My Sheep Hear My Voice

Hearing God is one of the essential factors in developing a personal relationship with Him. There are no special requirements that qualify any of us to hear from God. According to Jesus, we just need to be one of His sheep. In other words the only thing required to hear God is to be born again.

Far too many Christians have more confidence in someone else – like their pastor, father, husband, an intercessor, or spiritual mentor to hear God for them. Depending on others to hear God for us keeps us babes and hinders our growth in Christ. Prophecy is a wonderful gift the Lord has provided the body of Christ. I have received tremendous insight and encouragement from prophetic words given to me over the years. Yet when I am seeking God for direction in my life, I do not sit around waiting for a prophetic word. Neither do I follow prophets around seeking a “word” from God through them for me.

John 10:4 says, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John later goes on to say, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

I am His sheep. I can hear His voice as I seek Him. I usually spend extra time in His Word and pray in the Spirit a lot when I need Him to shine light on my path. The Bible says the entrance of His Word gives light and His Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:130, 105). More often than not, as I am reading the Word a “knowing” comes into my spirit about what to do when I am needing His direction.

He doesn’t normally speak to me in some spectacular way like an audible voice, an angel appearing to me, a dream or vision, or prophetic word from someone. I usually hear His voice through an inner witness, still small voice or inward desire. Many times He has spoken to me through “rhemas” from His Word. These are simply verses from the Word that just seem to jump off the page and speak directly to me.

For example, years ago as I was seeking the Lord about His direction for my life, portions of two verses from Luke chapter one jumped off the page to me. The last part of v. 2 and v. 17 were a “rhema” to me. Coupled together they say, “ministers of the Word…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” That was a “rhema” to me from the Word that the Holy Spirit made alive to me about His purpose for my life and ministry.

In John 10:4 it says “His sheep know His voice.” That means each child of God – you and I – can recognize His voice. The bottom line about hearing from God is that no matter how He speaks to us – whether by a dream, vision, audible voice, prophetic word, “rhema” from the Word, inner witness, etc. – His voice is recognizable.

Whenever I think the Lord impresses me to do something or speaks to me in some way, I always measure those impressions by what I know about Him. How does what I think I am hearing from Him line up with what I know about His Word, His character and nature? How does it affect my relationships with others? Is it more loving or selfish? Does it produce peace in my heart or confusion? Does it produce liberty or bondage?

The more you know Him through His Word, the easier it becomes to distinguish His voice from your emotions. You can hear His voice. You can recognize His voice. Take the time to check out what you are hearing by the Word and godly counsel from others who know God, and He will shine light on His path for your life!