First, ask!“[Jesus said] ‘Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.’” (Rev. 3:20) Ask Jesus Christ to transform your mind, to help you to become the person He created you to be.
Take Time. Breathe deeply. “Be still and know that I am God.” Quiet your spirit before God. Relax physically and mentally. Wait receptively. Find a place and time where you can be alone, and stay quiet and uninterrupted. Early morning is the best time for many people, but whatever works for you. Be quiet, don’t try to force it when you listen to God. And don’t get frustrated if you find yourself thinking about the grocery list for the 3rd time in 2 minutes. God understands. Just relax. Be still. Turn your attention to Him again.
If a word or phrase comes, ask again. “Is this what you are saying to me, Lord?” It may sound nonsensical like “Rik rak!” That probably is your imagination! So ask again and just relax. Or it may be a word that you don’t quite understand yet like “Heart.” (Example of John Eldridge, hearing “heart” and realizing that it meant the shell he’d built around his heart because of his childhood abandonment.) The word may be a noun like joy, or peace or self-discipline. God wants you to work with Him on these things. The word could be verbs like stay home today or call your sister. It could also be a verb on God’s part like I love you. The word may also be a verse to read. John 17:3
When you do hear from God, DO IT. Do what He said, including entering a period of waiting. Keep watching and listening for further guidance along the way. It may be a quality He wants you to have, a truth He wants you to know, an action He wants you to take, or a verse to read and ponder. And always check the words by Scripture in case your imagination is getting silly!
Record what you heard. Keep a journal with you. It can be paper and pen or on a computer. When you hear God, then write down what He told you. You are not quite done yet – you still need to do discernment on what you heard – but you really don’t want to hear from the God of the Universe and then forget what He said. Not good.
First, ask! “[Jesus said] ‘Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.’” (Rev. 3:20) Ask Jesus Christ to transform your mind, to help you to become the person He created you to be.