Learning to Trust God’s Voice

One question I get asked often is, "How can I hear the voice of God?" Honestly, I’ve asked that question many times myself. There are moments when we look back on decisions we’ve made and think, “I could have made better choices if I had God’s guidance.”

While we cannot change the consequences of poor decisions in the past, we can choose to make better decisions moving forward.

So, how do you train your ear and heart to hear God's voice?

Notice I didn’t say know God’s voice; I said hear God’s voice, and that choice of wording is intentional.

Why “Hear” Instead of “Know”?

The reason for using “hear” instead of “know” is rooted in three truths:

1. You are a child of God.

2. You are His sheep.

3. You have the Spirit of God within you.

Let’s break each of these points down:

1. You Are a Child of God

The Bible assures us of this in 2 Corinthians 6:18:

“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.”

Think about that—the Creator of the universe calls you His daughter or son. How amazing is that?

1 John 3:1 emphasizes this further:

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.”

You and I are children of the Most High God. This means He desires a personal and loving relationship with us, just like any good father does.

2. You Are His Sheep

Ezekiel 34:31 tells us:

“You are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord.”

Jesus further explains this relationship in John 10:27:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Just as you recognize your earthly father’s voice because you’ve been familiar with it since childhood, you can train your ears and heart to recognize your Heavenly Father’s voice.

3. You Have the Spirit of God Within You

Once you accept Christ, God places His Spirit within you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says:

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

Ezekiel 36:27 confirms:

“I will put My Spirit within you.”

When we bring these three truths together, it becomes clear that hearing God’s voice should come naturally to every child of God.

Learning to Trust God’s Voice

Just as a child learns to recognize their father’s voice, we, too, must learn to trust and follow God’s leading. Many times, God speaks to us, but we second-guess ourselves, thinking, “How do I know it’s not just my mind?”

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:16:

“We have the mind of Christ.”

This means that as believers, the Spirit of God within us helps guide our thoughts and decisions.

Training Your Ear to Hear God

To hear God’s voice more clearly, start by obeying Him in small, daily prompts:

• Resist negative reactions: Choose not to respond to every negative action or word thrown your way.

• Follow His nudges: Read your Bible when you feel prompted or pray when you sense a strong urge.

As you practice obeying these small nudges, God will become more specific and detailed in guiding you through bigger decisions in life.

Practical Reminder

Remember, the Spirit of God within you is not “random” or “just my mind speaking.” If what you’re hearing aligns with God’s Word and doesn’t go against His will, it is likely the Spirit of God speaking to you.

Start Today

Be intentional today about promptly obeying the direction of that voice or nudge you sense throughout the day. As you do this daily, you’ll notice that God becomes more direct, louder, and precise in giving you directions for your life.