Jesus puts in plain terms, if you belong to Him, you can hear Him. If you believe the Bible then God speaks to you and with some effort, training and practice you will be able to listen.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
– John 10:27-28
This is a skill that you need to develop over time with practice. The fundamental truth is God loves you, he longs to reach out and talk to you. Even before you received the Holy Spirit, its likely that God would have tried talking to you. Most of the time people can’t differentiate or reject it outright, when God speaks. People often think its their own mind or they encourage thoughts like its impossible for someone as great as the God of the universe to be interested in talking to them.
God thinks you are important enough to talk to you, He loves you enough to care about the tiny details of your life. The problem most of the time is that we are too busy and have no time for God. Many times even when we hear God, we use logic and reason him out saying this is not possible.
At times your sins and your guilt make you feel dirty and unclean, you may feel like you are undeserving of this privilege. Keep in mind, God is willing to forgive you and clean you up. Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for you just so that your sins can be forgiven and you can have a relationship with God.
We make statements similar to “God, I have 5 minutes, you need to talk to me right now and tell me everything I want to know”. Many people do what they want to do, even when they know it is wrong and only when they run into trouble do they think of God. They look at God as a troubleshooter and not a guide. Others ask God for advice but they end up doing what they wanted to anyway. These are some attitudes that God does not appreciate or like to work with.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
– Jeremiah 29:13
God looks at your heart, if you sincerely long for him and want to hear him, he will most certainly answer. Remember for every one step you take towards God, he takes five steps to get closer to you. Throughout the Bible, God has spoken to numerous people in different ways and even today God speaks to millions of people and guides them. God is the same then, now and forever and he is willing to speak to you. Hopefully the point no longer is Is God willing to talk to me? rather Am I willing to listen?
The focus of your spiritual life should be to answer yes to both these questions:
Am I looking forward to hear God with all my heart?
Am I willing to obey him when he speaks to me and guides me?
