I’ve been blessed to be a part of YWAM off and on now for over 12 years.  One of YWAM’s major values is hearing the voice of God.  I remember being in my DTS (Discipleship Training School) and learning about hearing God’s voice and thinking it was craziness.  Until our group all waited on the Lord and we all “heard” the same thing.  Why wouldn’t God speak to us?  Jesus tells us that the sheep will know the shepherds voice.

Obviously we have to have checks and balances in place, if it doesn’t align with scripture then we’re not hearing God.  If we submit something to a group of people and they don’t think it’s God then it probably isn’t God.  My goal is not to have this be a a teaching on hearing the voice of God but I should probably put one of those together.

When you get around YWAMers we share testimonies in our daily conversations, things like “I heard God say this and I did this.”  And we don’t even think about it because it’s become natural for us, but it catches others off guard.  I often get questions like, “Wait… you just said you heard God, I don’t hear God, what does God sound like?”

It was mother’s day yesterday.  Jess and I went to grab some food at Mcdonalds because we don’t have anything in the house right now.  (Just blew my cover to my church, since we’re suppose to be doing the Daniel plan… anyway, if you’re reading this and you’re going to judge or comment on the Mcdonalds eating more than what I’m about to write you are welcome to keep your opinionto yourself)

There is always a lady that sits in the same chair in a wheel chair and knits.  I saw one of the workers come back to her and say thank you, I think she had knitted a lei for one of the workers.  I felt the nudge from God that I was suppose to go wish that lady a happy mothers day and give her a hug.   I don’t remember specifically what it sounded like, or how it came into my consciousness.  How do I know that was the voice of God?  Because I don’t come up with ideas like that!  I’m from the east coast, I don’t like talking to people in public much less hugging strangers.

We got up and threw our trash away, I walked past the lady, she didn’t look up and make eye contact.  So I kept moving towards the exit, thinking oh well, must not have been God since she didn’t look up, now I’m just going to leave.  I got convicted, and made myself do it, I handed Jess my soda and asked her to get me a refill and I told her I’m going to go tell this lady happy mothers day.

I walked up to her and said “Hey Aunty, Happy mothers day can I give you a hug?”  (You can call any older lady here aunty)
“Yes.”  She responded starting to tear up

I gave her a hug like they do in Hawaii, kissing the air as you touch your cheek to theirs and said Happy mothers day to her again.  She just looked at me with tears welling up in her eyes and with a bewildered look on her face of disbelief.  I smiled at her and told her to have a good day.

I heard another guy sitting in there who had previously asked Jess if she was single, engaged or married say “that was sweet.”

I asked Jess as we walked to the car, if God stops speaking when we start saying no.  Or if because we start saying no, we can’t hear what He’s saying.

I think a lot of times we have a hard time hearing what God is saying because we don’t really want to hear what He’s asking us to do.

There is risk, and sacrifice involved with following Jesus.  Those things are elemental to the faith.  Jesus took RISKS and SACRIFICED to come to the earth.

I have to cling to the character of God.  To remind myself of His goodness.  To TRUST in His provision for my life.

Everything God asks you to do or not do is in your best interest.  Because HE IS GOOD.

Do  you hear God’s voice?  What has He been saying lately?  Do you ever struggle to do what you feel like He is asking you to do?

Here’s some other recent thoughts on hearing the voice of God.