Whispers: Hearing God’s Voice (Part 8 – More Often)

How can you hear God’s whispers more often? I have three suggestions.

First, slow down. Life can easily become a vicious circle – monotony followed by moments of sheer terror.  You get up in the morning and head off to work.  After racing to meetings, returning urgent phone calls, and plowing through paperwork, you drive home in rush hour traffic to grab a quick bite to eat.  Then you dash out the door to soccer games, school events or church meetings.  After tucking in the kids, you fall exhausted into your bed knowing that tomorrow you get to do it all over again.

Slow down! The psalmist advises, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). If you sprint through life you’ll miss His voice along the way. It’s impossible to hear God’s whispers while living life at breakneck speed.

Next, create silence. When was the last time you were by yourself in absolute silence?  No music.  No television.  No newspapers, magazines or books.  No distractions of any kind.  When was the last time you were all alone listening only to the sound of the inner dialogue of your mind?  Like many people, it may have been a long, long time ago.

Søren Kirkegaard wrote, “If I were a doctor and were asked my advice, I should reply: ‘Create Silence.’” Yet in our fast-paced, frenzied world, silence is perhaps the most precious and underused commodity.  You ask yourself, “How in the world can I afford time for silence? You’re asking the wrong question. “How in the world can you NOT afford time for silence?”  I don’t know a single Christian who is making an impact for Christ that doesn’t create silence. You cannot hear God whispering without silence.

Finally, read Scripture. God speaks to us through His Word. As you create silence, spend time reading the Bible. Saturate your mind with biblical truth. Whispers come from Scripture you’ve stored up in your heart. Sometimes God whispers as you read a verse. At other times His whispers come from verses you’ve memorized. But His whispers will come as you read, study, memorize, and meditate on His Word.

February 2010 was a hectic and worrisome time in my life. As a retired educator I receive a pension that meets my needs. But I had cashed in my Individual Retirement Account [IRA] to launch Designed to Serve. Consequently, I had nothing saved for an emergency. I began second-guessing that decision.  Then God whispered to me as I read Mark 6:31, “… Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” I clearly heard him telling me to have a day of solitude.

I reserved a room in a cheaper motel without amenities. The first thing I did was to unplug the TV, and then I closed the drapes – and kept them closed. I went before God with a question: “How do I live out my calling despite my doubts and fears?” I chose to study the life of Elijah since he faced a similar situation in 1 Kings 19. I read the chapter quickly for context. Then I read it again devotionally. Next, I studied it carefully, took notes, and listed the life principles in Elijah’s story. Finally, I read it for application.

At the end of a long day, I heard God’s whisper when I read this phrase: “… [Elisha, Elijah’s successor] burned the plowing equipment …” (1 Kings 19: 21). The phrase seemed to jump off the page. Burning his plow meant that there was no going back for Elisha. He was 100% committed to serving God the rest of his life as a prophet. Like Elisha, when I cashed in my IRA, I had “burned my plow.” Now I was committed to my ministry. God answered my question by whispering, “Steve, don’t be afraid and don’t worry. I will provide everything you need in your life, and to fulfill your calling.”

I’ve heard and obeyed many whispers. Every time I have, my life’s become a Great Adventure. God’s whispers have sent me to remote African villages. They’ve led me to serve Him in Russia. And I’m confident that, like me, His whispers will bring you tremendous joy and excitement, too. So … Slow down. Create silence. Read Scripture. Listen and obey God’s whispers.

© 2011 Designed to Serve®