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Hearing from God

Discovering how to discern the voice of God on GOD TV.

Learning To Discern His Voice

by Sarah Crockett July 1, 2022

Learning to discern the voice of God is a process and a journey. God is always speaking, but are we aware of what He’s saying? There is more than one way to receive a message from God and learn to hear His voice.

Listening to God

When I first got saved, I struggled with knowing if I was hearing a message from God or if I was just making it up. During times of prayer I would ask God a question and immediately hear a response in my voice inside my head. Could hearing a message from God be that easy? I didn’t think so! I decided that I would practice listening so that I could learn when I was hearing God and when I wasn’t.

Each night before I went to bed, I would sit on the floor in the middle of my room and turn out the lights. I would listen for big noises like cars driving by or the music from the bar across the street. Then I would listen for smaller noises until I was able to notice and hear myself breathing. This went on for a week when I realized that I was hearing messages from God the entire time. I realized that I really was hearing His voice!

Be encouraged that hearing a message from God is a lot easier than we often make it. In Jeremiah 33:3 God tells us to “call” and then promises “I will answer you”. In Matthew 21:22 God tells us to “ask” and promises “you will receive”. We can stand on the promises in God’s word, knowing that He promises to speak to us!

How To Hear God’s Voice

Knowing how God is speaking to you is helpful tool for learning to discern a message from God. God is not constrained by time or space; therefore, He can operate and speak to us many different ways. God can speak to us through each of our different senses. It is possible to “hear” a message from God by seeing a picture or feeling an emotion. In other words, it is possible to hear from God without literally hearing from God. Many people are hearing a message from God, but it is through a different sense other than hearing. This often leads to believing the lie that we don’t hear from God when in fact He is speaking to us.

Discerning God’s Voice

Another important thing in learning to discern a message from God is to determine who’s voice you are hearing. There are three possible choices – His, ours, or the enemy. Romans 8:1 teaches us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. If what you are hearing is negative, discouraging, or condemning in any way you can be sure that it isn’t a message from God. A message from God will always line up with His character.

Discovering how to hear a message from God on God TV.

Hearing From God For Others

Prophecy is when you hear a message from God for others. 1 Corinthians 14:1 encourages us to “follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” The gift of prophecy is for the encouragement, strengthening, and comfort of others. Prophecy is hearing the heart of God for a person in that moment. The simplest way to hear a message from God, or prophetic word, for someone else is to ask God “What is Your heart for this person in this moment?” Once God answers it is important to filter what was heard through scripture before giving the word. Releasing a message from God can be a life changing experience for the receiver. Again, it is the way of love (see 1 Corinthians 14:1).

Speak Life

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue. We are created in the image of God; therefore, we have the same ability to create with our words. Declarations are a tool for speaking life into areas in which we would like to grow. Be encouraged. Take up the challenge to to make the declarations below every day for at least one week!

God speaks to me every day.

It is easy to discern the voice of God.

I hear God’s voice clearly for myself and for others.

God’s voice is the loudest voice in my life.

I make time to listen for messages from God.

July 1, 2022 1 comment

Articles

I Once Was Blind But Now I See, Hearing God’s Voice

by John Mathai May 25, 2020

written by John Mathai

I recently had cataract surgery and the results are amazing. I realized that my vision was hazy before, but now it is bright, clear and sharp. The spiritual parallel is that we too were once blind, but when God revealed His salvation we began to see. Now we need to pray for God’s grace to manifest so that many more may see.

The world is blind to their own sinfulness. Only the grace and mercy of God can open blind eyes. Even after our eyes are opened we only see in part. One day we will see wholly when we see Him as He is. As we continue on our journey and listen to His voice we see more clearly. He wants us to know the truth and the truth will set us free. His truth is in His Word. His Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst man. Jesus now is seated in Heaven to help us who continue in our struggles till we join Him in Heaven. Be strong and never give in to the enemy who wants to take us to hell with him.

The Key To Staying Focused

The key to keep steady and focussed is to listen to His voice and follow Him. There are so many voices that demand our attention. Distance yourself from these other voices. Purpose to stay fixed on hearing His voice. Pray in tongues to quicken your spirit and sharpen your senses to God’s voice. When we follow Him we will be at peace. You will know His voice for He says my sheep hear my voice.

There is no restlessness, but resting in Him. Your spirit will say amen to His voice. In this way, other voices will be discerned and rejected. Enjoy waiting on Him and being led by Him. You will go in the background and He will become the foreground. This is our destiny that He should increase and we should decrease. We will become like Him when we see Him as He is.

