It is important to be able to listen to God, because He is very personal. God has words to speak to you everyday. The key is to be willing to listen and to expect to hear Him.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). If you are a child of God, you can expect to be able to hear God’s voice. Let’s explore the different ways God speaks, and learn how to listen to God and hear His voice clearly.
1. How to listen to God through nature
First God speaks to everyone through nature.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
We can see God speaking through all of creation — from delicate flowers to intricate weave of blood vessels in our bodies. It is evident through the things created that “it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). If you have doubts about this, see the article Evidence for Creation.
Furthermore, God has put wisdom in some of the creatures He has made. For example:
“Four things on earth are small,
but they are exceedingly wise:
the ants are a people not strong,
yet they prepare their food in the summer;
the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
the locusts have no king,
yet all of them march in rank;
the lizard you can take in your hands,
yet it is in kings’ palaces.” (Proverbs 30:24-28)
We can learn through these animals that God knows how to provide for the helpless and give strength to the weak. If God provides for animals, how much more will He provide for us when we seek Him?
Therefore, we can learn important life lessons just by observing His creation.
2. How to listen to God through His convictions
God also speaks to the world through convictions.
“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” (John 16:8-11)
The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning the sin of unbelief, Jesus’s death and resurrection, and the future judgment of all who follow the ways of the world. So when anyone hears the gospel, he also hears God speak. And he is judged on whether he listens to God’s convictions.
Those who are children of God, believe by hearing God’s voice. And we say, “Jesus is Lord” by the Holy Spirit. For “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). So when we first believed, we also heard His voice and responded to His voice by saying with the Spirit of God: “Jesus is Lord”.
God’s Spirit continues to convict us of right and wrong after we have first believed. When the Spirit reveals to us any sin in our life, we should ask for His forgiveness and His help to overcome it. And we should resist this sin, which He convicted us of, and keep ourselves from walking into it in the future.
3. How to listen to God through His word
Many people think listening to God is a very hard thing to do. But we can see that God’s words are available to all and is easily accessible. Isn’t it true you can listen to God simply by opening the Bible? God’s word is available to you whenever you want.
And God considers His word to be “useful for for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The problem is not that God is not speaking. The question is do you believe God is speaking to you through His word personally?
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
God’s word tests you to reveal what is in your heart. Sometimes when you read the Bible, you feel convicted of things you should be doing and of things you should avoid. And sometimes, God highlights to you as you read what you should work on personally. God’s word also encourages and comforts you when you are down. And His word teaches many life lessons.
Regardless of whether you feel convicted or not, you should do what God’s word says, because His word applies to everyone.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
And Jesus gave an example of the difference between mere hearers versus effectual doers.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
So the key to listening to God through His word is to read the Bible and act on it. When you do, you will see God’s wonderful works and lovingkindness throughout your life.
4. How to listen to God through others
God uses other people to speak to us. We need other people, especially other Christians to encourage us and teach us. When you first believed, it was probably through another Christian who spoke to you about Christ. And along your walk with God, other Christians also teach you God’s ways. Furthermore, they encourage you by giving testimonies of how God has been faithful to them, so in the same way He is faithful to you.
When you listen to others, be ready to receive constructive criticism. Sometimes, it is hard to take criticism especially if it comes from someone we know. But God can use these kinds of words from others to keep us humble and on the right path. For example, Paul publicly admonished Peter because Peter was behaving in a prejudiced manner.
“But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision….
I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?'” (Galatians 2: 11-12,14)
So God can use others to encourage, teach, and correct us. Be humble and respectful. But do not just listen to anything anyone says, because there are many false teachers too. Test what people say by God’s word. Are they saying anything contrary to the Bible? If so, do not listen to words that are not right.
5. How to listen to God through your circumstances
God speaks through circumstances. And God answers your prayers. Even if one door is shut, another will open as you seek His guidance and direction in your life. If you obey His commandments, you will look back on your life, and see how He used all the events and life stages to build you up and make you grow.
“All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Who are the ones who love God?
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21)
So don’t despair if sometimes you go through tough situations. Take them as opportunities to learn from God on how to handle things well and trust Him more. Then everything will work together for good.
