"Can You Hear God?"

Jesus went on to say, "I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!" Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed, and his clothing became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly process could ever make it. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. "Teacher, this is wonderful!" Peter exclaimed. "We will make three shrines – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He didn't really know what to say, for they were all terribly afraid. Then a cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly they looked around, and Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them. (Mark 9:1-8 NLV).

The voice of God came to Jesus at all the great moments of His life. It came at His baptism, when He began the work that God gave Him to do; it came on the Mount of Transfiguration, as He again affirmed taking the way that led to Jerusalem and the cross; and, it came when the human part of Him needed the strength of the Father to face the ordeal of the cross. The voice of God comes to us also. However, for many it is very difficult to hear His voice. Let me make some practical suggestions today to help you hear God’s voice clearly.

 Don't go for the quick fix. Your relationship with God is the key to hearing when God speaks to you. The object of prayer is intimacy with God, not quick answers. Over time you will know His voice. The sheep know the shepherd's voice because they spend time with him.
 Don't ask unless you're willing to accept God's answers. Don't ask for guidance unless you are prepared to act on it and have a desire to know and do all the will of God. He is always willing to make His purpose known, but He will not show you His will if you are merely considering doing it.
 Don't expect God to shout. Quiet is essential to effective listening. You can't jam your mind with other influences twelve hours a day and expect God to reveal His plans to you during a commercial. Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
 Be aware of unconfessed sin. If you are passively or openly rebelling against God in some area of your life, you are blocking the channel God uses to deliver His messages. Your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).
 Be willing to be God's fool. God gave us common sense and He expects us to use it. Most of the time His will makes sense to our reason and intelligence, but not always. Sometimes His direction cuts across all human reason, and even goes totally contrary to it. When the inner voice of God speaks clearly, obedience may be counted as foolishness in the eyes of the world. But if you are willing to be God's fool, then you will see His power.
 Strike the balance between God and the Bible. God's guidance will never go against scriptural principle. The Bible is a record of God's revelation of Himself to man. His will is expressly revealed in the Scripture. If you look to the Spirit alone for guidance, without the Scripture, you can open yourself up to deception. If you look to circumstances alone, without the Scripture, you can be deceived. You can't see the agreement if you have no time for prayer and Bible study and the only advice you're getting is from nonbelievers.