When was a time you heard God’s voice?
This was a question I was asked in a great podcast with Dr. Barbara Lowe (jump to 15:42 to listen). It’s a good question to reflect on. I believe the best and most certain place to hear God’s voice is in his word the Bible. This is sure, true and very reliable. I always make sure my thoughts or emotions or other sayings line up with God’s word so as not to be led in the wrong direction.
Ep. 88 – Becoming Unstoppable After Your Greatest Hurt with Bethany Hamilton
I encourage you all to be cautious about hearing God’s voice when it is not directly from or aligned with God’s word. Emotions, human reason and even other people talking with enthusiasm can be false representations of God’s voice.
God’s word is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12), “breathed of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and it was “made flesh” (John 1:14) in the person of Jesus Christ. If there is one place where you can be sure to hear God’s voice, it is in the Bible, which is why I like to keep certain verses in my heart and mind so that I can be reminded of His promises and hear His voice any time.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) is a verse that I cling to a lot…
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
It has definitely been my experience that I can try to direct my own path, but if I am trusting and listening and allow God to direct my path it will turn out that much better. I have so many examples of this in my life… from meeting Adam, to getting unexpectedly pregnant with Tobias, to the evolution of my documentary, and of course there was 2020 which brought us to our third son, Micah. None of the biggest gifts in my life happened according to my plan!
I have found that keeping God’s word at the forefront of my mind all the time (through reading my Bible, memorizing verses, writing verses down and displaying them where I can see them) helps me hear from God daily. I think it is also important to keep other voices quiet, and silence “the noise” in our life so that we can hear God better – that’s part of why I’m so big on Being Present and made that the very first course in my Unstoppable Life Program. The Bible says that God speaks in a still small voice and it is going to be hard to hear that voice if our life is full of distraction and noise.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:103-104
So join me in turning down the volume on other voices and distractions so that we can hear and be encouraged by God’s voice and know His love and guidance with clarity.
