How to Hear from God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make Right Decisions

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God Talks to People Every Day

The world makes it easy for us to fill our ears with all kinds of things that drown out the voice of God and push Him far, far into the background of our lives. However, the day comes for every person when only God remains. Everything else in life eventually passes away; when it does, God will still be there.
The Word of God teaches that what is known about God is evident to all because He has made Himself known in the inner consciousness of mankind (see Romans 1:19-21). Each person will someday stand before Him and give an account of his or her life (see Romans 14:12). When people don't want to serve God with their lives, when they want to go their own way, they find ways to hide from and ignore this instinctive inner knowledge of their Creator who wants to talk to them and guide them in the way they should go.
Nothing can satisfy our longing for God, except communion and fellowship with Him. Isaiah expressed well our own hunger for God when he wrote, "My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly" (Isaiah 26:9). The apostle John wrote, "And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever" (1 John 2:17).
Hearing from God is vital to enjoying God's eternal plan for our lives. Listening to God is our decision; no one else can make it for us. God won't force us to choose His will, but He will do everything He can to encourage us to say yes to His ways.
God wants to be involved in even the smallest details of our lives. His Word tells us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He will direct our paths (see Proverbs 3:6). To acknowledge God is to care what He thinks and to ask for His opinion. Verse 7 of Proverbs 3 says, "Be not wise in your own eyes." In other words, don't even think that you can run your life and do a good job without God's help and direction. It takes most of us far too long to learn this important lesson.
Even though I sincerely loved Jesus, I went to church for years without knowing that God talks to people. I observed all the religious rules and holidays and went to church every Sunday. I was really doing all that I knew to do at that time, but it wasn't enough to satisfy my longing for God.
I could have spent every moment in church or in Bible study, but it wouldn't have quenched the thirst I had for a deeper fellowship with the Lord. I needed to talk to Him about my past and hear Him talk to me about my future. But nobody taught me that God wanted to talk directly to me. No one offered a solution for the dissatisfied feelings I endured.
Through reading the Word, I learned that God does want to talk to us and that He has a plan for our lives that will lead us to a place of peace and contentment. It is God's will for us to attain knowledge of His plan through His divine guidance. It sounds like a pretty foundational point, but I believe there are many people who still question whether God really talks to people. And if He does, they wonder:
- Is God really involved on a day-to-day basis in running our lives?
- Does He really want to be involved in all the little tiny details of our lives?
- Should we only bother God and expect to hear from Him concerning major issues that we can't handle ourselves?
The Bible teaches that God has a good plan for all those who will put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. His plan is complete in great detail, and it will lead all who follow Him to an abundant life.
But I am convinced that only a few ever enjoy the fulfillment of God's perfect plan for their lives because most people don't know how to listen to God's leading and follow Him. Instead, they choose (either willfully or ignorantly) to go their own way. More people could walk in the perfect will of God if they would learn how to hear from Him and follow His instructions.
Never hesitate to take what you think are small things to God; after all, everything is small to God. Sometimes we act as if we think we will tax God's ability if we ask Him for too much help. I remember a woman who came to me for prayer. She wanted to know if it would be all right if she asked God for two things; if not, she assured me that she would only ask for one.
It is vital to know what God's Word says about His role in your life, because it confirms His divine plan to be intimately involved with all that concerns you. "For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the LORD, "?plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV).