Listening is an art form. You have to train yourself to learn to listen well. Humans are naturally good at it. We naturally just listen for what we want to hear. And we can hear God's voice if we pay attention. He is speaking and wants each of us to hear Him.
"he said, “Listen to my words:
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams." Numbers 12:6
"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." Matthew 1:20
"For God does speak—now one way, now another--
though no one perceives it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak in their ears
and terrify them with warnings,
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
and keep them from pride,
18 to preserve them from the pit,
their lives from perishing by the sword." Job 33:14-18
To be part of a relationship you have to do your part. You have to communicate. You have to listen.
Have caution -- don't take someone else's words at face value. Do your own research. Speak to God yourself.
"The idols speak deceitfully,
diviners see visions that lie;
they tell dreams that are false,
they give comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd." Zechariah 10:2
"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God." Ecclesiastes 5:7
God can speak to us anyone He wants to. He spoke to Moses the first time thorugh a bush!
Then there was the long silence:
"The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”" 1 Samuel 3:1-4
Silence was in preparation for the next step.
Jesus didn't have to stay around and have a ministry. He did all this so we could have a relationship with Him. God has not changed.
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Malachi 3:6
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
If you aren't hearing from God, you aren't listening.
The more familiar you are with God's voice, the more you will hear Him.
God will speak to us through His word.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a]may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Our Father is speaking to His children.
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
the Word is alive!
He speaks to us intentionally and personally. If you're walking in faithfulness, God will speak. What you fill your world with is what You will focus on.
"Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:23-26
"Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3
The World wants us distrated and following impulses and totally disorganized.
Often, God will speak to us through circumstances.
"or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Give your testimony from the point of weakness. Use discernment and prayer.
"But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults." Psalm 19:12
"Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands." Psalm 119:66
"let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—" Proverb 1:5
Don't take stuff at face value. Do your own research.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
If you ask God a question, give Him time to answer.
Focus on God. Dwell with Him. Listen. He has something to tell you.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10
Are you listening for the Shepherd's voice?