God Conversations: 7 Days to Hearing God’s VoiceExemplo

Tale of Two Lovers: What is the Key to Hearing God’s Voice?

There are many metaphors in the Bible that describe our relationship with God. They are helpful because they give us a tangible picture of something that is spiritual and invisible. Every image illustrates something distinctive about the relationship. So God is the king and we are his servants, he is the father and we’re his children; he is the shepherd and we are his sheep... 

But the most common analogy used in the Scriptures is the husband-wife relationship. Why is that? The marriage relationship is the most intimate relationship we can experience on earth. This is the image used to describe the way God relates to us—and how we relate to him. 

Knowing God is a real relationship. So hearing his voice is not about perfecting a technique: ‘spend 15 minutes a day,’ ‘take these three steps,’ or ‘use this formula.’ It’s not about getting guidance or having a prophetic dream. Communication happens in the context of a relationship. So if we want to hear from God, it’s the state of our relationship with him that becomes the focus.

In marriage, we promise to commit ourselves to one person, ‘forsaking all others.’ Without a commitment to exclusivity, there can never be true intimacy. Other loves will get in the way of hearing God’s voice. We will interpret what we hear through the filter of our desires and the eyes of our hearts will become blind to what he is showing us. The question is, “Am I willing to hear whatever God says?” I can hear him say ‘yes,’ but can I hear him say ‘no’? 

Sometimes the reason we’re struggling to hear God’s voice is because we haven’t done the last thing he said. Jesus called us to hear his voice and then follow. In the same way that he showed his love to us by laying down his life, he calls us to listen and lay our lives down for him. Once we’ve done what he has said, he will be able to show more of himself to us. 

Reflect: Compare the difference between knowing God as a ‘master’ compared with a spouse. Using the marriage metaphor, what advice would you give someone who is wanting to hear more from God? 

Prayer: Lord thank you for speaking to me. Help me to find the courage to follow.