Six Habits of Sheep with Ears

We’ve all heard the stories. Stories told by others of Abba whispering to them, sharing vital information. Stories of how they heard Him warn them. Or how in their darkest hour, He spoke peace and promises to their frightened heart. Stories of Him expressing His deep love to their soul.

And after we heard their story, we sighed and wished we could hear God like that. We wonder what it’s like to hear God with such clarity and assurance. Wonder if it’s possible for everyone to hear God like that – or do you somehow have to be different in order to hear God’s voice so clearly and frequently.

I’ll admit – I’ve been there, wondering if that was possible for me or was that only for the select few. But then I read John 10:3-5 (NLT) The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”…….and I realized: I am a sheep!! And He is calling MY name, speaking to ME! And He would not speak if I could not hear.

So…..what’s the problem? That’s when I began to notice there is in fact something different about those who hear from God. The difference is they have established patterns of behavior in their life that enable them to hear God’s voice clearly and frequently.

So what are the habits you’ll find in the lives of those who hear from Abba?

1. They are intentional. People who hear from God are deliberate – they make time to hear from God. They don’t leave it up to chance. They’re not hoping to catch something on the fly. They don’t just cross their fingers and wish they could hear from God. But they choose to spend time with God and they commit to it. They are devoted to doing what is needed in order to hear His voice. Psalm 27:8 (NLT) My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

2. They listen. During conversations with God, they listen more than they talk. Prayer is not a one-way conversation where we do all the talking. Instead of telling God things they already know, (and God already knows them too) they ask Him to share what only He knows and let God do the talking as they listen. Psalm 85:8 (NLT) I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people.

3. They are students of the Word. People who hear from God are serious about spending time in the Bible. It is a priority with them. They make time for it and are consistent in reading. And they are in no rush. They are not trying to quickly get through it to check off an item on their to-do list or stay on schedule, [see my rant about this here] but they are diligent and thorough, taking time to meditate on it and hide it in their heart. When you increase your time in the Bible, you exponentially increase the frequency in which you hear Him speak and your ability to recognize His voice. Job 23:12 (NLT) I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His words more than daily food.

4. They meditate. They actively engage their mind on thoughts of God; pondering, dwelling, contemplating and thinking about who He is, what He’s done and what He’s said. They slow down their thoughts – refusing to rush through what they read or Truth they’ve learned – and deliberately think, inspect and turn it over and over in their mind. They mentally chew on Truth until they’ve thoroughly devoured it. Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

5. They act on what they hear. People who hear from God act on what they hear. They follow through on God’s words to them. They take it to heart, internalize it and take action. They let what He says to them change them. They implement what they hear into their lives. They are obedient. James 1:22 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

6. They are worshippers. Worship rolls out the red carpet for God’s Presence to invade your life. When we worship, we create a space for Him to occupy – sit – dwell. And those who hear God’s voice hear Him because they have created a place for Him to inhabit through worship. Psalm 22:3 (NLT) Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

I can’t think of anything better than hearing the voice of Abba. And I am convinced that everyone can hear His voice. By incorporating these 6 habits into our life, we’ll find that we create an atmosphere for God to speak into and we’ll recognize His voice.

If you’d like to hear more details about this, click here.