How to Hear God’s Voice
Internet #1
(Where Scripture is written out in this Bible Study, they are written inclusive.)
 
Look the following Scriptures up:
 
John 10:27     We know the Shepherd’s Voice
 
John 14:26     The Holy Spirit will TEACH us all things
 
John10:3-5     It doesn’t say we CAN hear or SHOULD hear, but that we DO hear His voice
(The problem is, we just don’t recognize what we are hearing as being God’s voice.)
 
Hebrew 4:16  ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE
 
Psalm 46:10   We must discipline ourselves to be still before God.
 
 
It is important for each believer to know how to recognize God voice so that as we travel on our spiritual journeys we will have the blessing of a two-way conversation.   In preparing to hear God’s Voice we are going to take a look at some of the common ideas held about God & compare them to scriptures found in The Bible.   The level of desire you have for a greater communication w/God will determine how much time you devote to hearing God’s voice & examining your beliefs. 
 
Jesus spoke of a narrow path that leads to life & a broad path that leads to destruction.   He told us to stay on the narrow path.  If we can discern God’s voice, we will know if we are veering off onto a wrong track.  We can then make an important adjustment before we reap bad results from a bad decision.  Matthew 7:13-14
 
First step:  We must Forgive others as we are Forgiven
Forgiving ourselves & forgiving others…a MUST.….why?   Because, at one time or another, we all wrestle w/forgiveness.  Feeling bad about ourselves, or thinking that God is angry w/us, separates us from God’s presence.   God doesn’t leave us, we w/draw from God.
Until we admit our sin, become ready to turn from it, & ask for forgiveness, we will not hear God’s voice.   As soon as we come into agreement w/God, peace returns, & our behavior improves.
 
Two teaching Scriptures of Jesus:
Matthew 6:14-15 & Matthew 7:1-2
          Matt. 6 > For it you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Parent will forgive you as well.  But if you don’t forgive people, your Parent will not forgive your wrongdoing.
          Matt. 7 > Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.  For w/the judgment you use, you will be judged & w/the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
 
We must receive forgiveness; recognize our sin(s) & repent.  Turning from that sin brings repentance.
It may be that we will need to change a “thought” or a “belief” in order to “forgive & Not judge.”   What we do in our “actions” may just not always be the problem….consider the following Scriptures:
 
Proverbs 23:7
For as a person thinks w/in themselves, so you are. 
 
Philippians 4:8
Finally brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence, & if there is any praise - dwell on these things.
 
These Scriptures tell me the more I think about good things, the better my life will be & the more like Jesus I will become.   We need to ask for God’s grace to change if we are speaking idle words that are not full of faith or edifying.   We upset ourselves by how we choose to talk about our situation(s) – choose negative speaking & your peace from God is gone.
 
Changing our thinking is vital….b/c if we don’t change our thinking, nothing will change.   You may regret an action & say that you are never again going to do it..…but unless you change the thought patterns that created the action you are destined to do the behavior again.  
Our ways of thinking & beliefs will control & guide our lives, if we allow them.   Typically a person will not live outside of their beliefs.   Those beliefs will determine behavior, actions & reactions in every situation of your lives.  So, changes in your thinking & beliefs may have to occur.
 
Some of the common beliefs, or “stinkin thinkin” that prevents communication w/God are:
● I’m not worthy.
● God doesn’t speak to people today.
● I’m too great a sinner for God to speak to me.
● Even if I heard God’s voice I couldn’t be sure.
● People that claim to hear God’s voice are mental.
 
As you know, your thoughts generally come & go.   You can choose the ones that you want to entertain on a long term basis.   Those that are selected are what you become.   That is why it’s important to assess them & to select the ones you desire to become – choose the thoughts you want.  Choose those that are in alignment w/Christ’s principles.  This is not something that you will do at a drop of a hat….it will take some time & practice.   It is wisdom to recognize & repent of “wrong”, “stinkin thinkin”, thoughts….a process on your spiritual journey.   When they come just say to yourself,  “I don’t want to think this, so I will just let it go….in the name of Jesus.”
 
 **If you examine any belief that’s standing in your way of hearing God’s voice, you will find something common to all of them…..they are all rooted in fear & doubt.   Does this mean you must eliminate all fear & doubt to hear God’s voice?  No, but you’ve got to overcome it enough to actually allow yourself to come in to God’s presence.
AND don’t feel upset if God chooses to remain silent….God typically speaks when God has something to say.  Continue praising & thanking God anyway & letting God know that you will take the time to be quiet so that you can hear God’s voice when the time comes to Hear the Voice of God.
 
**Between now & the next study….do an exercise to begin hearing God’s voice.   Take 10 minutes out of each day & ask God to bring someone to your mind & heart that you can bless or encourage some way.   After asking….be still & quiet….giving God time to answer you.   Don’t get discouraged if you do this a few times & you don’t hear God’s voice.   God will give you the name of the person when God is ready for you to have it.