May 25, 2020 0 comment

the desires of the heart requires love in action

Faith

God Cares About The Desires of Your Heart!

by Carl Wesley Anderson March 13, 2020

written by Carl Wesley Anderson

Sometimes, finding and following the will of God for your life is as easy as following the desires of your heart. After all, who put those desires there in the first place? I love the words of the prophet Nathan to young king David, “And Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you’” (2 Samuel 7:3).

Could it really be as simple as that? Hearing the voice of God is as easy as listening to my heart beat? Yes! In my new book, Love Speaks: 21Ways to Recognize God’s Multi-Faceted Voice and Masterclass eCourse, I share that hearing God’s voice through the desires of your heart is the fifth most common of 21 possible ways to have personal contact with God.

What Are The Desires Of The Heart?

Here’s a simple definition,

“It is the activity of the Holy Spirit inside your heart, first planting seeds of destiny in you, then watering those same seeds and helping you fulfill the plans and purposes He has first placed there. He brings those seeds to full-grown maturity as you joyfully walk out your paths and follow your desires.”

In other words, often times the Spirit guides by your own desires. Sometimes He put those desires there in the first place. And sometimes, almost spontaneously, you make decisions to move forward by faith toward your dreams. And He moves with you. Paul wrote to the Philippians,

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

What Do You Desire the Most?

The Psalmist wrote, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Or as the Passion Translation puts it, “Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life; and He will provide for you what you desire the most.” The key here is maintaining a close relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Delight yourself always in the Presence of the Trinity. Trust that as you have certain desires towards your own calling and gifting, those will fully align themselves with His purpose.

Some People Make Their Living Fishing

Al and Ron Lindner were very special mentors early in my development as a Christian, and they also hired me for my very first job in media. I was a teenage intern at their television studio. They built their lives around one thing – fishing. Yes, I said fishing.

You might not have heard their names. But if you are a fisherman, chances are their magazines, books, seminars, or 45+ years television shows would be familiar to you.

And they were led by the Holy Spirit into this lifetime of fishing success. They wrote a beautiful devotional filled with stories of their lives called, “Reflections at First Light.” In it, Al says, “To tell you the truth, I was relieved after receiving Jesus as Lord of my life that He did not ask me to go into some other endeavor. Here I was in my late thirties, and fishing was the only thing I knew how to do. He graciously allowed me to continue to fish.”

Here is a wonderful video clip where I interviewed Al & Ron, and Al’s comments are incredibly confirming. Have a look,

The Happiest Man In The World

Be encouraged to truly pursue the gifts, talents and callings that the Lord has placed within you! Like Ron said, “If I could make $10,000 a year and work in the sport-fishing industry, I would be the happiest man in the world.”

Well, these two brothers are among the happiest men in the world. And they made their livings by fishing!

So go ahead, follow the desires of your own heart. It could be the voice of God leading you today!

This teaching is adapted from Chapter 3 of my book, Love Speaks and based on some material in the teaching session in my new Love Speaks Masterclass, available now on the GOD TV eLearning Platform.

Enjoy this Preview of the Masterclass eCourse and enroll today!

GOD TV eLearning presents The Love Speaks MASTERCLASS

Watch this video on YouTube

March 13, 2020 0 comment

Faith

The Living Word Speaks Your Name

by Carl Wesley Anderson February 21, 2020

written by Carl Wesley Anderson

When was the last time somebody said your name to you?

Dale Carnegie once declared,

“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

God is all about personally putting your name along with His Living Word to personalize it just for you!

My new book is called, Love Speaks: 21 Ways to Recognize God’s Multi-Faceted Voice. In it, I share that hearing God’s voice through Scripture, through the Living Word, is the second most common of 21 possible ways to have personal contact with God.

I also teach on this topic in my new Love Speaks Masterclass, available now on the GOD TV eLearning Platform.

Let’s define exactly what I mean by the “Living Word.”

A Word From the Word

One of the Greek words that Paul uses for “Word”, as in, “the Word of God” is Rhema. Rhema can best be defined as “the living, breathing, personal and fully applicable Word of God.” The rhema Word of God breathes new life into your spirit, opens your spiritual eyes, and adds fresh illumination from the Word into your spirit.

When Paul writes to the church at Rome he shares this revelation, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (Rhema) of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

He specifically uses the word “Rhema,” and so he’s talking about the power of the “Living Word” to bring growth in faith.

One of my favorite Psalms declares,

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

The poetic psalmist understood a thousand years before the appearance of Jesus the Messiah how important it is that we allow the Living Word of God to speak personally to us. He lightens the darkness around us, like a flickering candle light on the path ahead.