6. How to listen to God’s thoughts through the Holy Spirit
Many Christians want to hear God’s voice and listen to His thoughts to them personally. But the main reason they don’t hear God’s voice this way is because of unbelief. Many people have trouble believing God will talk to them personally. But God did not place His Spirit within you to not say anything to you. He placed His Spirit in you to teach you all things.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
6.1 Stay away from sins
One of the ways God teaches you is by talking to you directly. But you might have trouble hearing God due to your sins.
The Bible says: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).
Don’t be offended. No one is without sin, including the writer of this article. But we should all work on overcoming our sins. Otherwise, sins can become a wall between us and God. What sin do you know of? Work on it with God diligently in order to overcome it.
We should be actively practicing what the Bible teaches daily. Not only do we need to spend time with God daily, but we need to be practicing faith, hope, and love. Practice faith in everything you do by asking for God’s help in everything you do and trusting Him. Practice hope by not becoming discouraged when you face obstacles. Practice love by loving God and helping others.
Be diligent to do these things and to stay away from sins.
6.2 Believe the best of God
Next, believe the best of God. Believe God is the best and will give you the best. When you ask Him for something good, the Lord will not give you something bad. So believe that you can hear from God speaking to you personally, and you will hear from God.
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:8-11)
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24)
6.3 Don’t dismiss His voice
Finally, don’t dismiss His voice when He speaks to you. God often speaks very quietly. He doesn’t need to shout or speak audibly, because His Spirit is in you. Since it is by the Holy Spirit that we say, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3), many times you might not even realize He is speaking.
His Spirit can directly place a thought in your mind. So sometimes, it is easy to quench the Spirit and dismiss Him by thinking that it is you who is speaking. “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). If you hear any thoughts teaching you to obey God, do not dismiss those words. Look into Scripture to see if those words agree with what the Bible says, and if they do, you can be sure that those are God’s words to you.
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His thoughts are nobler than our thoughts. His thoughts are wiser than our thoughts.
6.4 Practice with Bible verses
You can practice listening to God by reading the Bible and asking Him questions on how you can apply His words to your life. Or if you don’t understand something in the Bible, try asking Him directly.
The Bible verses you read have a special meaning for you personally. For example, they are not just the faith of Abraham, the acts of David, the works of Jesus, or the letters to the Corinthians. But they are God’s words to you for your life.
Ask God questions you have and listen for His answer. Write down what He says to you.
Remember, what He says to you will never contradict the Bible. If what you hear contradicts His word, you should ignore it, because it is not God speaking. We have spiritual enemies who will try to hinder us. But do not fear. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). And if you genuinely want to hear God, He will speak to you, because He is faithful.
6.5 Practice with prayer
You can practice listening to God when you pray. Start prayer by praising and thanking God. Thank Him for what He has done in your life. And pray for other people that they may know Him too. When you pray, also listen to see if God wants to say something to you.
When Samuel heard from God, he first heard God calling his name “Samuel!” (1 Samuel 3:6). And he wasn’t sure what to do. Then he was taught to say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9).
If you hear God calling you, you can also say, “Yes, Lord, I’m listening.” Then listen to what He says to you, and do not immediately doubt. If you listen to God and do what He says, He will speak more to you.
Of course, God can speak to you at other times besides during prayer too. For example, you might be engaging in a daily routine, and He might speak to you then. The thought or conviction He gives you always aligns with His word and does not contradict the Bible. It might be an encouraging word to you, a direction He wants you to take in your life, or He might enlighten you to a new understanding of His word.
7. Write down what He says
When God speaks, write down what He says and act on His words. In this way, you can look back and remember how He has been faithful and tell others about the wonderful things He does for you. Keep praying for God to help you trust Him more, and keep practicing to learn to hear God clearly. As always, the Bible is the anchor to His truth. Do not listen to anything that contradicts it.
Since God can do all things and speak in many different ways, are you ready to listen, record, and act on His words?
Read Matthew 7 in the Bible.
To learn more about the Holy Spirit, see the article Holy Spirit.