DAILY DISCIPLINE #25
By Colleen Donahue

 

"Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people..." Jeremiah 7:23a

Throughout scripture, God has requested that we "listen" to Him. Verses like the one above suggest that God speaks to us. For how could He ask us to obey His voice if He never intended for us to hear it? The further society has moved from knowing our Creator, the more impossible it seems that we could ever hear the voice of One we cannot visibly see and touch.

Yet, for those who dare to believe and trust in the eternal God, hearing His voice should become part of daily life. Do you hear Him out loud? What does He sound like? When does He speak? How do you really know that it's God speaking? These and other questions will immediately come to mind. It's my hope that our study this month will provide some of the answers regarding...

HEARING GOD'S VOICE

Day 1- God made His voice known right away when man was created.
Genesis 1:28-30

Day 2 -What is the only reason we have to be afraid to hear God's voice?
Genesis 3:9-13a / Romans 7:11

Day 3 -Would God command us to obey His voice if He didn't intend for us to hear it?
Proverbs 20:12 / Matthew 13:16

WHAT DOES GOD'S VOICE SOUND LIKE?

Day 4 -At times it's very quiet -- almost a whisper.
I Kings 19:12

Day 5- At times it's majestic and mighty.
Psalm 29:3-9 / Ezekiel 43:2 /Revelation 1:15

Day 6 -Quite often in Scripture examples are given where God's voice came out clearly as a man speaking.
Exodus 20:1 / Matthew 17:5 / 2 Peter 1:16-18

Day 7 -At times it seems that the person God addressed heard God exclusively, while those around only heard sounds of some kind.
John 12:28-29 / Acts 9:3-7

Day 8 -But just as often God's voice comes when God's Holy Spirit communicates to our spirit and we just "know" something.
Ezekiel 36:26-27

Day 9 -Listening to God's voice as He speaks within us (rather than audibly) requires us to know God. There is perhaps no other habit more important in our lives than that of meeting God each day for prayer and Bible study.
Psalm 5:1-3 / Psalm 143:8-10 / Proverbs 8:34 \ Isaiah 50:4-5 / Mark 1:35 / Luke 5:16

WHY CAN'T WE HEAR WHEN GOD SPEAKS?

Day 10- A child playing responds only to his mother's voice because he "knows" it and is tuned to it. So too, ONLY THOSE WHO BELONG TO JESUS can know His voice.
John 10:1-5

We actually become deafened to hearing God when...

Day 11 -God's word is offensive to us.
Jeremiah 6:10

Day 12 -We are living in any kind of rebellion.
Ezekiel 12:2

Day 13 -We don't pay attention to God's words and warnings in our life.
Zechariah 7:11 / Matthew 13:15 / Luke 16:31

Day 14 -We are still inexperienced at hearing God. (Often an older Christian can be helpful to us.)
I Samuel 3:1-10

Day 15 -When we're full of turmoil inside we are likely to miss hearing God. What should we be like inside?
Psalm 131:2

Day 16 -We don't wait to hear God speak. We don't take time to listen.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 / James 1:19

Day 17 -God is a gentleman. He waits for us to hear His voice and then to choose to respond to it. He never forces Himself.
Revelation 3:20

Day 18 -Can the devil imitate the voice of God?
2 Corinthians 11:14

Day 19 -But how do we know it's God's voice we're hearing?
Reread: John 10:1-5

HOW DO YOU AND I HEAR GOD SPEAK TO US?

Day 20 -Through reading the Bible.
Deuteronomy 17:19 / Romans 15:4 / 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Day 21 -Through those who are older, trusted spiritual friends.
I Corinthians 3:1-2

Day 22 -Through "waiting upon the Lord in prayer."
Isaiah 50:4 / Matthew 7:7 / James 1:5

God wants to reveal Himself today as much as He did in former times but only those who make time with God a priority will learn to hear Him speak.

SO, HOW DO WE WAIT UPON GOD?

Day 23 -Prayerfully.
Psalm 25:4-5 / Psalm 46:10a

Day 24 -Patiently.
Psalm 37:7 / Psalm 145:15

Day 25 -With a single mind.
Psalm 62:5

Day 26 -Expectantly.
Psalm 123:2 / Micah 7:7

Day 27 -Longingly.
Psalm 63:1 / Psalm 130:5-6

Day 28 -Quietly.
Lamentations 3:26

Day 29 -Continually.
Hosea 12:6

Day 30 -Can we count on hearing God when we need to know which direction to turn?
Isaiah 30:21

Day 31- What is the underlying reason why God chooses to speak to man?
John 15:14-16

Daily Discipline Table of Contents