How We Hear God

I was looking over journal notes thinking about how we hear God. Below is how I heard Him New Year’s Day 2015.

The cozy little restaurant was practically empty New Year day. Sue and I were enjoying the warmth of a fire discussing the past and future.

We laughed, reflecting on the ridiculous mistakes we’d made as moms and wives. We shook our heads acknowledging God’s overwhelming grace and goodness despite us.

As we finished our soup, I noticed an older gentleman seated on the other side of the fireplace. He was by himself. The thought of eating alone on New Year’s day tugged at my heart.

Sue and I continued to talk. The gentleman looks our way several times. It wasn’t an intrusive look, but rather one of curiosity; as if he thought he knew us.

Sue began to talk about hearing the voice of God. I was tickled because inwardly I was trying to hear if the Lord had anything to say about this man on the other side of the flickering flames. I wanted to know his story. Why was he alone?

“So how do you hear His voice?”, Sue asked.

I struggled to articulate an answer. Words are so inadequate to describe how I hear God, but I was hearing Him right then!

I would describe it as an overwhelming stirring:

Sometimes it’s an unexplainable assurance; or peace in chaos.

Other times, it’s receiving understanding in the absence of knowledge.

Often it’s a relentless nudge to serve someone without understanding why.

It’s both ridiculously simple and highly complicated. Though it may not make sense, it always reveals God’s goodness.

Sue pulled me back to our conversation, “Like… do you hear Him with words?”

This moment in time two different planes of thought collided in perfect harmony.

I smiled at my friend, “Do you trust me?”

She looked at me puzzled. Clearly, she trusted me, but I hadn’t answered her question.

“Come with me.” We left our table and went to the other side of the brick wall housing the fire. I introduced us to the gentleman, wishing him a Happy New Year.

It was a little awkward to start, but we were soon in a conversation that was unmistakably meant to be. God’s presence was undeniable.

Luis shared his story. He was heartsick to have never pursued the love of his life. When he did, it was too late. Now he was still single in his 70s. Luis told of his passion for trains and traveling; more dreams he hadn’t pursued.

We talked about dreams and how God breathes fresh life in dreams when we least expect it. The more he spoke, the more Luis became convinced it wasn’t too late to pursue his dreams of train travel. It was fun to watch his countenance change.

We sat and listened. Then we prayed for one another and the new year that lay ahead.

Afterward, Luis’ eyes were wet, “I was watching you earlier. You look a lot like the young woman I used to know. You spoke with excitement that I’d long forgotten.”

He wiped his eyes, cleared his throat, “It caused me to pray.”

He cleared his throat again. “I was praying when you both came over.”

We all just sat for a moment silently appreciating how the Lord gets our attention.

I love what Jesus said in John 10:27 (NIV)

^“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Yes. I believe we can hear from God!

What about you?  You probably hear Him more than you realize. Sometimes we hear him and don’t recognize it is the Lord.

Take time and see if you recognize His voice.

The scriptures tell us we hear by God’s Word;