HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

  • Hearing God's Voice

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

Do you get overwhelmed when someone suggests hearing God? Or do you struggle to understand how exactly it works?

I used to think if someone couldn’t hear God they needed some deep inner healing work (what a hopeless mindset). Now, after ministering to scores of families around the globe, I have come to understand that God is always speaking and there is no such thing as spiritual deafness (for a believer). There could be things preventing you from hearing, but it isn’t that your ears don’t work or God’s mouth is silent.

I liken hearing God to riding a bike. If I were to write a post on how to ride a bike, there wouldn’t be much to share. Hop on, put your foot on the pedal, push off and alternate pushing down the pedals with each foot. Pretty easy, huh? Well, the key to being a strong bike rider is what? PRACTICE! It isn’t the method or steps that are overwhelming; it is in the willingness to practice that many quit and never learn how to fly.

Just like God gave us each a spleen, heart, and eyes, He has given each of us a ‘chalkboard’ in our minds where He speaks and shows us things.

The Body doesn’t dictate how the Creator can or can’t speak, as He is limitless and creative! But here is a rough outline of some of the ways He can speak.

Audible voice – As loud as if He was sitting there like Old Testament examples

Inner voice/whisper – Clear as a bell, but only you heard it

Spontaneous thought – Something pops into your head

Feelings/impressions – Just “feel” something like a strong sense

Gift of faith – Don’t know why, but you just know that you know!

Scripture – Jumps off the page and dives right into your heart

Other people – You know their words were for you

Signs/wonders/miracles – Doing what only He can do

Pictures – Visions, dreams, inside your imagination

Nature – Mountains, water, heart-shaped rock

Art – Song, dance, poetry, paintings

Peace – a sense of liquid peace comes over you like a warm blanket. Do you know that God is peace? Pure 100% peace that doesn’t match your physical on-earth circumstances. When we sit and get quiet and invite His presence we can often feel it in the form of peace washing over us.

When you are ready, ask the question slowly; then just watch and listen to see whatever comes to mind. Don’t argue with it, dismiss it, or doubt it. Whatever the topic is, focus on that for a moment. What does He want you to see about it? When He shows you something, and you aren’t sure what it means or what to do with it keep asking more questions. God is like finding the Easter eggs. He likes to say things that keep us looking for more. While He could throw the whole instructional book at us, instead He chooses a relationship with us. Don’t be so quick to get up and walk away. He wants to engage with you. You aren’t meeting with a busy royal emperor; you are talking with your Daddy!

Example:

Prayer – “Father, how do You feel about me?”

Answer – I see in my mind a girl dancing with a pink tutu (which means nothing to me).

Prayer – “Father, what do You want me to know about this dancing girl?”

Answer – I hear, “That is how I see you all the time, even when you feel like you have blown it.”

It is important to note that hearing God is not the same as audible hearing with our ears. Sometimes it means seeing pictures, and other times it means we feel His heart for something. My son rarely ‘hears’ anything, but sees images in his mind. I have another child who feels things intently for others or about a subject, and we know that is the Father speaking to her.

I had a mentor who made my spiritual ears come to life. I remember talking to her about things, and she would always say, “Can we ask Jesus about that?” It was an odd concept to me that we could ask Him about the ordinary, everyday life stuff. We don’t have to keep Him reserved for just the big spiritual stuff; He wants in on the little things that concern and matters to us, too. Get in the habit of simply asking often, “Jesus, what do YOU think about that?”

Pray – “Holy Spirit, I give You permission to speak to me today. Teach me what it means to hear/see/feel Your heart.”

We have established already that not only does God speak, but He wants to speak to YOU!

Spend time with Him today and ask a question or two.

“Jesus, what do You love most about me?”

“Holy Spirit, what are You doing in my life right now?”

“Father God, in what way did You knit me together in Your image?”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ME RIGHT NOW?

