Learning to Hear His Voice

When I started to walk with God again in my early 30’s I was told that I would hear from Him. I would hear Him in the Bible, through others, and I would hear Him speak to me personally. I didn’t understand how this third type of communication would come but He must have given me faith because I just believed it.

I do have the privilege of hearing from God. He whispers words of comfort, correction, and instructions, and sometimes tells me how He feels about me. He shows me pictures, He gives me ideas, He squeezed my heart, and every once and a while He even opens my mouth. Sometimes I get confused about whether what I heard or felt was from Him, from me, or the enemy, but the more I read the Bible the better I recognize His voice. The more I praise Him and sit in His presence the clearer I hear Him.

One morning a few weeks ago I had an appointment. On the drive there one of the employees popped into my mind. I thought, “I could pray for her this morning,” but when I got inside she was on the checkout side and I wondered if I should pray for the woman I was facing instead. I didn’t and just went and sat down. “Jesus, should I just pray for everyone I see today? Are you trying to speak to me?”

With each new person I spoke to at that appointment I reached out to the Holy Spirit, asking if I should pray for them. I didn’t feel an answer and figured that I was just off and maybe forcing things this morning, thinking that I had to pray for everyone all the time, even when they were trying to get work done.

After my quick appointment, I went to check out, and there she was. The woman who had popped into my mind on the drive. Before I finished deciding if I should say anything I said, “I feel like I’m supposed to pray for you.” The words just seemed to come out. She agreed immediately and got up to come around to me and told me what was on her mind.

She had a female relative who was in some serious bondage. She used to be a believer but had walked away or drifted away and was really hurting. It was causing some problems in the family and people were starting to put up boundaries to protect themselves. But the woman in front of me wanted to see her relative free. She wanted to help point her back to Jesus and allow Him to free her from these chains.

As she was telling me this a thought that came into my mind. Since the woman before me had been freed from bondage, she could help free other captives. Freely you have received, freely give!

⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:8)

When I shared what I was thinking and hearing she got excited. That was the very verse she had read that morning. That confirmed it for me. God was thinking of both women and wanted me to encourage and pray for them and the situation, so I did. God was ready to move in both of their lives, and He wanted her to know it!

He’s so good and He ties us all together so intricately. If I hadn’t spent my time reading the Bible that morning would I have heard Him clearly? Had I not been worshiping Him in the car on the way to my appointment would I have given Him a chance to speak to me? Turning my eyes and heart to Him puts me where I belong. Not in charge.

Today, I want to do the same thing. Turn to Him early in the morning and stay pointed at Him all day long. Give Him the praise He deserves. Maybe He will speak to me again. Maybe He will give me another treasure hunt. Maybe He will get the chance to speak to someone through me.

Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:23-25)