Listening to God Bible Verses: Hearing God’s Voice in Prayer
Have you ever been desperate to hear God’s voice and wish the Lord would speak to you audibly? Discover how these listening to God Bible verses can help you be still in God’s presence so you can hear when the Lord is speaking to you.
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In the Old Testament, we read the story of a little boy named Samuel who served God in the temple. One night as he lay sleeping in his bed, he heard the voice of the Lord calling his name. His mentor, Eli, told young Samuel to respond, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if God spoke to us like that? What if we could hear His voice and know His will for our lives? The truth is, even though God doesn’t speak to us in an audible voice, we can hear the voice of God speaking to us in prayer.
God has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and give us peace and comfort when we need it. But how can we know exactly what He’s saying, and how can we discern God’s voice in all the noise?
What Does the Bible Say About Listening to God?
As Christians, we believe that God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and through prayer. But what does the Bible say about actively listening to God?
In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
This verse reminds us that as followers of Christ, we should be attuned to God’s voice and ready to follow His will for our lives. But, just listening isn’t enough if we don’t hear.
So, what’s the difference?
In James 1:22-24, we are instructed to not only hear God’s Word but to also put it into practice.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
Imagine if you were headed out the door in the morning, and stopped for a quick look in the mirror. You noticed you had a streak of jelly from your breakfast toast down the side of your face. But instead of grabbing a towel and wiping it clean, you just go about your day, forgetting what you looked like.
The Bible tells us that refusing to act upon what we read in God’s Word and hear from Him during our daily quiet time, is just as foolish as forgetting what we look like in a mirror.
If you speed read 15 chapters of your Bible every morning, but never allow the Word of God to change you from the inside, you will never grow in your faith to become the child of God He desires for you to be.
In order to actively listen to God, we must have a humble and obedient heart. We must be willing to surrender our own desires and plans for our lives, and instead, seek to align ourselves with God’s will.
And we must be willing to let His commands change us to the core and let God refine us in His image. As a child of God, our lives should be marked with the fingerprints of God as He molds us and grows us in His perfect image.
4 Ways God Speaks to You Today
In the Old Testament God spoke to Moses from a burning bush. He whispered to Elisha with a still, small voice. In the New Testament, Jesus came to earth and spoke to His disciples face to face. He spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus through a blinding light.
While God often not speak to us like that anymore, that doesn’t mean we are without His presence. While we may never hear God’s audible voice, there are still various ways that He speaks to His children.
Through His Word.
The Holy Bible is God’s letter to us. His love is written on every page and is part of every story from Adam and Eve to the final Amen in Revelation. Often, we deal with issues that aren’t obviously mentioned in the Bible, so we’re tempted to believe it’s irrelevant to our daily lives.
But the Bible tells us that the Words of God are powerful and eternal. His word is profitable in all things and can give you the help you need.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16
Scripture is our road map through life, in which God guides and grows His children. When we carve out time to study and understand the Bible, we get to know the heart of God and unlock His promises.
Through the Holy Spirit
When Jesus Christ went away, His disciples were heartbroken, believing they would be alone. But Jesus did not leave us here alone in the world. He gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-15
When we allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives, He will lead us and guide us according to God’s will for our lives.
Through Prayer, Fasting, and Listening to God
In the book of Acts, we read the story of Barnabas and Saul, and how God called them to be missionaries. How did they know God was calling them to this service for Him?
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. Acts 13: 1-5
Seek the Lord regularly and carve out time to be still in His perfect presence. He will impress upon your spirit or reveal Himself to you when you spend time in fellowship with Him.
Through Confirmation from Others
As Christians, it’s vital to surround ourselves with trustworthy people of God. Then, when we’re wondering what the will of God is in a certain situation, we can turn to those we trust. We see this concept played out again in the life of Paul.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. (Acts 17:10)
Paul’s life was in danger, and God put wise people in his life who were able to direct him on the right way.
Surround yourself with godly women who follow Jesus and can speak truth into your life.
How to REALLY Listen to God
Are you ready to make listening to God a reality in your life? Here are 5 things you can do every day so that you can be ready to listen when God speaks to you.
- Make morning prayer a priority.
- Spend time being still before Him and spend time in silence, listening for His voice.
- Meditate on Scripture.
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Keep your eyes open the common theme God keeps bringing to your mind and life (a certain Scripture, idea, or thought). God may speak to you by bringing the same thought to mind.
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Use God’s Word as your guide to where God is leading you or how He’s speaking to you. God will never go against Scripture and it’s crucial to use Scripture to discern where He’s leading you.
God doesn’t always speak to us in the way we think He will. It’s vital that we’re always ready to listen, and also to do whatever He tells us to do.
Powerful Bible Verses About Listening to God
Need some inspiration and encouragement directly from God’s Word? The Bible is packed with truths, and here are some powerful reminders about the importance of listening to God.
Old Testament Scriptures About Listening to God
Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Deuteronomy 13:18
When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God.
Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
Psalm 25:4-5
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Job 33:14
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 19:20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
1 Samuel 3:10
And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
Ezekiel 3:10
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
Psalm 85:8
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Deuteronomy 32:1-2
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
Ezekiel 33:30
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord.
Proverbs 22:17
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Isaiah 39:5
Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
Psalm 29:3-4
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Proverbs 20:12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
New Testament Bible Verses About Listening to God
John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
John 10:2-4
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Mark 4:24
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Galatians 3:2
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
How to use truths on prayer to start listening to God’s voice
- Grab this ultimate list of listening for God’s voice Bible verses and use them to pray God’s Word back to Him.
- Write the Scriptures in your prayer journal as a reminder that God IS listening. He cares for you and is working on your behalf, even when you can’t see. Reflect on these verses when you’re struggling to wait on God.
This DIY Prayer Journal Starter Kit is the perfect place to start writing Scripture and praying with confidence.
- Spend time praising the Lord for His goodness, even while you’re waiting for Him to reveal your next steps.
- Stay faithful to the Lord in your season of waiting through service and discipling others. Use this time to study the Bible and draw near to the Lord, even when you don’t know where He’s leading you.
Your next steps for growing your prayer life
Free Prayer Journal Template and War Room Binder Printable