I can imagine that you would have no problem listening to God if He spoke in an audible voice! If God spoke in a voice of thunder or a still small voice as Elijah heard (I Kings 19), I expect you would sit up and take notice. You would give him rapt attention! But, as I have often said, the people who have heard God in that way are recorded in scripture and perhaps a few religious biographies covering many centuries. To be fair, we all may know people who have shared interesting stories of unique personal encounters with the Lord. Some of these may leave us scratching our heads with wonder.
Perhaps we can re-phrase our question in order to make some progress in our desire to know God at a deeper level. Let’s ask instead: how can we listen for God? Perhaps God will communicate with us in a way we would not readily imagine. Our expectations get in the way of really hearing God if we are anticipating a clear, distinct voice or a unique intervention. But, if we are looking for a word from the Lord in a wide range of expressions, on His timetable and in our personal context, I am confident we will have a more fulfilling experience.
Listen for God without set expectations
For instance, consider listening for God in nature, along a forest trail, beside a mountain brook, or the still, serene waters of a lake. I tried this recently and was surprised at where I went with the Lord in my spirit. Quite unexpectedly, with no intention on my part, I found myself retracing my early life and came upon a painful memory. It was a memory that has tapped me on the shoulder from time to time and which I quickly dismissed. I realized this time, though, that it was unfinished business that the Lord kept bringing to my attention. In those moments, I gave and received the forgiveness that was long overdue. I had listened to God, though there was no audible voice. I had begun by placing myself in a context that prepared my heart for communion in the Spirit.
We can create an environment in our lives that makes it more likely that we will hear from the Lord. While few people (including myself) can always be beside a lake or on a mountain trail alone, all of us can create space in our lives for God to move. Then he can bring us a word of wisdom, blessing, forgiveness, and guidance. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus after Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24: 13-35), we can know that Jesus is with us if we release preconceived notions of what he will say or do. Instead, just make yourself available over and over by undertaking some spiritual disciplines that bring balance to your days. Then you can open time and space for a word from the Lord to penetrate the outer crust of your busy mind.
Accept who God is
The key is to release your demands of what you want from the Lord. Then, accept who He is and how He is with you. He is sovereign and as the Psalmist said, “we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3).” Let God be God, as He has revealed himself in the life and ministry of Jesus. Read the scriptures to become acquainted with the Lord, not for information, but for spiritual formation. Read not to master the text, but to encounter the Master of the text. When you listen
That happened with a young boy named Samuel in ancient Israel. In the Old Testament, the story is told of young Samuel hearing a voice and thinking it was the priest Eli calling him (I Samuel 3). When Eli perceived the Lord was calling Samuel, he told the boy to go back to where he had been, get still and listen for the voice again. Then, he would be able to listen to the word that was to be spoken to him. When we prepare our hearts and lives as a sacred space for God to speak, we will hear.
For more guidance in listening for God, I invite you to read the following books:
Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World (Richard Foster)
The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (Dallas Willard)
Click here for more resources to enrich your spiritual journey.
