True Christianity isn't a religion but a relationship with God Almighty, our Father through Jesus Christ our LORD. Just like every functional relationship, our relationship with God is kept lively through a constant 'two-way' communication (we talk to God through prayer and even through unspoken thoughts and He responds to us).
God Wants Us To Hear Him
We are in a love relationship with God Almighty, our Father. And He desires to have a say over everything that concerns or bothers us. What matters to us matters to Him! He desires to share His thoughts with us concerning every vital decision or move we intend to make. He longs to hold conversations with us, yes, even long conversations!
God cares about every detail in our life and whatever goes wrong or right with us. He desires to become part and parcel of our daily life activities through constant communication.
No loving father would want to go for weeks without speaking to his children. God doesn't want us to go astray or be led astray; He doesn't want us to make costly mistakes; and He sure doesn't desire to see us walk the Earth blindly like sheep without a shepherd into the traps of the enemy. The LORD desires to speak to us as many times as possible each day of our lives on Earth! Interesting, isn't it?
The Bible says that the eyes of the LORD are [continually] upon the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers(Psalm 34:15).
You see, it's not that God isn't seeing everything we do and hearing all we say. And He doesn't just watch and listen throug the day and night just for watching and listening sake. He is also speaking! But are we also listening and hearing?
Isaiah 30:21 KJV
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
But one may wonder why some Christians still lack direction for their lives. Why do Believers still get confused concerning what they should do next, where to go next or what to do in a given situation? The answer is simple: God is speaking but only few are hearing.
These Things Hinder Us From Hearing God's Voice
1). Excessive Worrying
We all get worried over certain things, problems or unfavourable situations around us. But staying worried is a choice. Our worries should lead us to the place of prayer. That's what the LORD expects.
Philippians 4:6 KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1 Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
It is in the place of prayer that we will hear God's mind concerning the particular thing that got us worried. Right there we'll also receive the comforting touch of the Holy Spirit. But if we keep on feeding our worries, we cloud our ability to hear what God has to say concerning that situation.
2). Loss of Inner Peace
Excessive worrying is one of the factors responsible for loss of peace. We must get rid of everything which steals our peace and does that constantly, if possible. When we lose inner peace, to a great extent we also lose our sensitivity to God's voice.
3). A Restless Mind.
Excessive worrying and loss of inner peace will cause the mind to go on a rollercoaster of unprofitable thoughts. A restless mind will cause us to lose our sensitivity to God's voice. It's advisable to get in God's Presence, just worship and let the Holy Spirit calm those screaming thoughts and fill us with His holy peace.
It is also our responsibility to arrest ungodly thoughts and calm our minds so that we can hear God with clarity, even while walking on the street.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
3). Lack of Personal Daily Devotion
Many Christian families do get together every morning to have morning devotions for some minutes or an hour, read few Bible verses and that's all for the day. In most families, it has become a religious routine. After that, individual family members go about their businesses for the day feeling satisfied that they've had their devotion for the day.
What did God say personally to them during the short morning devotion? That's a question many can't answer. We all need to cultivate the habit of getting in our closet alone and spend quality time with the LORD. Yes, God loves seeing two or three gather in His Name, but most importantly, He desires to have us come up to the throne of Grace in person, and on daily basis.
Daily communion with God is not just important but indispensable in our walk with the LORD. If we spend quality time studying God's Word, praying and worshipping everyday, hearing God everyday would be very easy. Most times God will speak by causing a Scripture we once stumbled on to unexpectedly pop up in our mind. That's one of the reasons why we should study and know His Word.
4). Lack of Purity
When it comes to hearing God, the need to present our bodies, minds, hearts and our entire being as a living sacrifice unto Him can not be overemphasized. God loves sinners, no doubt about that. But we can not go about desecrating the temple of the Holy Spirit and expect to continue hearing God with clarity.
God is always close and speaking but sin interferes with man's spiritual sensitivity, especially to God's voice.
2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
5). Disobeying God's Voice
Psalm 32:8-9 KJV
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. [9] Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
When God instructs and we disobey, we do not expect Him to keep speaking. That's like speaking to a wall which has no ears. If we desire to hear God on daily basis we must learn to obey Him even in bits of everything we sense His instruction or leading.
Honestly, it gets to a point we walk on the streets and God tells us, "Don't go into that street!" and we retrace our steps only to later discover that something bad happened along that street. It goes far more detailed than that, only if we're willing to start obeying Him on the little we may think He's instructing us today. That makes us stay open to receiving and hearing more with greater clarity.
Final Words
I write because God speaks to me. Looking back at the articles I've posted on this blog so far, I can only see how much I need to hear Him more and more, because I would have nothing impactful to write on if He didn't speak.
If I couldn't hear God for myself everyday, by now my life would had been a mess. I know how much that has helped me.
Now we know that God desires to speak to us everyday. God seems unreal to some Christians because they're having a hard time hearing Him. But the ball is in their court, not His. He said those who are His do hear Him:
John 10:27 KJV
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
It's a relationship that we have with Him, not an intangible and vague connection. Our responsibility is to get in the position to hear Him through everything He uses to speak to us daily!
I'm trusting that the LORD will use this article to help someone hear Him more and on daily basis, in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!
