What is spiritual hearing?

Spiritual hearing refers to the ability to hear God’s voice and discern his guidance. It goes beyond physical hearing and involves a spiritual sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual hearing is an important part of deepening our relationship with God and following his will for our lives.

What does the Bible say about spiritual hearing?

The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of spiritual hearing and listening to God’s voice:

• Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). As followers of Christ, we can learn to recognize his voice.
• “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). God promises to guide us if we listen.
• The boy Samuel learned to say “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9). This should be our attitude as we seek to hear from God.
• “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:15). We are meant to respond promptly when God speaks rather than hardening our hearts.

These and other verses make it clear that God speaks and we can develop spiritual ears to hear his voice if we make the effort to listen.

How do we develop spiritual hearing?

Here are some practical tips for growing in your ability to spiritually hear from God:

1. Set aside quiet time to pray and listen. Create space to hear God’s voice apart from life’s distractions.
2. Study the Bible. God often speaks through scripture as we meditate on it.
3. Ask God to help you grow in spiritual hearing. Pray for him to fine-tune your discernment.
4. Pay attention to promptings and impressions during prayer. Does a certain thought or idea seem to stand out?
5. Write down what you sense God speaking to you. Keeping a journal can help you better recognize his voice.
6. Discern the source of words. Be wary of voices that contradict God’s character or Word.
7. Discuss with mature Christians. Wise believers can help you evaluate what you’re hearing.
8. Step out in faith. As you gain experience, trust his voice enough to obey.

The more we make hearing from God a priority, the better we’ll be able to recognize his voice and respond to his guidance.

What are the benefits of spiritual hearing?

There are many positives that come with developing spiritual ears to hear God’s voice:

• Guidance – God promises to guide and direct us if we follow him. Spiritual hearing is key to discerning his personal instructions for our lives.
• Wisdom – Through his word and whisperings, God grants wisdom for decisions and situations when we seek his input.
• Correction – The Holy Spirit lovingly convicts believers of sin and wrong attitudes as we listen to God.
• Encouragement – God knows just what to say to lift our spirits when we’re struggling. His voice comforts and reassures.
• Purpose – Hearing God’s call gives clarity of purpose. Understanding his plans for us gives meaning and direction.
• Intimacy – Two-way communication grows close relationships. Listening connects us more deeply to God.

Learning to spiritually hear is a game-changer in the Christian walk. It catalyzes growth and fuels deeper devotion as we respond to God’s personal voice in our lives.

What are some dangers of focusing too much on spiritual hearing?

While spiritual hearing is important, there are some potential dangers that can arise if it becomes unbalanced:

• Looking for special revelation apart from Scripture – God has given his complete Word already. We should test what we hear against the Bible.
• Elevating subjective voices above clear commands – Fancying we ‘heard’ permission to do something the Bible forbids can lead to rationalizing sin.
• Pride – Thinking we have a special inside track on God’s voice can lead to spiritual snobbery and elitism if we’re not careful.
• Passivity – Overemphasizing hearing can discourage critical thinking and wise action. We need balance between hearing and doing.
• Fantasy – Our own imagination can create impressions we falsely attribute to God. We must test what we hear.
• Division – One person’s supposed ‘revelation’ should not contradict or correct the Bible or disrupt the church community.

In response to these dangers, we need humility, scriptural grounding, and accountability within Christian community as we grow in spiritual hearing.

How can we tell the difference between God’s voice, our thoughts, and the enemy’s voices?

Because spiritual hearing involves subjective discernment, it can be challenging at times to differentiate between voices. Here are some scriptural tests to evaluate what we hear:

• God’s voice will align with the truth of the Bible. If a voice contradicts or twists Scripture, it does not originate with the Spirit of truth (John 16:13).
• The Holy Spirit produces good fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). If hearing a voice results in fear, condemnation, confusion, or immoral urges, it is not from God.
• God’s voice brings a sense of reverent awe for the Lord, not pride or selfish ambition. True prophecy edifies the church and exalts Christ (1 Corinthians 14:3-4).
• The enemy’s voice often tries to plant doubt and unbelief. God’s voice strengthens faith in him and his promises. (Matthew 14:31).
• Ask God for discernment to understand if what we’re hearing lines up with his heart and character as revealed in the Bible.

Learning to apply these scriptural tests takes practice, accountability, prayer, and humility. But doing so can help ensure we accurately discern divine guidance.

Conclusion

Spiritual hearing is a gift intended to help believers intimately know God’s voice and walk closely with him. As we dedicate time listening, God will sharpen our discernment and speak truth into our lives. While potential abuses exist, if we remain grounded in scripture and Christian community, spiritual hearing can enrich our relationship with the Lord. When done rightly, it provides indispensable direction and fuels spiritual vitality as we follow Christ.