(4.5 min read – 719 words)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27

Does God speak today? Do you want to hear from the Good Shepherd personally?

Today you will learn four ways how to.

I was nine years old. It was a Saturday night in 1995 in Atlanta GA when my brother and I bowed our knees to Christ for the first time. We wanted more. The apartment was tiny, so we went into the bathroom to read the Bible to each other. I sat on the bathtub’s edge and my brother on the toilet seat – two unchurched kids pathetically attempting to decipher the Shakespearian language of the KJV version. A humorous picture indeed!

With our Bibles open, suddenly an inner voice came into my mind. It seemed different, stronger, and more intrusive than my normal thoughts: “Get up and go look outside the bathroom window.”

Discerning it was not my own, I excitedly exclaimed, “Brother, I think God just spoke to me!”

“What did He say? Does He have a deep voice?”, He asked.

After repeating the message, I stood up and did as the voice said. I went to the window and pulled myself up by its seal to look out.

In utter amazement, my eyes beheld three large crosses of brilliant light fixed in midair. They beamed between the frosted glass and the outside light post. After urging my brother to see, I woke the rest of the house too also. Standing in awe, everyone eventually went back to bed. However, I stayed up. My nose pressed against the glass and my eyes fixed on the wonder as I talked to my new friend Jesus for hours.

The crosses never re-appeared again. Only that night when we believed in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

A piercing voice, the supernatural appearance of brilliant lights, and some changed hearts. Does God still speak today? You betcha!

If a scrawny, ignorant, manipulative little 9-year-old with ADHD could hear and obey God’s voice, I promise you – you can too!

There were four things present that night that welcomed His voice into our lives. Each you can start applying today.

1. Open Bible

Before hearing God, our Bibles were opened. Although we lacked understanding, God honored the efforts. To the degree we read His general will to the world, is to the degree we will receive a personal word for ourselves.

Reading the Bible puts us in a different space, at a different pace, to gain a different perspective.

Are you opening yours regularly?

2. Open Heart

One can read an open Bible with a closed heart. It is easy to do if we are not careful. God is looking for permeable hearts – ones that are willing to hear whatever He wants to say. Many things can harden our hearts over time – hurts, hang-ups, and habits to name a few. Sometimes we need inner healing or good ole’ fashioned rest for God’s voice to be discernable.

Is your heart open, soft, and permeable?

3. Open Ears

God is in Heaven. We are on earth. Those who desire to hear His voice must have an ear always tilted toward Heaven. Our continual prayer should be that of Samuel the prophet, “speak Lord, your servant is listening.” This burden is not all on us. Jesus is still in the business of healing deaf ears. He can heal ours too if we let Him.

4. Open Eyes

Being watchful is key. God’s voice takes on many different and unexpected forms around us. Watchfulness means having situational awareness as life unfolds before us. If we are not diligent, technology and smart devices can hijack our eyes. If we never lift them up, we may miss the dots, signs, and signals God is wanting to display and connect in front of us. Journaling our observations help.

Are you watching for God’s voice around you?

We, as Christ’s sheep, often hear His voice but not recognize it. That is perfectly normal. The more we grow in relationship with Him, the more sensitive our hearts, ears, and eyes become.

So, are you ready to hear God’s voice for yourself – starting right now?

Email me about a time when you did. I would love to hear about it.