What Do You Do When You Listen to God?

What Do You Do When You Listen to God?

We've talked about listening to God and how to do that. But, here's a question. So, what do you do when we are listening to God? Are we doing anything?

The simplest is we should always be listening to God, even as we live. 

Okay... What does that mean? 

Most of the time we spend with God throughout our days and nights should be listening (and not talking or ignoring). So, that means the bulk of our time listening is as we carry on with life and do our normal life things: clean the house, cook, drive to work, work, watch TV, wait in line or for an appointment, eating and drinking, exercising, reading a book, etc. We should keep our minds and hearts turned toward Him and listen at all times. 

We should also realize that when we read and study the Bible, in times of prayer, and during our quiet times, and the times devoted to be just God and us alone with no distraction, we should also listen. This is the time I recommend before we start, while in the middle of, and after doing anything of spending quiet time with God, we should have times when we aren't doing anything and listen to God. 

During the quiet and alone time with God, I recommend not doing anything, but prayer journaling whatever He says. We may focus our thoughts by saying something from what we just read or studied, or a memory verse, or just, Lord, for example. Then, wait. When our minds wander, repeat one of those things. Bring our attention back to listening. I recommend doing this for at least ten minutes or so each time, if time allows. 

There will be days you might not hear a single thing from God. That's okay. There may even be weeks and months when this happened, but trust me, if you are regularly in the Word, this is very, very rare. God will talk if we are in His Word. He speaks every time, for it is the Word of God, the Holy Bible. 

But, if you don't hear anything from God, even after ten minutes or an hour, it's okay. Really. It's about being with Him. This matters more than anything. 

There are days my husband and I don't say much to each other at times. Does this mean we love each other less? No. Not at all. It's quite the opposite actually. We are comfortable enough with one another, our love, and marriage that we don't have to fill the quite times with words or actions. It's just being present that means so much. These quiet times I think make our marriage because we are able to hang out together with no pressure. We are not filling it with noise.

It's the same with God. Do not fill the silences. It's okay if you aren't hearing anything. Seriously. Just be present. He is. I guarantee you will get far more out of these nothing times than some times when He or you are talking a great deal. 

Silence is not bad. It's a lie we believe to think that this is the case. It's insecurity speaking as well. Be secure in your relationship with God, where there doesn't always have to be mindless, senseless conversation. There can be moments that are quite special where He and you give each other time. Time is the most precious gift we can give one another. Time is saying to one another, you're important and matter to me. Words and actions do not always convey this.

I also recommend having once a week where you have an hour or more where you do not do anything but listen to God. And, once a quarter, spend at least half a day in silence with God. Then, once a year, spend a day or more in silence.

All of that may sound extreme. Hours with God--just listening? Isn't this a waste of precious time?

Tell me something. Who is the most important one you should ever listen to? 

How can you hear God if you're always busy?

In the noise of this world, which surrounds us, it's hard to hear God. We need to be intentional about this.

Also, can we listen to God while we listen to music? Of course. If it brings us to worship, you bet. I recommend doing this each week as well. I even recommend having intentional time of this, along with listening to sermons as well. 

But, it's the silent times I recommend most. Sneak them in in segments throughout your day. It will bless you. God and you will develop a closer relationship. Your life will also transform.

At first, listening to God in the silence is awkward at best. But, don't give up. Keep doing it. In time, it gets easier. Practice makes it easier and more rewarding. Hang in there. Don't give up. And, don't fill the silences. Listen. Hang out with God if nothing else. Just be there--as He is. Enjoy one another's company. 

Can you think of anything more important or rewarding in your life? 

Enjoy God. That's what listening is. 

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2010-2014.)

How do we hear the voice of God (or how do we hear God)?

How do we hear the voice of God (or how do we hear God)?

How do we listen to God? The simplest and best answer to this question is: We hear God through the Bible, when we pray, through the Church, and others. 

This then brings up another question: How do we know it's God and not the enemy or our own wishful thinking?

God will repeat what He says in multiples ways at multiple times. He would prefer us to respond immediately, but if we are testing to make sure it is Him and not someone or something else, He will cut us some grace. 

So, how do we do this and what does it look like?

First of all, open the Bible, read one word. Guess what? You just heard from God. Read more of the Bible and you'll hear more from Him. He will speak to you as you read the Word. I guarantee it. He speaks through His Word and into our hearts as He tells us what the verse means for us and our lives today. 

Rule of Thumb: What God says NEVER contradicts His Bible.  

The more we are in the Word of God, the Bible, each day, the more we will hear from God.

If we are not in the Bible each day, we cans till hear God in other ways and through others, but is it really God speaking? Or is it our own wishful thinking or the enemy? That is the question. If we are not in the Bible, we are blowing around in the wind like a windsock, not having any control. We are waving around, but do not have focus. We are going every way imaginable, hoping to find our way and settle down. But, this is wrong. It's only through being in the Word throughout the day and night that we can guarantee we hear God. The Bible is our focal point. It keeps us on the path and prevents us from wandering aimlessly. 

We will hear from God in the Scripture. 

From there, we will have it verified in other ways. God will make sure He gets His message through to us, as long as we are praying for it (and in our prayer journaling). How He does this is through confirming it through others, through the church, through a radio ministry, in our Bible study (personal and in group), and through our prayers. Each becomes an exclamation point. 

So, how do we hear God? It's most importantly through being in the Bible throughout the day and night, every day. After all, the Bible is the WORD OF GOD. It's how He speaks to us.

So, read through your Bible this year or over the next two. Find a plan and stick to it. I recommend this. You can go to their website on your laptop or PC, and they also have an app for your cell or e-reader. It is YouVersion: https://www.bible.com/.

Another thing to remember is to listen about 75% of your prayer time. God cannot get through to us if we are talking so much He can't get a word in and we sure cannot hear Him if we are babbling. 

God speaks to us all the time. We just need to listen and be in the Word all day and night. 

TIP: Every day, I pick at least one verse I want to pray all day and night. God speaks to me through it. I carry it with me everywhere I go and look at it at every opportunity. Moreover, I think on it and chew on it throughout the day and night as well. This is the best way God speaks to me. It's always a verse I choose from my Bible reading or studying of the day. 

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)