How to figure out where God is leading you right now (even if you think you can’t hear Him)
Can I start with a rant?
A great disservice that we have done to Jesus followers is to make them think hearing from God is only for a select few special people, or that it’s incredibly difficult to access. Does this sound like Jesus to you? He was the opposite of difficult to access and He doesn’t play tricks on his people. He says to follow Him, and He’s not going to make it hard for us to do that.
He promises in scripture that He will be our Shepherd (leading us where we need to go) and that we will hear and know His voice. (John 10:4)
So first let’s dismantle some popular ideas. You may have heard or believed that hearing from God is…
For really significant events like Moses parting the Red Sea
Going to be spectacular like the burning bush
Only for the most “spiritual people” (whatever that means)
Just for known prophets who use the prophetic to speak to others
Relegated to Bible times and the disciples
Weird or culty and not appropriate for proper Christians
God’s voice is only booming and heard outside your body (vs inside your own heart)
Many people, spiritual and unspiritual, have heard from God — as seen throughout the Bible. And people still hear from God today — for their own encouragement, for the encouragement of others, and for instructions relevant to their lives.
What does it look like to hear from God?
Being led by God happens in a wide variety of ways. It’s not surprising when you consider the complexity of our God and the variety of his creation. He is your quintessential out of the box thinker. But there are practical things we can do to access His voice and His will.
Quiet your mind.
I may be starting with the most difficult step for myself and many of you. But hearing God’s leading in this noisy world means making space for it. It’s not that God can’t cut through the clutter, but that He is not usually going to force his way into your mind. Take 10 minutes each day to sit in quiet and ask God to speak to your thoughts. There is nothing fancy about this. It’s okay if your mind wanders. Make it a practice to listen, as well as pray.
Use your imagination.
God often speaks to us through our own thoughts, dreams, prayers, and conversations. He is in everything. Take a piece of paper and do some daydreaming with God. Pray and ask Him to speak to you as you brainstorm or dream about what He wants you to do next. Then ask Him to help you eliminate anything that shouldn’t be on the page.
Notice your gut.
God made our whole person — soul, spirit, body — to be integrated and work together, and the same is true when hearing from God. Tune into what your body is telling you as you seek his will. Do you feel tense or anxious when you think about certain plans? Do you feel a pull or excitement toward others? Do you feel something like a sixth sense or nudge? Notice where his peace might be leading you.
Confirm with trusted people.
When you feel a sense or you hear thoughts that you think are from God, you can always go to a trusted spiritual friend and seek counsel. Test the things you’re hearing. See if they line up with what you know of God’s character and with scripture. His ideas are going to be for your good and for the good of others. They are going to build, not tear down. They will likely have a kingdom component, in other words not just for your enrichment.
Remember that you were made in God’s image.
He is so much better than us and also a lot like us. He made us in order to commune with Him. Have faith that He wants to speak to you and lead you at every step of your life, even in the small things. But also be patient as you develop your spiritual listening muscle. Just like any relationship, it will take time to get accustomed to his voice and the unique ways he speaks to you.
Scriptures for meditation
John 10:16
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Psalm 85:8
“Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
John 14:26
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
