The other morning, I was seeking the Lord about some things that were on my heart, and I wanted to know His thoughts about these things. The Bible tells us that our thoughts are not God's, nor are our ways His ways (Isa 55:8). However, this pertains to those who do not seek God's will but are self-seeking. We can have the mind of Christ (Phil 2:5) full of love and submission because His Spirit is within us.
I began to get frustrated because I did not hear as I had hoped. Sometimes I want the Holy Spirit to yell, so I am confident that I am hearing clearly. Some people seem to always hear from God when they seek Him; if others don't, there is often a judgment against that person that they must be in sin if they can't hear God. While there are times that our ability to hear God might be because we didn't follow through with the last time He spoke or because our hearts are not right with Him, it is not always the case.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. - Jhn 10:27
Even when we go astray or sin, Jesus has a way of calling us back. "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. - Jhn 10:3 NKJV This latter verse gives me hope that even if there are sin or heart issues, we are capable of hearing the voice of God. It is a matter of what manner He speaks to us. God desires to pull us out of the pits we have fallen into, and if we cry out, He is faithful to respond.
Almost every time I seek the Lord, I hear Him through scripture. Scripture will come to my mind quickly, almost too quickly to be my own thoughts. When this happens, I have learned to slow down and receive it as my answer or my starting place. We often want to hear a word that relates to us in our humanness, but God's word is much deeper than that.
The Greek word akouō is translated to our English word hear. Hearing is the primary means by which people receive divine revelation. Hear is defined as to listen, pay attention, and understand. It describes the act of hearing or listening to a person with an emphasis on the accurate understanding of that which is spoken. When we listen attentively for the Holy Spirit to direct us, we will receive insight into what we are searching for.
One of the reasons we do not receive revelation when seeking is because we ask out of wrong motives. We are to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then anything we need, including wisdom and knowledge, will be given to us. But we must seek without doubting. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. – Jam 1:5-8
This verse wraps up my previous statement. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. - Heb 11:6
We must not compare ourselves to others in any way, including the way they hear from God.
Elijah was one of the most powerful prophets. God took him up in a chariot of fire, not allowing him to see death, yet he had to press into God to hear Him. When Elijah had a showdown with the prophets of Baal and hundreds were massacred, he did not behave like a hero but instead came under a spiritual delusion of fear and death. He went into a cave where he sought the Lord but did not encounter Him in the powerful and booming voice he had previously done. Elijah called the fire of God down on the altar of sacrifice, and everyone witnessed it, yet God was not in the great and strong wind, earthquake, or fire when Elijah sought Him. After all this, Elijah heard the still small voice of God (1Ki 19:11-12).
When Moses was talking with God about His people being released from captivity, he was face to face with God (Ex 33:11). Moses heard Him in a loud, thunderous, audible voice. Moses heard God in a supernatural event with the burning bush and on the mountain when God gave him the ten commandments, written with His finger.
Peter heard from God through a vision three times before he understood the command. Paul was struck blind before his eyes were open from religion to relationship, and he could follow Jesus Christ. Thomas had to put his finger on the wounds of Jesus before he would believe what he had been hearing for the past three years.
All these people and more were essential to the kingdom of God and His plans for humanity. All of them heard differently. You can hear from God because He desires to speak to you. However, if you do not think God wants to talk to you, then your heart will be closed to His voice.
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, I choose today to believe You and Your word – I am Yours, and I hear Your voice. Open my heart to listen to Your voice. Help me today to believe in the areas I struggle with and allow Your voice to penetrate my heart so that I can live according to Your heart's desire for my life. I repent for not seeking You first when things have come up that I thought I could deal with them myself. I know if I seek You, I will hear, and You will respond. In Jesus' name, Amen.