How do we listen to God?
Here's the answer:
There are a few ways we can listen to God.
We listen with our ears, right? Yes, but there are other ways of listening too. Have you ever curled up with a good book? Reading is a way of listening to the book’s author, but instead of listening with our ears, we listen to the writer with our eyes. Maybe you once had a nasty cold and while you rested in bed, your mom or your dad lovingly stroked your forehead or held your hand. You sensed the love, not in words, but in that gentle touch. Maybe you were tempted to do something wrong, but in your heart, you heard a silent voice that warned you to walk away.
The Bible tells us that God spoke to certain people out loud. But God is much more likely to speak to you in other ways. For example, the Bible is God’s Word to us. If you want to understand God's heart, His plans for your life, the way of salvation, living the Christian life, and more, God’s Word has the answers (2 Timothy 3:16).
God also speaks to us through His Holy Spirit. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer, will guide us in truth (John 16:13). Think of this: God’s Holy Spirit lives in us so He can guide us, comfort us, and help us grow as believers in Jesus. When we obey the Holy Spirit, we're listening to God.
God might speak to us through others too. God chooses leaders, like pastors, who faithfully teach us God's Word (Ephesians 4:11). He also puts other Christians in our lives, like parents, teachers, or even friends, to help us understand what God wants us to know.
Remember, there's an important part to listening to God: obeying Him! James 1:22 says, "Don’t just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says."
Bible Truth
"The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them" (Psalm 19:1).
"My (Jesus') sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).
"So faith comes from hearing the message. And the message that is heard is the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).
