As a young believer, I always wondered what some people meant when they said “ God told me…..or the Lord said…..”. Were they faking His voice to appear spiritual? No! I didn’t think so because they said the Lord “ said…” with calmness, peace, and great assurance. Men of God like some mature believers are those who normally use the phrase “ God told me…”.
So my questions were “ How does he speak? Does he speak to everyone? What does a believer have to do to hear the Lord’s voice in this dispensation “. Do you really want to hear His voice? If yes, keep reading expectantly for “ ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set ye free – John 8:32
Rev. Dr Chris Kwakpovwe, publisher of our Daily Manna Devotional says “ after your salvation, the next most important things are your sensitivity and ability to hear from God. I agree with this dear man of God because after salvation if we can’t hear from God, there will be no difference between us and unbelievers. That is why Apostle Paul said in Galatians 4:1 that “ What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.” Yes, until you and I who are “heirs” of salvation deliberately mature and get to the level where we can easily access His voice as believers who own everything because our Father is the owner of everything , we shall still be at the level of a slave (unbeliever) who knows knowing about God’s voice and consequently cannot access it.
Hearing the voice of Yahweh is very important for us because it affects when we should travel, what school to enroll our children in, who to marry, the kind of business or career we should choose among others. The reason why some believers are suffering in some aspects of their lives is because they either heard His voice and disobeyed it or didn’t hear it at all because their spiritual senses are dead. If God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to His friend ( Exodus 33:11), I declare He shall speak to you too in the name of Jesus!
So, why is it that some people don’t hear from God?
Having a good relationship with God is the first key. You can have a relationship with a human being or a spouse through constant communication. You may have to call, text, chat them or better still be with them in person and spend quality time with them. Without this, many relationships are wrecked. God Almighty desires the same relationship with us as His people. Why do you think, God called a mortal like Abraham His friend ( 2 Chronicles 20:7)? Obviously, because of relationship. Do you call someone you have no relationship with a friend? You know the answer! Cultivate this relationship with Jehovah through constant fellowship with Him via prayer and His word. Become a passionate seeker of the Lord, yearn to always be with Him in worship or praises. Don’t only come to God when you need something like some people do. God would not take you seriously and you wouldn’t hear from Him.
Some people devote all their time to movies, family, work or girlfriends or boyfriends but not God. They may not be bad people or unbelievers. They maybe sincere Christians who may be going to church every Sunday or even be working for God at church but still have no personal relationship with Him. Such people can only go to God in prayer when they are about to marry. In prayer, they may ask God to tell them whether it’s His will for them to marry their spouse or not. When they get frustrated at not getting the answers, they now come and put that burden of not hearing from God on their pastors. And you hear them say things like “ What is God saying concerning my partner?”. When shall we grow from being “children of God “ to becoming “ sons of God” for “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” – Romans 8: 14.
The second reason why some people don’t hear from God is because they have “idols” in their hearts. I mean, before such people make up their minds on a particular issue before they start praying. Ezekiel 14:4 says “ Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, thus saith the Lord God, every man of the house of Israel that setteh up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols “. The emphasis here is , He will answer them according to the multitude of the “ idols “ in their hearts.
For instance, due to the nature of our economy here in Ghana, I may take an entrenched position with regard to a country I want to migrate to for greener pastures. Remember, it’s not a location that makes people great but rather the amount of God one carries to a location that makes the difference. Isaac sowed in the land of Philistines despite the famine and reaped plentiful harvest – Genesis 26:12. Without God on your side, you may not do well wherever you find yourself on this planet except you fraternize with another power that also has its rules and regulations that must be obeyed to the letter otherwise serious consequences may be your portion. Besides, it’s not everyone who is destined to be abroad and make it in life.
Having said that, a believer may have already decided to go to say England for greener pastures no matter what may come his way as an obstacle or against God’s will and expect Him to endorse his plan in prayer. God said since such a fellow didn’t come to know his will concerning his imminent trip but rather came for him to approve it, he may be silent or approve it because that’s what such a fellow wants.
Remember, God did the same thing for the Israelites when they decided to have a king like other nations at all costs instead of God Himself ruling them and later they payed for their disobedience. He answered them according to the “idol” in their hearts. Same thing applies to many people who left their countries without hearing from God and only God knows what they are going through where they are now but they can’t tell you. To add injuries to sore, we disturb them by asking them to send us gadgets that they themselves find it so difficult to use and money. Some of these people wished they had never travelled but the harm had already been caused. I’m not against people traveling because others are blessed through it but hear from God before you move. Don’t follow the crowd.
I prophesy upon your life that the voice of the Lord shall show you mercy henceforth in your marital, business quests, finances, the country you should stay in, in the name of Jesus!
Soyez bénis! ( Be blessed)
Dr. David Tobi Ogoudou
Virtuous Living 