’s love language
The Spirit wrote the Word. He breathed the Word, every syllable and letter. As you saturate in the Bible each day, stories or teachings that apply to your decision will leap out at you.
God loves you and His Word is His love language. He comforts us in trouble. He directs us in confusion. He reveals His purpose to us at a crossroad.
That all happens as we read His Word.
Why should He not speak to us when He has already spoken 66 books full of wisdom and truth to us?
Highlighting certain verses is easy for Him!
You see? It’s easy to hear His voice. You don’t know for sure which direction it is coming. Be assured, however, that His Spirit is not playing “cat and mouse” with you!