Recognizing God’s Voice

“For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.”
Job 33:14 (NLT)

When people close to you speak, you can recognize their voices without even seeing them. Parents can distinguish the voices of their children just as a husband or wife knows the sound of their mate. The stronger the relationship, the easier it is to recognize the voice.

Does God still speak? Have you ever heard the voice of God? The Bible describes His voice in a number of ways, ranging from a whisper to the thunder of mighty ocean waves! The trouble is not that God quit speaking, but that we don’t recognize His voice when He speaks. In Job 33:14 (NLT), we are told, “For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.”

Could it be that we are not listening, or that we just don’t expect Him to speak? Recognizing and responding to the voice of God is a game-changer in our Christian experience! It will revolutionize your walk with God. Bible reading and prayer will take on an exciting, new dynamic as you learn to tune in to the voice of God, above the chatter around you! God speaks through the Holy Spirit in a number of ways today. The primary way God speaks is through His revealed Word, the Bible. More than a book, it is the inspired revelation of God to man. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the will of God in our lives.

Another way God speaks is through circumstances.  He may open or close doors as He directs our lives to accomplish His will. God also speaks through others. He can bring encouragement and warning, wise counsel, and affirmation from those who walk with Him. How has God spoken to you? In John 10:27 (NLT), Jesus said, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”  Do you listen for the voice of God? This requires active listening. Anticipate God to speak when you open His Word. When you pray, wait in expectation. In John 8:47 (NIV), Jesus said, “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." That is as exciting as it is confronting, isn’t it? If we belong to God, we will hear what God is saying as we actively listen for His voice. What is He saying to you?

Hearing God’s voice comes from an intimate relationship with Him. Just as in our human relationships, communication is vital. And the best communication is a dialogue. We speak and we listen. Today, as you read your Bible and pray, pause to listen for His voice. He may prompt your heart with a passage from Scripture to guide you, with a sense of peace to comfort you, or with a caution to protect you from an unwise decision. Ask God to help you recognize and respond to His voice. 

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Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.