“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying.”
In what ways does God Speak to us?
If we knew with absolute certainty every possible way God may use to communicate with us, would we be receptive to hearing him?
In the past two blogs, we covered the first week the importance of our belief in hearing God; we must believe He desires to communicate with us. Last week, we covered how we must also attune ourselves to listen to Him.
If we believe and attune ourselves, how might God speak to us, and will we be receptive?
The primary way God speaks to us is through His Word.
The Bible may be an ancient document, but we attune our hearts to listen, and God reveals how relevant His Word is. The Bible is the filter through which we run any communication we feel we have received from Him.
While God’s Word is the primary way God speaks to us, He will not be contained to a box. The Bible records how God has used many methods to communicate. He has spoken through a donkey, dreams, circumstances, and natural phenomena. His ways are not ours, and as we lean in to listen, we must be receptive to however He may choose to convey His messages. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Six methods God may use
Impressions
“Yet your Teacher will not hide himself any longer, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:20b-21, NRSVUE)
Does God audibly speak to us? He could if He chose to, but most often, His Spirit speaks into ours, and we have a perceiving, gaining direction, or clarity that we didn’t have before. Strong impressions often combine with other ways to confirm God has spoken to us.
Understanding
“One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.” (Acts 16:14, NLT)
Understanding is different than impressions in that it is more knowledge-based. When something clicks for us, the light bulb moment, we can grasp a spiritual truth in a way we had not understood before and how the truth applies to our lives.
Others
“So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense so that the people understood the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:8, NLT)
God’s Word is filled with encouragement to seek wise counsel. We need to intentionally bring other believers in on matters we are praying through. God also often uses others in our lives to speak a message, whether through a sermon, a podcast, a song, or a simple conversation with a stranger.
Reoccurrence
“So the Lord called a third time, and once more, Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy.” (1 Samuel 3:8, NLT)
When a theme continues to show up in your life through scripture one day, in a song on another day, in the sermon on Sunday, and then in a devotional the following week, we need to pay attention. God is likely conveying a message we need to hear for our current situation or to prepare us for what lies ahead.
Nature
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” (Romans 1:19-20, ESV)
We often avoid discussing how nature can be a method God uses to communicate to us because the concept sounds like New Age. God can use His creation to draw us to Him. The first time someone experiences a snowy mountain peak that leaves them awe-struck at the sheer size, a new appreciation is embedded into their heart for the One who created the mountains, and their faith is strengthened as they see God as bigger than their problem.
The rhythm of the waves, a protective mother bear, and the life cycle of a butterfly are just a few other examples of how God can use nature to unfold His message to us.
Quietness
“A sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him.” (1 Kings 19: 12b, NRSVUE)
Elijah was eager to hear God, and he heard him not in the big and loud and grand, but in the soundlessness of the moments following the wind, earthquake, and fire. God uses simple, unassuming, quiet ways to speak. His presence is always with us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We need only quiet our souls, attune to His presence, and receive His message for us in whatever form He chooses to reach us.
I pray that the eyes and ears of your heart, mind, and soul will be receptive to however God may choose to speak to you. I pray when you hear from Him, you respond with courage and obedience out of humility. God, in Jesus’ name, I ask you to speak to this one in ways most meaningful to them. Help them hear you and be open to all you have for them. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: Here I am, Lord, I am listening.
Reflect: What are the ways God has spoken to you? To others, you know? Are you encouraged or discouraged by how you feel God has spoken to you in the past? What is the prayer of your heart asking Him to speak to you now? Have you ever considered keeping a journal to record the times you sense the Spirit leading/speaking? Then, at some point, prayerfully review?
Deeper: Isaiah 30:15- 21, Psalm 19:1-6, 1Kings 19:9-13, Acts 4: 29-31
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(Bible References: NRSVUE – New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, NLT – New Living Translation, ESV – English Standard Version)
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