Why Is It Essential To Hear God?

My sheep recognize my voice and follow me.” John 10:27 (NLT)

A lot of people think it’s not so important to hear from God. But you should not be satisfied with that attitude. You need to be hearing from God on a daily basis. Why? There are three reasons why it’s absolutely vital for you to be able to hear directly from God.

1. It proves you’re in God’s family. When you are tuned in to God and hear from him, it confirms your relationship. Because God talks to his children. John 10:27 says, “My sheep recognize my voice and follow me” (NLT).
   
   Just as parents talk to all their children, God talks to all of his kids. He doesn’t just single out the pastors or the missionaries, or those who have been Christians the longest. He talks to all believers, whether they are mature or immature.
   
   And just as children recognize their parents’ voices, we should be able to recognize God’s voice. Now babies don’t instantly know their parents’ voices, but as they grow, they naturally begin to recognize mom or dad’s voice and can hear it anywhere. It’s the same with us. As we grow spiritually, it becomes easier to hear God.
2. It protects you from mistakes. If you listen to God, you’ll make fewer mistakes because you’ll hear him warning you in advance. Proverbs 3:6 says, “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, and everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track” (MSG).
   
   Notice the verse didn’t say just in church; it says, “in everything you do, and everywhere you go.” I couldn’t count the number of times God has saved me from wasting time, wasting money and wasting energy because I listened to him.
3. It produces success in life. This is not the kind of success the world talks about where you’re famous and filthy rich. This is God’s definition of success – being exactly who God made you to be so that your life can have meaning.
   
   “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8 NLT). Did you know that the best pathway for your life is different than the best pathway for someone else’s life? And if you try to follow somebody else’s pathway you’re life will be filled with problems.
   
   God has a customized pathway for you, and if you follow it you will succeed.

by Jon Walker