While growing up, this song resonated with me as I desired to hear God for my life and destiny; “God has something to say. Listen! Listen! Pay rapt attention, for God has something to say.” This is still true today. God has something to say. In fact, God is saying something already, only that you may not be paying attention.
Friend, you need to cultivate the right atmosphere for you to hear the voice of God. The question is not, “Is God speaking?” Rather, it should be, “Are you hearing what He’s saying?” Although God is not a talkative, the book of Genesis introduced Him as a speaking God (Genesis 1:3). While Adam was in hiding, God’s voice was never silent over his life (Genesis 3:8-10).
One of the ways through which God leads us is through the still small voice. This is quite different from the Audible Voice in that, the Still Small Voice often sounds on your inside (internally) while the Audible Voice sounds externally as though a human personality, like a friend, were speaking to you. Since the Still Small Voice is internal, you need to learn how to discern that voice by culturing the atmosphere within you (Revelation 1:10a).
It takes some measure of stillness to perceive the Still Small Voice. This stillness has to be internal, and it almost always has nothing to do with what is happening around you. You can be in a noisy environment, but there is stillness or tranquillity on your inside. In the same vein, you can be in the quietest environment, but the inside of you is so noisy that you cannot hear that voice (Mark 4:37-39).
We are commanded to be still so we can get God’s mind (Psalms 46:10). If you want to perceive God’s voice in the midst of the confusions and chaos around you, you have got to be still. You need to practise stillness and be disciplined about it (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. Take some time to maintain silence before God.
Don’t tie God to a location or circumstances. God may not be in the wind, earthquake, fire, etc. (1 Kings 19:12). He may not even be in quietness. God is where He chooses to be for you per time. All you need is to be accustomed to His voice. Be given to meditation. Be still to hear His voice. SILENT and LISTEN have the same spelling for a reason; you need to be silent to listen (James 1:19).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria