Counsel #4 — Hearing God’s Voice

Picture: Counsel #4 — Hearing God’s VoiceCCW 22.1

Have you ever met someone who only ever talked about themselves? Such a friend can never get to know you because they never take the time to listen. Similarly, while God wants us to speak to Him, if we never listen, we won’t actually get to know Him. So, how do we hear God? The most important way is through the Bible. God never contradicts what He has already said. He also speaks to us through the prompting of the Holy Spirit—that still, small voice that convicts us of our sins and opens our minds to understand truth. As with any friendship, the more we listen to God, the more we will hear Him.^{[37]https://adventistreview.org/magazine-article/2011-62/}CCW 22.2

“Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your judgments.” Psalms 119:105 NKJVCCW 22.3

“While living in close connection with God, we shall hear his voice in loving entreaties and warnings… Then whom shall we choose to serve? Shall we make Christ our personal Saviour; study his life and practise; go only where we are sure he leads the way, and where we can keep him by our side as an honored Friend and Counselor? Our heart's desire, breathed out in prayer to God, should be, Abide with me.” Ellen White in Review and Herald, October 27, 1896, par. 12CCW 22.4

Reflect: How do you distinguish between your thoughts and the Holy Spirit's guidance? Can you recall a time you felt God was guiding you? Did it correspond with the Bible?CCW 22.5