You Can Hear From God

I have had a prophetic ministry for many years, and sometimes people have asked me how I hear from God.  I’ve tried to tell them, but haven’t always succeeded.

Then I was at a conference and someone shared the teachings of Mark Virkler and what he calls the four keys to hearing God’s voice.  I recognized them as the disciplines I had developed in my own life as I minister prophetically.  Here are “the four keys.”

1)  Quiet your heart. Rest in Him.  Let the peace of God fill you.  The voice of God often comes to us as a subtle impression; a quiet heart will be sensitive enough to hear.

2)  Focus on Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where Jesus is right now, and what He is doing.  Or take scripture that tells about Jesus, and meditate on it.

3)  Listen for a spontaneous flow of words. Your own thoughts will go in a line from one thing to another, but when God speaks it will come from another angle.  It’s like a conversation with anyone else – their words almost seem to interrupt your own train of thought.

4)  Write it down. This is what Mark Virkler teaches; as people write down what they believe they are hearing, they can test it as they submit their journals to elders who can help them discern the voice of God.

I have used these four keys a little differently.  When I am asked to minister to a stranger, I begin by quieting my heart.  I shut out the items on my to-do list that clamor for my attention.  Often I speak a silent prayer: “Lord Jesus, where are You right now?”  And as often as not, a fragment of scripture comes to mind.  So I speak or pray that scripture over the person, and a flow of words follows.  I am often surprised at what comes out of my mouth; sometimes I learn from it.

The assignments in this online school of the Spirit call for you to spend time soaking.  Many people play worship music in the background as they soak, though silence can work just as well.  But soaking is a time to quiet our hearts before God, avoiding even our spiritual agitation as we prepare our hearts to listen to Him.  Focus on Jesus and let words flow spontaneously.

How do you know if you are really hearing from God? It’s healthy to remember we all can make mistakes.  But it’s safe to act on what you’re hearing if (1) it’s biblical, (2) it helps you fulfill God’s commandments to love Him and to love people, and (3) even if you’ve made a mistake in your hearing, it won’t do much harm.

But if you think God is telling you to change your lifestyle radically, write it down and get counsel from mature Christians who can help you discern if you are hearing clearly.   God Himself commands you to “prove all things and hold fast that which is good.”

Here are a few things I have heard as I have listened for the voice of God this week:  share Psalm 103 with someone who needs healing, pray for a waitress, pray for a few people I met at a conference, send an email to a pastor I met this week, design some new graphics for my website.

None of these things will cost much if I have made a mistake in my hearing.  Most of them give me an opportunity to share the love of God with people.  This is the kind of thing we need to listen for.

We’ll go into each of the four keys in the future. Meanwhile, you will find many free resources and some for sale on Mark Virkler’s website – www.cluonline.com.