“Mom, how do you know if you’re hearing God or not?”

There I sat, in one of the greatest discipleship moments of my life. This beautiful son of mine is a thinker, a creative and has an amazing analytical mind that causes me to sit back in awe and wonder at the creation God has made. I stopped to listen to the Holy Spirit for myself on how to instruct and lead my son into connection with a living, breathing, all-powerful God. The one that knit him together in my very womb. The God who threw the stars up into the sky, yet cares when we ask him for a parking spot. Yeah, that God. The one and only God. The one who pulls us close, stands so near, at times waiting for an invitation to invade our space.

What was I going to say? After a few moments of pensive silence, I jumped in.

“Well babe, He speaks in countless ways. You only need to pay attention. Sometimes, it comes as a thought, other times, a whisper. Some people even hear Him as you hear me speak to you now. Sometimes, a picture flashes before your eyes and you see what He is saying. Other times it’s a knowing or a feeling that’s so deep you can’t shake it. And His words… Oh His precious, priceless words. Written down so that we would know the sound of His voice when He calls us. When you read His words, you grow familiar and know the sound of His voice. You also know when it’s not His voice, because His words and His way are deep within you… Does that make sense?”

“Yes.” He said with a nod and a far off look in his eyes.

“Want to practice listening?”

“Well… Okay…”

We sat there together. Listening. Saying what we heard and felt and thought and saw. We practiced sitting in His presence… 

I love that now on several occasions, this son in particular will tell me what he feels/thinks God is saying to him and he’s accurate most of the time as things come to fruition before his very eyes. It’s fun watching all of our children grow in connection and relationship with the one that loves them more than I could ever comprehend. With the one who gave them the very breath in their lungs. 

So what about you?

How do you hear God? Do you hear Him? Do you want to hear Him?

Here are a few tips…

1.) Read His Word Daily

To know the sound of His voice when He speaks to you, you’ve got to know how He speaks. Confusion can easily come into our lives if we’re not aware of what He would or would not say and how He would or would not speak.

I sit with people all the time that say things like, “Oh I don’t have time.” I don’t know about you, but I am madly in love and I can’t believe that I get to read His words inspired straight from heaven. I GET TO see how Jesus lived and watch how the apostles walked in His resurrection power. I love reading all my inheritance letters realizing more and more each day who I am and what I can step into. I don’t have the time NOT to read His words. And the more I do, the more I walk in alignment with them, but at the same time, the more I realize how much more I have to learn. I have a desperate need to draw closer.  

2.) Practice Listening

I do this with my kids sometimes. Not all the time – I wish I was that spiritual! It’s a lot of fun at bedtime to just sit and ask what God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is saying to them. It can be profound and just plain fun!

One idea would be getting a journal or having a place where you write down what you feel/think or hear. You could write it out on your computer or log it away in your mind, if you’re able to retain knowledge in that way. My mom tends to draw pictures of what she see’s or hears which. Over time, look back over it and see what it says, then begin to ask some questions. 

– Is it in alignment with how God speaks in His word?

– Has any of it come to pass? Or is this for another time?

– Are these promises for someone else or another generation to come?

– How can I pray?

– Is there anything I should do with these words or are they simply personal and for relationship?

Sometimes you’ll get it utterly wrong, but don’t be afraid to fail! Failure is a part of learning. Just laugh and keep going for it!

3.) God Speaks To You How You Can Hear Him

Every single one of us is a complete original, and God loved designing exactly who you are. Don’t compare your lane to someone else’s lane and don’t compare your relationship with God to someone else’s.

My husband used to believe the lie that I could hear God better than him because I’m more of a feeler and instinctive personality whereas he is highly analytical, strategic and profoundly creative all at the same time. The truth is, he hears God differently than I do. 

I remember when I wouldn’t let him say the line anymore, “I know you hear God more than I do….” I started to reply to him every time, “You DO hear God.”

For about a six month period he would start out some of his sentences by saying, “I’m not sure if this was God or my thought but…” and often times, it was straight from heaven. Over the years, I have watched my analytical, strategic, creative genius of a husband step into realms that challenge me and my relationship with God. He is a juggernaught and I am amazed at his walk with God. 

So just be you.

Maybe you see pictures or hear an audible voice. Maybe you get a gut feeling and can’t shake it or times it feels like a whisper in your heart. Maybe you see incredibly detailed visions, or see the spirit realm as if it was as real as the physical realm. Maybe it’s reading the word of God and having it come alive to you in the season you find yourself in. Maybe it just comes to you and drops out of your mouth in the form of profound wisdom… Whatever you do, don’t compare – be you and walk in relationship with your Creator. He likes how He made you, and He wants you to hear Him.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13 NIV