Hearing the Word
photo credit: khrawlings
First and foremost God speaks to us through the Bible, his Word. Anytime we hear from him any other way — directly, through nature, in dreams and vision, through others — we must always put up those words against the Word. His sovereign will are revealed through the Bible and all of our listening must start and end there.
Hearing God through Scripture is the basis of everything else. It is through Word of God that we know Him, that we know what He has done for us. It is through the Word that we learn about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We learn how to live, how and what to believe, what we hope for, who God is. The Word is the touchstone for prayer, decisions, beliefs, and plans. You cannot know God without reading His Word.
Questions
- How often do you read the Bible?
- Do you usually understand what you read?
- Do you ever hear God speaking to you when you read the Bible?
Application
You can hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you through God’s Word. The key is to ask God to reveal His word to you. When you read, slow down and read carefully and prayerfully. A word, phrase or verse will seem to jump out at you. Stop there, re-read it and ask God what He wants to tell you. Write the verse down and revisit it throughout the day. Learn more about lectio divina or “divine reading” here: “Lectio Divina: The Art of Divine Reading” and “Lectio How-To’s.”