HEARING, LISTENING & RESPONDING
How can I tell the difference between my
thoughts and God’s voice?
When we talk about hearing the voice of God, our natural assumption is that we should expect to hear an audible voice like any human being. From infancy we develop something called “Speaker Models” to help us differentiate who is speaking and whose voice belongs to whom. We develop Speaker Models in our brains as they are exposed to different voices, taking into account subtle differences in features such as cadence and timbre. By naturally switching and adapting between different Speaker Models based on who’s talking, we learn to identify and understand different speakers. But keep in mind that God is not human, He is Spirit. So how do we hear God’s voice? By developing a Spiritual Speaker Model. Instead of using our brains alone, we need to learn how to Hear, Listen and Respond to the voice of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
There is a difference between Hearing and Listening -
Hearing - Webster, “The process of perceiving a sound or impression.”
Hearing, audibly and spiritually, happens when we enter into an environment or setting. As we do, an Anticipation, Expectation and Recognition of sound, or spirit, is perceived. Hearing is a passive, involuntary, and sensory process in which we perceive sounds or spiritual awareness. It is a physiological, and/or spiritual, response that involves our perception of sound, presence and impressions that do not require focused attention until we make the conscience choice to do so. When we turn our attention toward and focus on a perceived sound, presence or impression, we then Listen.
Listening – Webster, “To give attention to, to give thoughtful attention to, to give consideration to, to receive and interpret the sound or impression.”
Listening happens when we focus our attention on a perceived sound or spiritual awareness, giving it an interpretation. Listening is an active, voluntary, and intentional process that involves making sense of the words, sounds you hear or impressions, requiring your focus and attention. In turn, you may develop an emotional response to what you hear, see or encounter.
Examples of God’s Voice -
· God’s voice will always be familiar (1 Samuel 3:1-14)
· God’s voice is in His presence (1 Kings 19:11-13)
· God’s voice is Spirit (John 4:24, 2 Corinthians 3:17)
· We have been given the ability to hear God’s voice (Isaiah 30:21, John 10:27)
BEGINNING THE CONVERSATION
Hearing, Listening and Responding to God’s Voice is the foundation of every Prophetic Artist. But where do we begin? How do we Hear, Listen and Respond to His voice? The best place to start, the best place to stay, is in what He has already said in the Bible.
1. Investment in time – Any relationship worth having is worth an investment in time. But only those relationships that include vulnerability, intimacy and trust are the ones that stand the test of time and commitment. Pick a time, morning, noon or night, when you are most alert and creative.
2. Two-way communication – Communication includes Hearing and Listening. If you are doing all the talking the only one you are listening to is yourself. That’s not communication. As you read God’s Word try using the Inductive Bible Study Method.
3. Action (risk) – Respond. Write, draw, paint or create. Just do something. The process of communicating comes full circle when you respond to what you have heard or encountered.
4. Start with your favorite verse or practice hearing God’s voice in my private Facebook Group, “The School of Prophetic Art”