BY: Godfrey Gregg
Hearing God in a Noisy World
In our hyperconnected, constantly buzzing world, silence has become rare and uncomfortable. We fill every moment with noise—music, podcasts, social media, television—rarely sitting in stillness long enough to hear our own thoughts, let alone God's voice.
Yet throughout Scripture, God's most profound revelations often came in quiet moments: to Moses in the wilderness, to Elijah in the gentle whisper, to Mary in her daily routine. God still speaks today, but we must create space to listen.
Listening to God requires intentionality. It means turning off distractions, silencing our devices, and sitting in solitude even when it feels awkward or unproductive by worldly standards. In the beginning, the silence might feel empty. Our minds race with to-do lists and anxieties. This is normal. Persevere.
God speaks through various channels: Scripture that suddenly comes alive with personal meaning, the wise counsel of trusted friends, circumstances that open or close doors, a persistent sense of peace or unease about a decision, nature's beauty, and that still, small voice within. Learning to recognize His voice takes practice and patience.
The key is relationship. Just as we recognize the voices of those we spend time with, we learn to recognize God's voice through consistent communion with Him. Daily prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and meditation train our spiritual ears to distinguish His voice from the noise of our culture, our fears, and our ego.
It's also important to test what we hear. God's voice aligns with Scripture's principles, produces peace rather than anxiety, and is confirmed through multiple sources. He never contradicts His revealed character or asks us to violate biblical truth.
Listening also involves obedience. When God speaks and we consistently ignore or disobey, we dull our spiritual hearing. But when we respond to His prompting—even in small ways—we strengthen our ability to hear Him more clearly.
This week, commit to five minutes of silence daily. Sit with no agenda except to be present with God. Don't worry if nothing dramatic happens. You're building a practice that will transform your spiritual life. In learning to listen, you'll discover that God has been speaking all along—you're simply learning to hear.
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