Hearing the voice of God

Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:1, “I will climb my watchtower now and wait to see what answer God will give to my complaint.” (TLB)

One of the essential tools in our walk with God is hearing His voice. Without the ability to hear God, we are stunted in our own walk with Him. There are many “voices” out there competing against God’s voice. Therefore, it becomes very important in our walk with God to hear and discern His voice. Jesus said my sheep hear my voice.

How do you hear from God
I encourage you to take the following steps to hearing from God. They include among other things:

• Withdraw: Habakkuk said, “I will climb my watchtower now and wait to see what answer God will give to my complaint.” To hear from God, you need to pull back and get alone with God in a quiet place. You can’t hear God’s voice, if you are surrounded by noise. Jesus often (habit) withdrew to a quiet place to seek God’s voice (Luke 5:16).

The priority of Jesus’ solitude and silence is everywhere in the Gospels. It’s how He began His ministry. It’s how He made important decisions. It’s how He dealt with troubling emotions like grief. It’s how He dealt with the constant demands of His ministry and cared for his soul. It’s how He taught His disciples. It’s how He prepared for important ministry events. It’s how He prepared for His death on the cross. Jesus’ solitude is how He went deeper in his love-relationship with the God He knew as Abba.

Continually, Jesus withdrew from people, daily life activities, and the demands of His ministry to be alone with the Father and pray. Every pastor, ministry leader, and disciple of Jesus needs to learn from Jesus’ example of intimacy with God by withdrawing from every distraction to hear from God.

• Wait: Habakkuk said he would wait and see what answer God would give to his complaint. We must learn to be still before God. Waiting is the depth of prayer. God speaks to those who wait on Him. You’ve got to withdraw and wait. God speaks to those who take time to listen. The psalmist said, Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). You relax your body while waiting to hear from God. Take a deep breath while waiting upon the Lord. Be quiet. Until you get comfortable with silence, you will never hear from God. If you hear the voice of God, you are in for the best. Waiting and hearing from God helps you avoid costly mistakes.

• Read the Word of God: God’s Word is His mind. Habakkuk said, ‘Write the answer down, so that anyone can read the words which God spoke to you at a glance.’ God speaks to us through His Word, both spoken and written. God’s will is found in His Word. God will never speak to you to do whatever contradicts His Word. You will know God’s mind as you prayerfully search the Bible daily.

• Write it Down: As you wait upon the Lord, He will give you insights, revelations and specific instructions. You need to write down those things you received from God for reference and guidance.

• Test: Although the Spirit of God leads us, but we must verify every leading. God does not feel offended when you verify. God Himself said in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 to test all spirits to know whether they are of God.

You review regularly what God says to you.

God’s desire is that we go up to the watchtower to seek His face and hear His voice. God will speak to you today, as you wait on Him.

Today’s Nugget: Hearing God’s voice is an essential tool.
Prayer: Lord help me to seek and hear your voice.
Prayer lines: 09078154261.
E-mail: aggospelbell@gmail.com
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria