Proverbs 1:5a, John 10:4, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 14:26

Listening is the hardest part of any conversation. Talking comes easily. We always have something to say. This is especially true in our relationship with Jesus. It is very hard to listen, especially to someone who speaks in a different way.

Listening to God is a discipline you will have to work at all your life. But once you learn how, you will begin to hear clearly and experience growth in your relationship with Jesus.

God speaks in different ways. He can speak any way he wants to, because he is God. However, a truth to remember is you will know it when he speaks. When you started this new relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit entered your life. The Holy Spirit gives you the ability to hear and understand what God is saying to you.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would, "Teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." – John 14:26 (niv)

So because of the presence of the Spirit in your life you can listen to what God says.

The way God will primarily speak is through the Bible and prayer. The Bible is God’s instruction to us. In the Bible we find what God desires us to be and to do. By reading the Bible God will use the Holy Spirit to speak to you about your life. This is why it so important to spend time in God’s word, so you can hear Him speak.

Take some time now to read the verses listed above. In your notebook write down the one that is the most meaningful. Write down what the verses are saying to you. How does it make you feel that you are a person who God listens to and speaks to?

God will also speak through prayer. Prayer is a two-way communication with God. It is you talking to God and God talking to you. To really communicate with someone who not only talk but you also listen.

When you pray spend part of your time still and silent. Listen to what God may bring to your mind and heart. This will take a lot of practice and discipline, but if you start now and give God the opportunity to speak to you, you will quickly learn the voice of God.

Keep in mind, nothing that comes from God will be in contradiction to His word. What God says to you in prayer will always be consistent with what He says in scripture. If it is not, it is not from God.

Listening will be a life long practice. But if you start working at it now you will learn quickly. Spending time reading God’s word, talking and listening to him through prayer are very important if you want to hear what God is saying.

Spend some time now praying about what you have learned today.

• Thank God for being a God who communicates with you.

• Ask God to teach you how to listen to His voice.

How do you meditate on scripture? Here are some keys:

• Write it down. Put it in your own words.

• Read it in a different translation of the Bible.

• Break the verse down phrase by phrase. What is being said in each phrase?

• Memorize the verse.

• Apply it to your life. How does this verse apply to me?

Pondering what scripture says will allow the Holy Spirit to show you how the verse can help in your everyday life.

While you are meditating on the scripture above ask God to show you how it applies to you. Each time you spend in God’s word look for verses to be meditating on.

written by Lee Floyd Baptist Student Ministry Director @ Angelo State University