By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

Hello, friends! This month I’m launching a series called 5 Ways God Speaks to Us. Every Wednesday in May I will release a new blog post focused on one of the ways we hear from God. Join me as we dive into this exciting topic!

Have you heard God’s voice? I mean, have you literally heard a disembodied voice calling your name and giving you instructions. (Not every voice you hear is the voice of God. Please seek a diagnosis from a professional if needed.)

Maybe you have heard God’s voice and you have a story you’re thinking about right now. Share your story in the comments below! Or maybe you haven’t heard God’s voice. That’s okay. That doesn’t mean God isn’t talking to you. God may be waiting to speak until you are ready to listen.

Are You There, Child? It’s Me, God

Many of our Biblical ancestors heard God’s voice. God spoke directly to Abraham and Noah and Moses. One of my favorite stories of someone hearing God’s voice is the story of Samuel.

In 1 Samuel 3, the author states that no one in Israel has heard God speak in quite some time. Then one night, while Samuel sleeps in the temple, someone calls his name. He believes it’s Eli, his mentor and master, calling for him. Eli denies he called for Samuel. When the voice calls for Samuel again, Eli tells him to go back to bed. It’s only when the voice calls for Samuel a third time that Eli realizes it’s God speaking!

We make it difficult to hear God sometimes. We’re constantly surrounded by noise. That’s why it’s so important to find a quiet place to actively listen for the Lord. You don’t have to sleep at your place of worship like Samuel did (I discourage sleeping in church!). Remember, God is everywhere, so any quiet location you can find will still be filled with the Lord’s presence.

Can You Hear God Now?

Active listening is a key component in communication. If we’re listening simply so we can say our piece, we miss enormous chunks of the conversation. This is true of our conversations with God. When we focus only on what we want to hear and only on what we want to say to God, we end up ignoring what God is saying to us. And what God has to say is pretty important!

As Jesus said in Matthew 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (KJV). Jesus wasn’t necessarily referring to our physical bodies and the ears on our heads, but to our spirits. We are expected to prepare our hearts and our minds to hear God’s voice. When we do hear God, we must make sure we understand what is being said. This requires a certain heart posture and level of understanding. If God tells you to go, you need to make sure you know where you are going.

Be Still and Listen

When God speaks, we’re expected to listen. I don’t know about you, but I am the kind of person who needs a flashing neon light to get my attention. Thankfully, God knows this about me and is ready to shout over the din to be heard. Maybe God is turning up the volume to be heard by you, too. Listen- the voice you hear may be the Lord’s.