Could it be that Jesus Himself is initiating contact with you through His Word? Is He shouting an answer to your prayers before you call out?

All Scripture is God-breathed, so in its fresh and relevant context it contains power. Real power!

God is Calling Your Name

Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Rev. Billy Graham, shares a story about the simplicity of receiving the Living Word in her book, “Expecting to See Jesus.”

She had felt stretched and weak at this particular retreat. Anne was also the teacher that week!

Anne shares, “The morning of the first day, I opened the Daily Light, a volume of selected Scriptures I have read every day of my life. Here is the way I “heard” those Scriptures that morning,

‘Be strong…and work, for I am with you, Anne,’ says the Lord of Hosts.

“Lord, You mean I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?”

‘Yes, Anne, (Be) strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…the joy of the Lord is your strength.’

The Lord turned to Anne and said, “Go in this might of yours. If God is for you, Anne, who can be against you? Therefore, Anne, you have received mercy, so do not lose heart.”

“As I read those verses, I clearly and distinctly heard my Shepherd speaking to me with a heart filled with compassion, sensitive to the challenge that was facing me and with genuine understanding of my weakness. I was so encouraged and strengthened by His words that I was enabled to carry out my assignment triumphantly.” -Anne Graham Lotz

The Living Word Will Light Your Way!

Wow, how encouraging! Dare to add your own name to some of your most treasured Scriptures that are lighting your way as you journey ahead! The Living Word really does speak your name!

Note: This teaching is adapted from Chapter 2 of my book, Love Speaks, and is based on some material in the teaching session in my new Love Speaks Masterclass. Get the Love Speaks Masterclass today on the GOD TV eLearning Platform.

Here is a preview of the Masterclass e-course…

GOD TV eLearning presents The Love Speaks MASTERCLASS

Watch this video on YouTube

February 21, 2020 0 comment

Articles

A Miracle in Indonesia. Hero Pilot ‘Heard God’s Voice’ And Saved Hundreds

by GOD TV July 16, 2019

written by GOD TV

Many have read about the aviation miracle in Indonesia where a Christian pilot saved 140 passengers lives. The story quickly went viral but it opens up many questions as to why God saves some and not others. How Can We Trust Him When Others are Harmed?

Ultimately God is sovereign and He is always whispering words of wisdom and knowledge to our spirit, but sadly we don’t always hear. But look what happens when we are in communion with Him, and act on that still, small voice within. There is perhaps no better example than this miracle in Indonesia….

Aviation Miracle in Indonesia

On September 28, 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Palu, Indonesia, taking hundreds of lives and wreaking considerable damage to the region. However, in the midst of this, one pilot testified to a miracle that saved his passengers’ lives when he heard God’s audible voice.

Speaking to a church congregation in the nation’s capital, Jakarta, Captain Ricosetta Mafella of Batik Air shared the events that led to him taking off three minutes earlier from Palu Airport than scheduled, thereby saving everyone on board.

The fateful day started off with Captain Mafella feeling uneasy, in fact, he felt so disturbed that he had been singing worship songs during the whole incoming flight to Palu from Ujung Pandang. His Muslim co-pilot even jestingly suggested he could make a CD of worship songs!

“Usually I only hum, but that day I wanted to praise the Lord as best I could,” Captain Mafella shared.

When they arrived in the skies above Palu, the captain heard a voice in his heart telling him to circle again before landing. The airport is surrounded by two mountain ranges and pilots have to be extra careful while landing. For this reason, he was reminded of Psalm 23:4 that says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Fortunately, they landed safely but then he had this feeling that they needed to speed up their stopover. So he let the crew take only a 20-minute break before they departed for Jakarta via Ujung Pandang again. He felt such an urgency inside that he even requested that the aircraft be permitted to leave three minutes ahead of schedule.

After the air traffic controller (Anthonius Gunawan Agung who sadly lost his life) granted him permission for an early take-off, they immediately set off. The captain told the church congregation that he had actually overridden the usual flight procedures and taken over the co-pilot’s role just to speed up their take-off.

He wondered why, but his hand kept on holding on to the lever. His co-pilot looked fearful when he brazenly did this as the plane’s body was strangely swaying left and right. Right then, unbeknownst to them, Palu below them had been hit by an earthquake.

Captain Mafella tried to communicate with the control tower several minutes later but received no response. To his shock, a startling phenomenon was happening below them as he looked down. The seawater beneath was forming a huge hole and the foundation of the seabed could be seen…

When the plane arrived at Ujung Pandang, Captain Mafella heard the news that a tsunami had hit Palu. Moreover, the official in the control tower who he had spoken to, had died shortly after he had guided them through their safe departure.

