4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

I first learned these 4 keys to hearing God’s voice on an L3 Mastermind Retreat from my friend Andrew Reichert, and it changed my life. Prior to this, God had spoken to me in many ways but primarily through wise counsel, prophets, and callings.

During our spiritual retreat, we got together to discuss ways to hear God and spend time with Him before we went into the woods for hours with only a notepad, writing utensil, Bible, some prompts, and water. Andrew shared these 4 tips he learned from another spiritual mentor, and it changed my life. That day in the woods, God spoke to me in ways I never could have dreamed of. I am sharing them with you so, hopefully, you can experience this intimacy with God.

A disclaimer I want to make is that we are all uniquely designed, and there are many ways for God to interact with you. It’s deeply personal. This is not meant to be prescriptive or legalistic but a tool to help you be still and listen to God.

The 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice That Changed My World

Stillness – Quiet yourself. Slow your breathing. Position yourself to listen.
Vision – Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Spontaneity – Tune into spontaneous words that light up your heart.
Journal – Write down the words you are given in childlike faith.

Let’s Dive Deeper Into the 4 Keys

Stillness

This is hard for me. God did not design me to be still. I probably have undiagnosed ADHD. However, there are ways to calm your mind. The best way I have found, which was taught to me by Andrew when he taught me these 4 keys, is to take a deep breath in through your nose, hold for a second or two, then release slowly from your mouth. Repeat 10–15 times.

As you do, position your body in an open posture. Hands open and turned up. Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing and clear your mind. Once you have peace and calm, proceed to the next part. Feel free to restart this process and take longer if your mind is not calming.

Vision

These first two were the key components for me. Both of these were things I never did before, and I felt uncomfortable trying them. This next part really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Start visualizing Christ, however you picture Him. He may look different every time. The first time I did this, He started massaging my shoulders, and all the cares I had in life melted away. I experienced a communion with God that was like nothing I had ever experienced. This part is what has led to deep conversations with God and clarity on my calling.

Spontaneity

Once you have done the breathing, posturing, and visualized Christ, be open to going in a direction you could never imagine. God seems to never want to answer my pressing questions when I want Him to or as clearly as I wish. I seek God’s answer on issue A, and instead, I get a message about issue Z. Be open to God’s will and not your own.

With this spontaneity, I have found in my visualizations and conversations that Jesus will often go in directions I would never go. He has shown, time and time again, a sense of humor, often when I am angry or worrying. He is loving, builds me up, and hugs me. I do tedious and boring activities that I would normally find mind-numbing with Him, like skipping rocks.

I found myself fishing with Him so much I have grown to love fishing, which I used to find boring and monotonous (see undiagnosed ADHD above). I find myself walking beaches and listening to waves with Him, climbing large mountains that my fear of heights would never let me. And I experience Him the most while hiking Fork Run, a creek in McHenry, Maryland, that has become holy ground for me and the place I first learned these keys and applied them.

The key is to let God drive, not you.

Journal

This part is often an afterthought, especially when I get deep into a conversation with God. It’s important to record what God has spoken so you can reflect and learn. I recommend keeping a log to see patterns.

However, this is also a tool to listen. Sometimes I have trouble hearing from God, and I start writing. I may write out a series of questions or thoughts as I am still seeking Him with the calm and stillness from above. As I talk to God and write, the key is to write whatever comes to mind. Follow the spontaneity above and go wherever He goes. It can seem like schizophrenia if you saw my notes.

What Does God’s Voice Sound Like?

I am often asked, “What does God’s voice sound like?” God speaks all languages, dialects, and accents, and His voice is different to all of us in different ways. The only thing I can say to you is that when He speaks, you will know.

Here are several ways God has spoken to me:

Clear audible voice: I can hear it like it’s external, but it’s internal (think of the movies with a booming voice, although it’s never been booming for me).
Non-audible message: A word or phrase that is placed in your head. It doesn’t feel spoken. You can’t see it. But you know it. Sometimes this can be a whole conversation that just happened—it’s almost like it was downloaded. It’s like it happened in Christos time.
Internal voice: This sounds like when you have a conversation with yourself. Often, I have to question if it’s me or God, but He will make it clear when it’s Him.
Vision that feels like you’re watching a video: Almost like the Ghost of Christmas Past. It can feel like an out-of-body experience.
A side-by-side conversation with Jesus: It feels like a conversation you would have in a dream.
A visual word burned into your head: Like smoke in the sky, similar to The Lion King (though less dramatic).

Waiting for God’s Voice

I was at a recent baseball game with a group of pastors, and one of them made a comment that hit me to the core: “I am at the point in my life where I won’t make a major decision without hearing God’s voice.”

I used to think this was lazy. God calls us to action, right? But it’s taken time for me to realize that every major decision God has spoken clearly—when I’ve been patient enough to listen.

Spending Time with God

I have learned that I am not disciplined enough to do this entire process daily. I may be able to spend time in prayer and read the Bible, but to calm my mind and quiet my heart, I need time to retreat. I found the best way to do this for me is to carve out time in the morning. I can shut the office door or work at home and take a break at the kitchen table.

I also incorporate a quarterly retreat to spend hours with God. I’ve found that nature is like throwing gasoline on the fire for my communication with God. When I’m in nature, God speaks more often, clearer, and louder.

No Proper Way

It’s worth mentioning again that none of this is prescriptive. There are many ways to hear God’s voice. Pray for Him to open your heart and allow you to receive His voice.

There was a skit at church camp that has stuck with me my whole life and changed the way I pray. The point of the skit was not to promote a specific way of praying but to show that prayer is about having a personal relationship with Jesus—not formality or memorization.

Key Takeaway

God loves you, no matter who you are or what you’ve done. He loves you for YOU! He wants to do life with you. He has given you a direct line to Him, so pick up the proverbial phone and listen.

I was struck once while reading about the Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. He was widely known as a man of devout faith who wouldn’t even take a sip of water without thanking God for it. His goal was to reach a point where he couldn’t take a breath without thanking God.

Seek God daily, and you will hear His voice.