GOD CAN SPEAK TO YOU CENATE IN VARIOUS WAYS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT NOT ALL OF GOD'S COMMUNICATION IS VOCAL. I HOPE YOU KNOW THIS AND YOU ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
* A still small voice. Elijah was on the run in 1 Kings 19 from evil Queen Jezebel who ordered his death, after a mighty miracle in which he challenged the prophets of Baal to call upon their God while Elijah called upon his. As a result, God consumed Elijah's altar with fire, and Jezebel's unanswered prophets were all put to death. Despite God's marvelous works, His mightiest prophet was frightened and had retreated into a cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13 says, "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was [so], when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"
* A voice in your ear. Isaiah 30:21 says, "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.
* Conviction by the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. In the same fashion, let's say you were about to say something really nasty to someone. You suddenly either feel a "pulling back" by the Holy Spirit to not say that nasty thing, or you sense the Lord tap you on the skull and say, "Son, that's not nice. Don't say that." The word "to convict" is also translated as "to reprove." We must be humble and accept God's reproof of our actions!
* Being led by the Spirit. Romas 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." When you are in a constant state of loving intimacy with Jesus, and you not only allow Him to lead your life, but you are accutely sensitive to the Holy Spirit as how He desires to lead you, that places you in right relationship with the Lord, such that you are God's little son or daughter! The Holy Spirit may either allow you to sense His urging you in a particular direction, or may even speak to you audibly.
* When reading the word, a scripture jumps out at you. In your Quiet Times before the Lord, have you ever found that - as you're reading from your Bible - a particular verse suddenly jumps out at you? There's an excitement, as you say, "Yes! That verse fits exactly my situation! That's my verse!" The Holy Spirit has a way of illuminating upon the Word and opening our eyes to understand its meaning much deeper than what we would understand as a result of an dry, academic theological head-knowledge study that has no application nor pertinence in your life or anyone else's nor has the power to tell a flea to go away? The more you take those scriptures the Lord reveals to you and hide it in your heart, the more God finds you trustworthy to give you more revelation!
(These are but a few examples of hearing from God. The important thing is to be open to any avenue through which the Lord choses to speak, making sure that these avenues are holy. For example, God would not speak out of a Mormon or a Buddhist or a Jehovah's Witness, nor would He use the Bhagivad Gita or Upanishad writings, simply because they reject the deity of Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God Himself!)
SO HOW CAN YOU BETTER HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD?:
* Repent of all unconfessed sin, and ask God to heal you of all iniquity, all bents for sin. Ask the Lord to show you what attitudes and what behavioral patterns are unrepentant in your life that you need to change, especially if these are causing you not to hear His voice.
* Be ever so willing to not only seek after His face and to hear His voice, but to be obedient. One elderly saint once told me in his own simple words: "I pray, then I obey!"
* Be willing to receive God's instruction in any way, shape or form in which the Lord wants to present it. You may not necessarily like the message - especially if you don't like the messenger! Change your attitude if you are only willing to hear from God if He is to speak only a certain way, or answer with such an answer!
* When in prayer, be in an attitude of waiting on God, not just calling out each item of your To-Do list to Him! Remember, He is our Shield and Buckler, not our Chef and Butler!
* Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Rest in Him. Trust in His grace. You may not hear immediately (then again, sometimes you will). Sometimes you may wait on the Lord in your prayer time, read the Word, and then leave the house for the day. You might not have heard anything by then, but because you've faithfully sought the Lord that morning, you've developed your sensitivity in your spirit to hear God's voice. And in the midst of your circumstance, be it in class, or a situation on campus, or in the office, the Lord may speak to you or show you things highly pertinent to your situation!
* There is such a thing as drainage. We are encouraged to be filled with the Spirit on a daily basis. But there are things in the world that may case that anointing to drain off until we become as dry as a dead river bed, unable to bring life to anyone! It can be that magazine under your mattress, that relationship that is not of God, a particular lifestyle that causes you to sin constantly. God spoke to the prophets in the Old (and New) Testament because they were friends with God. Love of the world puts you at enmity with God.
DID YOU
LATELY?
