“Can I talk to you about something?”

I uttered this to a trusted friend about an issue that I had regarding a mutual friend of ours. As Christians, we are expected to live lives of integrity and character, as well as Christlikeness. However, an incident that occurred between my friend and me resulted in that friend acting with less than pure motives when it came to our partnership. Although the person apologized and we ended on amicable terms, when I saw that mutual friend cozying up to another friend of mine at a recent event, something in my soul stirred.

At first, I let the matter drop. After all, she had apologized, and I wanted to keep the peace. However, after the third time the Holy Spirit spoke to my soul urging me to tell my friend about the incident, I decided I needed to act in faith and let her know about it. I didn’t want to gossip or start trouble, but I needed to protect my friend in case that mutual friend decided to play the same games with her that she had played with me.

I texted her the above words. She agreed, and I dialed her number. I explained that this was a difficult conversation, one that I didn’t want to have. However, I felt that, as my friend, I needed to protect her in case this friend acted with a lack of integrity again. I treated my friend like I wanted to be treated. If I had known a situation like that had occurred, I would have liked to have known so I could make the best decision before entering any future partnerships with her.

“You did the right thing,” my friend said after she heard what I had to say. She told me that that mutual friend had indeed tried to triangulate her into a partnership, one that could have proven disastrous for both involved. Had I not listened to the Spirit speaking in that matter, I would not have had the opportunity to glorify God by protecting my friend from someone’s sinful actions, but also to deepen our bond with each other. My friend understood that I was coming to her from a place of love and not out of a thirst for revenge or vengeance. I’m grateful that the Holy Spirit stirred, and I was able to listen and obey his command for me in that moment. Part of a healthy spiritual journey also involves hearing from God.  

Part of a healthy spiritual journey also involves hearing from God.  

Receiving a word from the Lord can be an exciting experience. Knowing that you’re not only talking to God Almighty, but he’s also speaking to you creates an intimacy with God that cannot be explained or rationalized. There is no better feeling than to know you are hearing from God. However, the delivery of those messages can be downright scary. 1 Corinthians 14:1 says, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” (NIV)

According to this verse, not only is hearing from God an incredibly intimate experience, but it is also to be expected as a part of our spiritual journey. However, we spend more time talking to God than we do listening for his voice. Here are three ways to hear from God regularly:

Practice, Practice, Practice

Anything that helps us become more successful in life takes practice. If we want to learn a new skill, like a musical instrument, for example, we practice playing that instrument until it becomes second nature to us. It is the same with sports or acting in a play.  If we want to achieve a more intimate relationship with God, we must practice hearing from Him.

Use the timer on your phone and set a timer for 10 minutes. Get alone at any quiet place in your home or outdoors. Spend time merely sitting in silence. Begin by asking God if any sins may be hindering you from hearing from Him. Confess your sins quietly to yourself and to God. Trust and believe that his blood has covered over all your sins.

Next, ask God, “Is there anything you want to say to me today?” Sometimes the Holy Spirit will want to speak to you about a lot of things. Other times, you will receive nothing during that time. Don’t consider silence a failure or a waste of your time. Some of the most productive times you will spend in your spiritual journey are when you are training yourself to hear from God.

God desires our fellowship. That is why he created us. He yearns to be with us and wants us to bask in his presence. By dedicating even a small amount of time to this spiritual discipline, you will grow in hearing from God like never before.  If you make a goal to sit in silence for 10 minutes two to three times a week, you will find the spirit will speak to your soul more often.

God desires our fellowship. That is why he created us. He yearns to be with us and wants us to bask in his presence.

Write Down What You Hear

Get a journal and write down what He says. Reflect on what He says. Sometimes it will be affirmations of who you are or who He is to you. It may be a conviction of a sin that is prohibiting you from intimacy with God. At other times, it might be a prophetic word regarding your own future or someone else’s. Whatever God chooses to say, thank Him for his sovereignty and goodness in your life. Revel in the reality that you spoke to the one true God—and He talked back to you!

In the coming months, take time to reflect on all you have written. Thank God for being willing to speak to us—sometimes a little, but sometimes a lot.

Be in Tune with God

God can speak in a myriad of ways to us every day. He can talk to us through his word, through other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, through media, dreams, visions, angels, a sense or  feeling, etc. The more we become in tune with the way God speaks, the more we’ll be able to recognize and discern his voice. Although it is not always easy to tell whether something we hear is from God or from ourselves, it is essential to listen and act upon what He’s telling us to do.

The more we choose to act in obedience, the more God will speak. Then, you will be able to hear from God on a more regular basis. While every Christian goes through dry times spiritually, you may find that the spiritual dry times are fewer and further between the more in tune you are with his Spirit.

God chooses to communicate with his children because of his great love for us. The more we are in tune with his spirit, the more we practice hearing his voice, and the more we write down what we hear, the more we can reflect on all the ways God is working in our lives. Then we’ll be able to hear from Him more regularly and act in accordance with his will.