How to Listen for God's Voice

By: Shari A. Miller

"Do not conform to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Today I am excited to announce our second week in the study of, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God," by Lysa Terkeurst

Have you ever heard that still small voice in the back of your mind and just wondered?

Wondered if it could be the voice of God?

I know I have.

It hasn't been until the past 4 years that I have been able to hear the voice of God speaking to me. I remember the first time like it was yesterday. I was crying out to God about a medical situation concerning my daughter, I remember asking him,"Is everything going to be okay God? Will my baby girl be healthy?" Afterwards I turned and looked out the window, towards the glisten sunlight that was dancing across the front yard, and I heard his voice, "She will be just fine. Everything is going to be alright."

I had such a sense of peace wash over me. I knew that I had just heard the Father's voice, it was like a soothing balm placed over my weary heart. I knew that God was in control and all would be well.

Sometimes, it's not as easy as this to hear his voice.



In chapter two of Lysa's book, she states that, "God wants us to live in expectation of hearing from him." She gives us five steps to help put this into practice.

1."Does what I'm hearing line up with Scripture?"

In order to hear the voice of God we need to be in his Word daily so that it transform us. Once we know his Word, we will be able to hear him more clearly when he speaks to us.

2."Is it consistent with God's character?" 

God will not tell us to do anything that is not in line with his character. When we look at Galatians 5:22-23, we can see a mirror of what God's character looks like, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." When we hear him speak to us if we don't hear his words line up with those of a loving and caring God, as well as the character traits he posses, we know the words are not from him. If they are from him we move to question number 3.

3. "Is it being confirmed with messages that I'm hearing at church or studying in my quiet times?" 

When we hear God speak to us, he will confirm it through outside influences. For example, last year, I specifically felt the Spirit nudging at me, to confront another individual with an issue I was having. Low and behold, that person had heard the same message. The person heard sermons on the issue at hand, on their way to work and home from work over a two week time period. God was definitely trying to get our attention.

4. "Is it beyond me?"

Sometimes God asks us to do everyday things that we have little difficulty in accomplishing, and other times God will ask us to do things that are extremely hard, things that we would never imagine tackling on our own. These are things that we often give God an answer of, "I can't. No way, not me Lord, this is just to hard." It's here where me must dig down deep and rely on faith alone to see the Father work through us. It's in these types of situations where we obey the Father, move forward, and we get to be marveled by his results.


5. "Would it please God?"

When listen to his voice and know that whatever he asks us to do, would be pleasing to him, we know that we are on the right course.


These 5 questions are a wonderful place to filter through and discern whether or not we are actually hearing God's voice. Once we feel a confirmation of his voice, it's up to us to walk out boldly in faith at what he has called us to do.

Have you ever heard God speaking to you? How did you know it was the voice of God?

Photo Credit: kfergos via photopin CC

It is time for our Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesday Link Up. We desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories in their comments.

Use the hashtag #w2wwordfilledwednesday! 

Three rules to this link up:

1. Must be a {Christian} faith post.

2. You must link back to W2W somewhere in your post.

3. You must visit and comment on at least one other blog in the link up.

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