There are centuries and centuries’ worth of evidence to support God making contact with humanity, starting with the Bible and testimonies throughout the history of the Church. We have numerous examples of God speaking and being heard in intimate ways through minds and hearts of believers. However, for something of this caliber to happen today most see as mythical or only intended for a special population.
Fortunately for us, God often ignores the popular opinions and does what is best for humanity regardless! He still speaks today, and many are listening to receive the beautiful treasures of God in their hearts.
I want to review the words of St. Therese who best describes how God can speak to us:
“I know and have experienced that ‘the Kingdom of God is within us,’ that our Master has no need of books or teacher to instruct a soul. The Teacher of teachers instructs without sound of words, and though I have never heard Him speak, yet I know He is within me, always guiding and inspiring me; and just when I need them, lights, hitherto unseen, break in upon me. As a rule, it is not during prayer that this happens, but in the midst of my daily duties.”
This personal testimony helps us to better understand how He speaks, especially for those who remain attached to the understanding that God will only speak to us in an audible voice. St. Therese helps us to discover that God speaks in a variety of ways. Her teaching makes it clear that God can guide our thoughts through new realizations, give us momentary impressions of new knowledge, or lead us through motivating our desires – all within our minds and hearts.
In 1 Corinthians 14, just after St. Paul wrote on the importance of love among the Theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, he spoke of the importance of hearing from God, which He referred to as prophecy.
He says, “Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy.” Prophesy and hearing from God can be used interchangeably. He is saying we need to strive to hear from God.
The Apostle Paul’s words are making it clear to us that God’s speaking to us is essential to the Christian experience. In fact, he even mentions this after explaining how important love is as well. He says that hearing from God without love is worthless (1 For 13:2; 8), but after we have love, he tells us that we should seek to hear from God (1 Cor 14:1).
We have addressed ways to increase our listening to God already in our podcasts and previous blogs and I invite you to check those out. However, it is good to note the first step we should take if we would like to better listen for what God is saying to us : (1) we must believe it’s possible and (2) we must desire it.
God is speaking constantly. It’s up to us to tune in to what He is saying. If we earnestly desire to hear from Him and believe that it is possible, we will begin to hear His tender guidance. Only then can we grow in our friendship with God and discover more of the abundant life He has promised us in John 10:10.
A good thing to keep in mind when we hear from God is everything we hear must agree with what has already been revealed to us through the Bible and the Church. I invite you, as St. John does in 1 John 4, to test everything. This testing can be the topic for future blogs and podcasts, however, start by speaking with a spiritual director or someone you trust.
If you are looking for a program to help you grow in your faith and discover more of God, I invite you to sign up for our 12 week one-on-one mentorship program. You can find out more information here or contact us by phone: (470) 253-0802 or email: emailzenithministries@gmail.com.
