Have you ever overheard someone talk about the voices in their head? No, I'm not referring to the genuine and severe mental disorder known as schizophrenia. I'm referring to the usual way most people function and have an internal dialogue with themselves. We all have mixtures of ideas, beliefs, and opinions in the background of our thoughts, and most understand these voices are part of our everyday experiences. A reality that leads to the following Wonderfully Weird Command: Hear God's Voice.
To understand the voices in our heads, we need to know where they come from and how they got there. Generally, these voices come from three places. They come from things we have been taught, those we hang around with, and experiences. Thinking about it gives much potential to gather many voices in our heads. Therefore, Jesus said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (KJV)." – Matthew 11:15. To hear God's voice means we must understand the types of ears people have— physical and spiritual. On one side, most understand the physical ears that give the ability to hear specific sounds. For example, I hear my wife in the other room. Most get this type of ear. However, most Christians struggle with the other side, the spiritual ear, an ear that allows us to "Hear God's Voice."
For the Christian, the spiritual ear is critical to discern the voice of God in our everyday responsibilities. Jesus explained this well in the Gospel (Matthew 13:10-17) when he answered his disciples' question, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He did so because he understood, "My sheep hear my voice (John 10:27)." God can use any voice to call you to salvation; however, to continue hearing His voice, we must learn to listen to Jesus's parables or any teachings he offers.
In the Old Testament, God spoke in many different voices. He spoke through prophets and circumstances and even through military victories and defeats. But, no matter God's chosen voice, it simply communicated His Truth. Nevertheless, when Jesus came, he became the channel or witness of "God the Father" experienced in the Old Testament. The moment The Son of God, Jesus, was baptized and came out of the water, God the Father said, "This is my beloved Son: hear him" (Mark 9:7), commissioning him to be all the voices of God past, present, and future.
To begin discerning God's Voice and the buzz of all the voices in your head and the world, I encourage you to take practical steps to hear His voice. First, pray for wisdom and understanding. Second, take time to read the Bible and learn how to decipher the parables of Jesus. Finally, once a command or teaching is appropriately revealed, get it into your mind and apply it to your daily walk. Doing so will claim the voices in your head and align them with the authentic Voice of God, a Voice that guarantees to lead you to a fulfilled and fruitful life.
with appreciation,