Recognising God's Voice

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
1 Samuel 3:9


Learning to recognise God's voice is not a skill that's acquired overnight, because He speaks to us at different times, in different settings and in different ways.

(1) It requires you to mature Spiritually. Jesus said His sheep follow Him because they know His voice (John 10:4 ).
Notice, Jesus said that His "sheep", not His lambs, know His voice. Baby sheep just follow adult sheep until their senses are trained.
Thank God there's grace for the immature. If your Spiritual ears are not yet developed, God will work with you until you learn to recognise His voice.

(2) It requires guidance and confirmation from Godly leadership. "Obey your Spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls" (Hebrews 13:17 ).
Who's your Spiritual up-line?

(3) It must not be limited to your previous experiences. God spoke to Moses on a mountain that shook, and to Elijah through a still small voice. Don't limit God; He will speak to you through the Scriptures, through those qualified to teach you His Word, through a song, through a painful situation, and even your own thoughts and desires when you're submitted to Him. The key is to stay close to God and keep your receiver on.

(4) Above all else, it requires obedience. The Psalmist said, "When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek" (Psalm 27:8). When it comes to hearing from God, how's your response time? "When I get around to it?… I'll see if I can fit you in!… I'll think about it!" Wrong! God speaks, and continues to speak, to those who obey, and continue to obey.

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