But to the ones who don't seem to "hear" from God, they get frustrated as to how easily and frequently others apparently hear from Him.
People often come up to me after one of those meetings where the prophetic is in action and they say things like "I wish I could prophecy," or "hear from God," "like you do." They have the tone of Eeyore the donkey from Winnie-the-Pooh in their voice, a look of empty longing in their eyes and they sound hopeless, as if they have tried and failed repeatedly.
For these folks, the scripture which says that we are God's sheep and we do hear his voice seemingly doesn't apply to them. (John 10) But it does! If you belong to God and if you follow Him, then you can hear His voice!
So what's the problem? There are many explanations for varying cases, but I want to single out the biggest one that will solve most peoples problem in this area.
If you want a Word, then read the Word! Everyone that I know who is authentically prophetic is a student of God's Word and enjoys reading God's Word on a regular basis. Knowing Jesus is the prerequisite and the way to know Him is to study the Word because He IS the Word!
I ask some of these well meaning folks what they do to try and hear from God. Many say that they pray and pray and pray, refusing to get up off their knees until they give up. Others worship and worship and worship, trying so hard to get raptured into a place where they lose themselves so they can finally and hopefully get a word from God. And it is true that many times we get a word from God through fervent prayer and desperate worship, but the fact still remains that if you aren't in the word, not only is this less likely to happen, but you are prone to mistaking other voices or even your own inner selfish voice for the voice of God. Because God will never go against His word and we must measure every prophetic thought against His word to test for validity.
Get a Word from the Word! Get into the Word and study it and enjoy it! Your future depends on it!
Psalm 119:104-106 (NIV)
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
therefore I hate every wrong path.
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws
a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws
1 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV)
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
