New Day Church
How to Hear from God
Isaiah 28:23 NLT
At times like these, it is more important than ever to hear from God
James 1:5 NLT
Habakkuk 2:1-2 NLT
Hearing from God changes everything. The God who spoke and animals were created, oceans, trees, plants were created, He is the one who WANTS to speak in to your NOTHING to create exactly what is necessary to make you more like Him.
4 Keys To Hearing God's Voice by Mark and Patti Virkler
1. I will stand at my guardpost - Be Still
2. Wait to see - Fix your eyes on Jesus
3. He will speak to me - God's voice often comes as spontaneous thoughts
4.Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly” -Write out the flow of thoughts and pictures that light upon your heart and mind.
1. I will stand at my guardpost - Be Still
- Separate yourself
- Quiet your mind down,
- Worship
- Read scripture
2. Wait to see - Fix your eyes on Jesus
- When you are focused on Jesus the things of the world can fade away
- Look/ listen - Expect to encounter God -this is a step of faith
3. What He will speak to me - God's voice often comes as spontaneous thoughts
- Like your own thoughts but spontaneous.
- Easily cut off by our will, thoughts, etc.
- When embraced they come with a strength and a joy to carry them out.
- Your spiritual senses are trained and tuned and with practice it becomes easier to hear God.
- God is speaking all the time, you do hear his voice. Oftentimes we group all the thoughts together and assume they are ours.
4.Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly” -Write out the flow of thoughts and pictures that light upon your heart and mind.
- This gives your brain something to do so it is not as easily distracted (it has a job)
- By writing it down you have a record you can go back to later when you need that encouragement.
- More importantly you can test it- ensure it is God speaking.
Mark Virkler say, “Two way journaling - You write your thoughts and questions to God and God responds. The entire conversation is recorded on paper. It is two friends sharing love together. It is not just sharing your heart and you leave. It is you letting God share His heart back with you.”
Ask a question, write down any thoughts that enter your mind.
Keep writing until the thoughts stop.
Ask another question.
Write down the thoughts that come to you
Then after the fact you can check it
John 10:27 NLT
John 10:10 NLT
God's voice...stills you, leads you, reassures you, enlightens you, encourages you, comforts you, calms you, and convicts you.
Satan's voice... rushes you, pushes you, frightens you, confuses you, discourages you, worries you, obsesses you, and condemns you.
Conviction vs Condemnation according to Gwen Jackson
Conviction is always done in love, never in judgment. Conviction comes from the Father's love, to protect, to transform, to change for the better. He doesn't overload us with a long laundry list that overwhelms us to the point that we don't even know where to begin. He gently leads us in one or two things, and then doesn't leave us to do it on our own. He comes alongside us to accomplish his purposes in our lives. His Spirit empowers and enables us to change.
Condemnation is pointing the long, bony finger of accusation and judgment, bringing shame and disgrace to the one being charged
Romans 2:4 NLT
John 16:7-8, 13-15 NLT
God is the same yesterday today and forever.
God will never do anything that doesn't line up with His character.
God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
Ask a friend who hears from God to look at what you have written down. If this is new to you, have them check everything then as you become more practiced in discerning God's voice you can have them look at things you are unsure about or large decisions.
God will confirm His word.
Stay away from topics you are already convinced about - your will is strong. It is hard to hear God when you already think you know.
If you realize what you wrote wasn't God, don't give up, try, try again. Your loving God wants to speak to you.
James 1:22 NLT
Good questions to start journaling with:
Lord, do you love me?
Lord, what do You want to say to me?
Lord, what do You want to say to me about hearing your voice?
Take a moment, choose a question, and write it down.
If you want to look up more scriptures on your own about God speaking to us here are a few you can check out:
John 10:27
Prov 3:5-6 trust in the Lord with all your heart...
Luke 12:31
Matthew 6:33
Next Step
If you made a decision today for Christ, let us know by marking it on the Connect Card in your seat back in front of you. If you want to be water baptized please also let us know.