This is the third and final post in an impromptu series on the voice of God. I started writing on this topic with the intention of writing a single post, but now believe that this topic needs much more than that. In fact, I would like to invite you to participate by commenting or posting on this topic as well. I will include links to posts by other bloggers who participate.
In my first two posts on the voice of God, part 1 and part 2, I wrote about some of my experiences in finding and following the voice of God. In this post, I offer some practical ideas on how to hear that voice.
4 Tips for Hearing the Voice of God
- Meditation. I have often heard it said that prayer is speaking to God and meditation is listening to God. I believe that God is always speaking to us, and that our busy minds prevent us from hearing him. In meditation, we quiet our busy minds and allow God’s voice to be heard. It is in quiet moments that all creative ideas are formed and all creativity comes from God.
- Prayer. I have also often heard it said that all prayers are answered by God, and sometimes the answer is “No.” Through prayer, we strengthen our connection with God and can get a sense of where the things we share fit in with God’s plan.
- Patience. Sometimes God’s plan is revealed to us slowly and the only information we receive is of the next step with no knowledge of the destination.
- Willingness. We have been given the gift of free will. When we are called, we can choose whether or not to follow, but God’s voice will call to us with greater strength when we are willing to listen and follow. He calls to us as a guide rather than a messenger.
How Does God Speak to You?
If you are interested in sharing how you find God’s voice in your life or your experiences, please leave a comment or post on this topic and let me know about your post and I will include a link here and in my weekly Web Authors Who Inspire Me post. I would specifically like to tag the following bloggers:
- Jean at Cheerful Monk
- Bob at every,every minute
- Jarkko at Jarkko Laine – Insanely interested
If I have not tagged you and you wish to write about the voice of God, let me know with a comment, email and/or a link to this article and I will link to your post.
One response to “Hearing the Voice of God”
I keep thinking of Kathleen Norris’s quote:
“Prayer isn’t asking for what we think we want, it’s asking to be changed in ways we can’t imagine.”
As I said in my e-mail, I won’t be able to post my contribution on the Voice of God until November 18th, but for now I’ll simply say we don’t have to believe in “God” for prayer and meditation to work. I’ll post my downsizing story at Transforming Stress Into Personal Power next Sunday.