Hearing from God can be difficult at times, so it is expected that we need to be proactive in communicating with God. Proactive is defined as “acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes.” With this in mind, we can see the importance of being proactive when we try to hear from God. I
Check out four ways you can be more proactive in hearing from God:
1. Reading the Bible Daily
The first proactive way to hear from God is to read the Bible daily. The Bible contains the true words of God. Everything written in it is to help, guide, and instruct us. Paul tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Through this truth of the Bible, we know this is God’s main way of communicating with us. While God can communicate with us through sermons, Christian books, and other believers, God’s main way of communicating with us is through the Bible.
Reading your Bible daily will help you be proactive in hearing from God. Consistent Bible reading will help you learn more about God and grow in your relationship with Him. When reading the Bible, listen to what God is trying to tell you. This can be shown through conviction, encouragement, or a reminder of His great love. Each time we read the Bible, God is speaking to us, yet it is up to us if we are going to listen to His soft whisper.
When you open your Bible, mentally prepare yourself to hear from God. Do not mindlessly read the Bible and expect to hear from God. Reading the Bible and hearing back from God through its pages should not be something you simply want to check off your to-do list. Instead, it needs to be something you are intentional about. Mentally prepare yourself to hear from God before you read your Bible and carefully listen to His voice.
2. Asking for Direction in Prayer
A second proactive way to hear from God is by asking for direction in prayer. Turning to God in prayer demonstrates your dependence on Him. Many individuals neglect this privilege, yet it is important for us to be active in prayer. A proactive way to hear from God is by asking for direction in prayer. If you are unsure how to hear from Him in the Bible, pray for Him to give you direction. Ask Him to help you see what He wants you to see, what He wants you to read in Scripture, and to convict your heart of any sins.
You can also be proactive through prayer by praying before a sermon, before you read an inspirational Christian book, or before talking with another believer. By going to God in prayer and asking for His direction, He will be able to help you hear what you need to hear from Him. The sermon you are about to listen to could plausibly change your life. In the same way, you can pray to God before reading a Christian devotional book or talking with another believer about something you are struggling with. Each of these things could help you hear from God. Through praying before each of these things, you will be taking a step to be proactive in hearing from God.
3. Times of Quiet and Solitude
A third proactive way to hear from God is through times of quiet and solitude. It is often through periods of quiet and solitude that we hear from God. God is always speaking to us, yet we must listen to Him. Maybe taking a walk through the park or going to an open field to pray can help you have times of quiet and solitude. You could even spend some time alone in your room or in your car to escape the noisy distractions of the world. Through quiet and solitude, you can prepare your heart for God.
Since your ears and heart are not drowned in the noise and busyness of the world, you will be more prone to hearing from God. If you are outside in God’s creation, notice the warmth of the sun or the feel of the breeze. You can be reminded of God’s beauty, grace, and love through His creation. The simple warmth of the sun on our skin during a winter’s day can remind us of the great love God has for us. Everything in all of creation points us back to the Lord, and we can hear from Him through His creation if we just listen.
4. Having Your Ears, Mind, and Heart Opened to the Lord
A fifth proactive way to hear from God is to have your eyes, mind, and heart opened to the Lord. If we have our eyes, mind, and heart closed off to the Lord, we will never hear from Him. This is why it is crucial for us to be open to the Lord with our ears, mind, and heart—all three elements fully engaged. The practice of being proactive in these various ways does not come overnight, rather, it takes a great deal of time and energy to invest in these proactive ways. Having your ears, mind, and heart opened to the Lord will help you listen to Him because you are eagerly prepared for His voice.
Often, the new hunger we have as believers to know the Lord sadly disappears the older we get in our faith. This shouldn’t be, as we should consistently reignite the passion and desire we had on the day we came to know the Lord. If we don’t have the passion and desire, we will become cold to the Lord, and we will fail to hear from Him. If you want to be proactive in hearing from the Lord, make sure you have your ears, mind, and heart opened to Him at all times. God wants to communicate with us and guide us in our lives, but we must prepare our spiritual senses.
He doesn’t want us to be led astray by the false beliefs of the day. By having our ears, mind, and heart opened to the Lord, willing to hear from Him, think about Him, and serve Him, we will be able to hear him, obey Him, and grow in our relationship with Him. We all need to be willing to hear from the Lord and listen, even though, at times, that might be difficult. God only speaks kind words to us and surrounds us with love. He never says anything that would harm or hurt us. Since this is true, we know we can trust God's every word.
God doesn’t speak to us out of a thundercloud or through the mouths of prophets anymore. While this is how God communicated with mankind in the past, He doesn’t speak to us in this way anymore. Instead, we can hear from God through the Bible, other believers, sermons, and inspirational Christian books/devotional books. We can be proactive in hearing from God by reading the Bible daily, asking for direction in prayer, times of quiet and solitude, and by having our ears, mind, and heart opened to the Lord. By taking these proactive steps, we will hear from the Lord.
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Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/.