Our prayers go out to the families

Captain Mafella emphasized how crucial it is to be sensitive to the voice of God. According to his testimony, if he hadn’t taken off three minutes earlier, he would not have been able to save the 140 passengers, because the asphalt on the landing strip was moving up and down like a curtain blowing in the wind.

He concluded his testimony with a vital lesson. He says that whatever happens we must be calm and avoid panic so that we can clearly hear God’s instructions coming to us through the Holy Spirit.

In the midst of this miracle in Indonesia, we can learn a great lesson from the Captain’s testimony. Our prayers continue to go out to the families of all who were affected and who are still rebuilding their lives. We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to comfort them in their grief and that God would provide for all who have lost their homes.

If you are dealing with challenges in your life right now, read Why Does God Allow Suffering by Matt Brown and How to deal with ‘Gethsemane Seasons’ by Michael Rizzo of IHOP-KC

Source: The Elijah Challenge

July 16, 2019 3 comments

Lifestyle

“God Speaks in Many Different Ways. Look for His Fingerprints!”

by Deborah Armin October 14, 2018

written by Deborah Armin

Hearing from God is vital to the Christian walk yet many of us battle to hear clearly from Him. And, how do you even talk to God when you’re angry with Him, grieving the loss of a loved one? These are some of the things GOD TV’s series, Let’s Get Real picks up on.

In the video below a dynamic panel of women – Chris Larkin, Alison Wilson, Marj Rossol, Sue Eldridge consider the question, ‘How do you hear from God?’

“Well I hear and I don’t hear,” says Alison, “Sometimes God just bypasses my brain!” She shares how when she prays for people sometimes she will say something that pops out without her thinking and it’s as if God has bypassed her brain and a Holy Spirit truth comes out. Another way she hears is she gets impressions about a situation.

Let's Get Real - 4 - How do you hear God?

Watch this video on YouTube

Marj gives a very good piece of advice in the art of hearing from God, “If you stay close to God, you say things that are carried by the Holy Spirit. I see pictures too and I think it’s the way God has wired us”.

“God speaks in many different ways. You never know you may just see His fingerprints!”

It’s true, we’re all unique and God has made us so it makes sense that He knows how to communicate with us in a way we can hear from Him.

Chris hears words of knowledge and also gets pictures. Her experience is that you never know when God wants to speak, you just have to be willing and ready.

I’ve found this to be very true, I love to help people and since becoming a Christian I’ve always prayed that the Lord would use me. From a young age I dreamt a lot and had visions, I get impressions of things and just ‘know in my knower’ that the Lord is speaking. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to hear the way someone else does.

Sue points out that God longs to be heard and He is continually speaking, “He’s speaks through creation, He’s speaks through His Word, He speaks through songs, even secular songs. He’s continually wanting to talk”.

Marj says that one of the practices she does is to take time out, quieting herself and just saying, “God show me how You see me!” If its negative it’s not God, but if its good write it down and hang on to it”.

Hearing from God in one’s pain

Esther Scholes joins the show and shares about her incredibly difficult double tragedy. “When you lose people in your life, especially those who know you the most intimately, and then they’re not there anymore, you don’t really have a choice but to turn to the one who knows you even more intimately – the one who has been there the whole time. Tragedy has made me lean on God in a way that I couldn’t have lent on him before”.

Esther offers advice to those supporting someone grieving, “Ask people what they want? Ask if they’ve got enough support around them. Don’t push them”. Esther leaves us with a gem of advice “If you look for it, in the middle of every situation there are blessings, there are I call it ‘His fingerprints’ are all over if you choose to look for it.”

So, what are you waiting for, if you want to hear from God stay close to Him, be open, be willing and remember He speaks in many different ways. You never know you may just see His fingerprints!

October 14, 2018 2 comments

Lifestyle

How I learnt to be a worshipper and how you can too!

by Kylé Adcock April 7, 2018

written by Kylé Adcock

Kylé wrote and performed her first song at nine and hasn’t stopped since. She is a singer/songwriter from South Africa and vocal coach. Most importantly she is a worshipper and loves to lead others into God’s presence.

God has a plan for our lives, but in order to find that perfect place that He wants us to be in, we need to spend time with Him. Sometimes this means stripping away the noise and focusing only on His voice.

The angels worship God all the time and they are His helpers. How much more should we be worshipping God and singing His praises? God loves our worship and as we worship He shows us who we are. IF GOD SAYS IT, HE MEANS IT and He will never leave us or forsake us!

We just need to embrace God’s plan, but it starts with worshipping Him with an open heart and childlike faith. We need to thank God in every circumstance. God honours your worship with childlike faith and gratefulness and His favourite word from us is THANK YOU.

