In the last post, Spiritual Musings, there was a reference to hearing the voice of God which compels a seeker to follow after it. So, how does one hear God’s voice? First, let’s address the obvious. There can be four categories of reactions about a person who wants to blog about the “voice of God” and about “hearing it”. (1) the person is a lunatic where reasons for lunacy could range from medical or psychological conditions to temporary state of being high on some substance or (2) the person is a liar and is being dishonest for any number of reasons ranging from wanting to show off to spiritually minded people to wanting to fool people into some type of gain for themselves or (3) the person is genuine and right or (4) the person is genuine but mistaken. If you believe the author of this blog is in category (1) or (2) or you doubt the intent of this post as anything other than genuine, then you can stop reading now and do something else. Whether this is an accurate or mistaken analysis, is up to you to decide after you read.
So then, the goal for this post is to share what scripture says about what kind of human hears God’s voice and how does God help us to hear what He is saying. This does not imply audible or mystic hearing and no rituals, candles or incense sticks are involved. This is about a deeper inward communication of God’s Spirit with our hearts and minds.
Who will hear God?
A research of the Word of God shows that firstly no qualification is needed (whoever you are); secondly there are no specially designated holy cities one needs to visit (wherever you are) and thirdly there are no special time periods to hear (anytime). Studying the Word gives some clues into the characteristics of people who hear God’s voice:
The ones who are self-aware of their need for God above anything and everything else are the ones who are able to hear Him. The ones that are genuinely seeking the truth from no vested interests are the ones who will run right into Jesus as He says, “Everyone on the side of the truth listens to me” (John 18:37).
Who will find it hard to hear God?
It is really hard to hear God as long as we believe we are good or good enough, or if we are or want to be at a higher position than God in our lives or if we place more importance on our deeds, knowledge, learning, position or power than God. As long as we remain full of ourselves or of the intoxication of the world or the pleasing words of our idols or those we follow; then we allow layers to build up over our eyes and ears making it harder and harder to hear Him. Those who are not really truth seekers i.e. they are not willing to have their very foundations challenged or shaken in pursuit of the truth, will find it hard to hear God. Even if they hear they will want it to not be true and quickly find for themselves alternatives who say what their ears are itching to hear. The prophet Isaiah wrote about such people “who will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving” (Isaiah 6:9) and Jesus said about them “For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)
How does God help us to hear?
Jesus sent for a colt (a donkey's young one) that was tied away somewhere that no one knew about, to ride on it to enter the city and was welcomed like a king (Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40). God is looking for donkeys like that (a colt, a foal of a donkey implies young age is no bar) who will humbly lift Him up without exalting themselves that through lifting Him up everyone might be blessed. And in turn, God like any loving Father will lift up those who humbly work with Him. (James 4:10)
So then, the goal for this post is to share what scripture says about what kind of human hears God’s voice and how does God help us to hear what He is saying. This does not imply audible or mystic hearing and no rituals, candles or incense sticks are involved. This is about a deeper inward communication of God’s Spirit with our hearts and minds.
Who will hear God?
A research of the Word of God shows that firstly no qualification is needed (whoever you are); secondly there are no specially designated holy cities one needs to visit (wherever you are) and thirdly there are no special time periods to hear (anytime). Studying the Word gives some clues into the characteristics of people who hear God’s voice:
- who miss the mark (aka sinners), “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31)
- are spiritually poor and are self-aware of this, “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)
- who hunger and thirst for righteousness and know that they cannot manufacture it themselves, “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6)
- not learned, not wise, child-like, “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25)
- foolish, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
- weak, “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
- lowly, despised “He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things" (1 Corinthians 1:28)
- nothings “.. and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:28)
The ones who are self-aware of their need for God above anything and everything else are the ones who are able to hear Him. The ones that are genuinely seeking the truth from no vested interests are the ones who will run right into Jesus as He says, “Everyone on the side of the truth listens to me” (John 18:37).
Who will find it hard to hear God?
It is really hard to hear God as long as we believe we are good or good enough, or if we are or want to be at a higher position than God in our lives or if we place more importance on our deeds, knowledge, learning, position or power than God. As long as we remain full of ourselves or of the intoxication of the world or the pleasing words of our idols or those we follow; then we allow layers to build up over our eyes and ears making it harder and harder to hear Him. Those who are not really truth seekers i.e. they are not willing to have their very foundations challenged or shaken in pursuit of the truth, will find it hard to hear God. Even if they hear they will want it to not be true and quickly find for themselves alternatives who say what their ears are itching to hear. The prophet Isaiah wrote about such people “who will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving” (Isaiah 6:9) and Jesus said about them “For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)
How does God help us to hear?
- God searches you out. God is continuously seeking those who are seeking Him. As it is written in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
- God calls you. God is calling everyone, loud and clear through His creation and even in the still small voice in our hearts and conscience. “Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him, comes to me” says Jesus per John 6:45.
- God Himself teaches. “They will be taught by God” says the prophet Isaiah (54:13)
- God enables you. Jesus says that the Father “draws” (John 6:44) to Him those hearts He knows are ready and humble. God works in us to make us willing and able to obey His purposes (Philippians 2:13).
- God has written a letter and He keeps highlighting it. When we read His Word He speaks through it, we are called to pay attention while we read and respond (obey) when something leaps out or draws us in as we read. The words we read with attention stay with us, and when life unfolds these very words will come to remembrance as a guidepost for us to follow.
- God runs to meet you. Like the father who ran half way down the road when he saw his wayward son return; He will run to meet you at the half way point when you make the smallest attempt to seek His heart. (Luke 15:11-32)
Jesus sent for a colt (a donkey's young one) that was tied away somewhere that no one knew about, to ride on it to enter the city and was welcomed like a king (Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40). God is looking for donkeys like that (a colt, a foal of a donkey implies young age is no bar) who will humbly lift Him up without exalting themselves that through lifting Him up everyone might be blessed. And in turn, God like any loving Father will lift up those who humbly work with Him. (James 4:10)
“Welcome, Prince,' said Aslan. 'Do you feel yourself sufficient to take up the Kingship of Narnia?'
'I - I don't think I do, Sir', said Caspian. 'I am only a kid.'
Good,' said Aslan. 'If you had felt yourself sufficient, it would have been proof that you were not.”
― C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian
Thank you for sharing this treasure with me. It resonates very much with my experience of Jesus
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