Discerning the Voice of the Lord

3. Cultivation

If we really want to be able to recognize the Lord’s voice, we will have to make lifestyle changes, rearranging our schedule and beliefs to make room for Him first. The more time and attention we give to God, the more fine-tuned our senses become to His leading. He reveals Himself, we spend time with Him, then we begin to act on what we’ve heard. As we test what we’re hearing, His voice will likely change in character. His direction, encouragement and comfort is likely to become unspoken and subtle the more intimate our relationship with Him becomes. The more we work to know Him, and labor to enter into His rest, the fewer specific words are needed.

Discerning the Voice of the Lord

His voice has been revealed to our spirit, and our spirit is perfectly communicating with His Spirit at all times. Let’s assume we have decided that we want a more intimate knowledge of Him and want to be able to hear Him more clearly and more often in our conscious awareness. We decide we want to cultivate, put the necessary time and attention into developing a relationship with God. How do we start?

As we spend time with the Lord, both throughout the day and at specific times we’ve set aside, we can objectively evaluate what we are sensing, discerning and hearing using the following guidelines:

1. Identification (WHO is talking)

Ears to Hear

The first step in hearing the voice of the Lord is recognizing that you are hearing something! This may involve the Lord cleaning out your ears, and perhaps clearing away some wounds and beliefs that are keeping you from hearing clearly. Some of us need our ears cleaned, while others may even need to have their eardrums pierced to relieve the pressure of condemnation, guilt or demonic oppression. Whatever the condition of your hearing, ask God to give you ears that hear, and a heart to respond.