Did you know that God is jealous of his worshippers? (Exodus 20 vs4-5 and Exodus 34v14) He wants us to have nothing standing in the way of us worshipping Him with a whole heart. In fact, it is in this place of abandonment to Him that He will answer your prayers.

You need to trust God as if you already know with childlike expectancy that He is going to do a miracle. This happens when you sing as if you are in the Throne Room of Heaven, standing before God, thanking Him as if it is already done. (But always ensure you are praying His perfect will for your life.)

There can be nothing standing in the way between you and God. Why? Because we serve an awesome God who deserves all the glory, all the praise and all the honour – forever. God wants us to be completely transparent before Him.

How I became a worshipper

In my first blog post I thought I’d share some of my journey of how I started worshipping God. As far back as I can remember, my dad and I used to kneel at my bed every night and pray. I spoke to my Heavenly Father from my heart. My prayers started out as typical children prayers.

Something like this: “Dear God, thank you for daddy, mommy, my sister, my grannies and grandpa. Thank you for a lovely day. Help me at school. Bless all those around me. I love You, Amen.” Of course, they were simple prayers. Prayers that came from my heart and that is something that we should never lose as we journey with God.

Of course, prayer is a key part of our spiritual development, but so is God’s Word. Mom used to teach me scriptures as a child. And my reading at school was so good because I would read from my little Gideon’s Bible that Dad gave me.

Conversations with God

I loved my little Bible. I can remember walking home from school, and I think that’s where my conversations with God started. You see, I wasn’t just praying to God as much as I was talking to God. I would thank God and tell Him how much I loved him.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

I loved the fact that I could talk to God and I knew He was always listening to me. I have kept that innocence with God to this day. I would talk to God about everything. He was forever on my mind. As a child, I discovered the most amazing thing about God, that He gave His only son Jesus, to die for our sins. I took this very seriously. I would constantly thank God and praise Him.

In fact, I don’t remember the exact moment of giving my life to Jesus. I kind of already knew I was His and Jesus was already in my heart. I loved that Jesus could be in my heart cause I had opened the door to my heart. I had let Jesus into my heart. I found this amazing. Imagine Jesus living in my heart. How awesome was this?

I knew that God had a hedge of protection around me and so I always felt safe. I didn’t have many friends in school, so I would spend many lunchtimes talking to God. I would thank Him always. God was not only my God, but my friend, my companion and He had given me Jesus to also be my friend.

As a child, I remember wetting my bed at one point. I knew I’d done something wrong, so I ran outside. When my mother came outside to speak to me about it, I sang her the song, ‘Jesus love me, this I know’, but I replaced the words with Mommy loves me this I know! Well, my mom just laughed and all was forgiven, but the mattress still had to be aired!

I knew my parents loved me and I knew that Jesus was my Saviour and I would thank Jesus all the time for forgiving my sins. I thought this was amazing. I knew God really loved me.

His Song will be with me

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life.“ (Psalm 42:8)

We had a piano in the house and as early as I could remember, I would play random notes and sing. Of course this wasn’t in tune and made no sense. I was singing to God and playing the piano with a smile in my heart and on my face. I am sure God smiled at this. But I am also really sure that’s why my parents sent me to piano lessons.

So when I wrote my first composition at nine years of age, I realised that this was what I was going to do with my life. I was going to write songs and sing. My first love was and is Jesus, and I knew I was called to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Little did I know then, that this would be the beginning of me becoming a worshipper in God’s presence. That I would grow up to write songs, record albums and train worship leaders.

What’s on your heart today?

Do you have hurts, burdens and blocks that have been stopping you from connecting to God? I want to encourage you today, If you feel far from God, Try having a simple conversation with Him.

If you’ve never sung a song to God, then play a note, sing a song, even if it sounds out of tune. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that God see’s your heart. And God has given you an instrument to praise Him with – YOUR VOCAL CORDS!

You were created in the image of God to worship Him, thank Him and give Him all the glory. I encourage you to fall in love with spending special worship times with God. He made you unique for a purpose. That purpose is God’s special imprint on your life. I know how complicated life can get, but God works everything out if we just trust Him.

My prayer for you today is to let the healing begin inside of you by using the power of praise and worship to and for our omnipotent and most awesome God. I pray you let the power of praise and worship elevate you into God’s glory for your life. Amen.

You are His Beloved!

This article was written by Kylé Adcock who is a singer songwriter based in South Africa. She studied singing at Trinity College, London and is a vocal coach at Kylé Music, raising up a new generation of recording artists and worship leaders.

April 7, 2018 0 comment