I encourage you to set an alarm on your phone, and every time it goes off, no matter where you are and what you are doing, ask yourself, “Jesus, how do You feel about me right now?” You will be surprised by what He has to say at that very moment.

HAVE WE SIMPLY JUST ASKED HIM?

We pray, fast, believe, declare, hope, meditate, quote Scriptures, seek medical help, strive, ask others to pray, do it of our strength and lean on our own understanding, but have we simply just asked Him?

Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG) – “This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’”

What do you need to ask Him today?

LET’S ASK JESUS

Ask, “Jesus, if my life was a movie, what would You name it?”

Gather as a family in the living room, in the car, at the dinner table, or bedtime, and ask Jesus together. This is so empowering for children because they get to witness how God communicates with you, which increases their faith, and together you get to encounter Him. Spiritual hearing is a muscle that is strengthened by worshiping and praying. The more you do it, the stronger you become at it.

LET’S ASK JESUS

“Father, You say I am the apple of Your eye. What do You love most about me?”

Gather as a family in the living room, in the car, at the dinner table, or at bedtime, and ask Jesus together. This is so empowering for children because they get to witness how God communicates with you, which increases their faith, and together you get to encounter Him. Spiritual hearing is a muscle that is strengthened by worshiping and praying. The more you do it, the stronger you become at it.

PRACTICING THE PROPHETIC

When I was teaching the children about the prophetic, I asked the kids to ask Papa what He wanted to say to the front desk gal at the doctor’s office. Kids barely recalled who she was, but were confident God knew her, and we asked anyway. One got “God’s not mad at you,” another got “It’s not your fault.” The youngest one just drew a picture of a dog. And another got a picture of a present with the message, “Something good is coming your way soon.” I wasn’t sure if I should release the words since they seemed a little out there, but I felt God was telling her it was okay. When they arrived, she was away from her desk, but her computer screen had a picture of her and a dog. When she returned, they asked her if that was her dog, and she started crying. I felt led to share the prophetic cards, and then the lady shared that something awful happened to the dog, and she felt like it was her fault and shouldn’t be trusted with another dog. The cards meant a lot to her hurting heart and removed the guilt. Our flowing in the prophetic as a family has allowed us to be the light to those around us.

LET’S ASK JESUS

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

Ask, “Jesus, would You please show me a picture of the plans You have for my future?”

HEARING GOD

God speaks to us in various ways, but one powerful way He speaks to His children is through peace. 

Peace – a sense of liquid peace comes over you like a warm blanket. Do you know that God is peace? Pure, 100% peace that doesn’t match your physical, on-earth circumstances. When we sit quietly and invite His presence, we can often feel it in the form of peace washing over us. What does a loving Father do when His children are upset? Begin giving instruction? NO! A loving Father would scoop them up, hold them close to His chest, and embrace their tiny bodies. He is communicating love, protection, safety, and security in His embrace. Sometimes we want God to tell us this and that, and sometimes He just wants to wrap us in His presence, and out of that, He leads us where we need to be. This is truly ‘entering the place of rest’ that so few believers learn to enjoy. We want to squirm or ‘do’ instead of just resting while He holds us. 

Think about what life would be like if you went mute and had to try to teach, train, and love your children without words. Seriously, think about how many times a day you use your words to guide your children, teach and train them, encourage them, cheer them on, and help them. How often do you use your words to lavish love all over them and tell them how precious and beautiful they are to you? Now ponder how often you let your Father speak to you a day.

I SEE YOU

I got this really strong impression on my heart, and I believe it is for some of your children. We can be together 24/7 and still feel alone. I sensed there was a child in the family feeling lonely and really needing the gift of being seen.

Ask, “Jesus, will You please show me which family member needs to be seen today?” and then gather the rest of the family members and say something like, “Jesus told me that _____ really needs to know we see him/her today. Let’s ask Him what we can do to celebrate them,” and then listen together. Do not underestimate mission work in your own home.