Hearing God Speak to Us, Part 4

St. Augustine was in a friend’s garden one day when he heard a child’s voice saying, “Take and read.” Seeing a Bible on a nearby table, he opened its pages and began reading. Even though he had yet to experience conversion and his heart was far from God, Augustine heard the Lord speaking to him so deeply that his life changed from that moment on.

Unlike any other book every written, the Bible is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Scripture has the power to bring God himself into our lives. Listen, for instance, to Moses as he addresses the Israelites just as they are about to enter the Promised Land. He tells them that the word of God:

. . . is not too hard for you, nor is to too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

How the Lord longs to speak to our hearts and convince us of his love! He can fan a flame in us to love and follow him. His word can bring us wisdom and direction, healing and freedom, far beyond anything we can ask or imagine.

The challenge we often face in reading Scripture is to allow the words on the page to have an impact on how we live. But God has written his words in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). He wants us to believe that every time we seek his voice in Scripture, we will hear him speaking to us in the depths of our hearts. Then our hearts will respond with encouragement, hope, and trust that God is truly with us.

So how do we hear God’s voice today? What can we do to ensure that we come out of our personal prayer or Mass and say with great confidence, “God spoke to me today”?

The key to hearing God speaking to us in Scripture is prayerful reflection. That can sound intimidating, but prayerful reflection simply means the practice of reading, studying, and dwelling prayerfully on a passage from Scripture until we encounter a word or phrase that strikes us. Through those words and their effect on our hearts, God may be speaking to us. Here is a step-by-step guide for reflecting prayerfully on Scripture.

Six Steps for Reading Scripture as the Word of God

1. Calm your mind. The more you focus your attention on God, the easier it will be to hear his voice. Choose a time when you are most alert and a place that is both comfortable and free from distractions.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit, who lives inside you, to reveal to you the Father’s love and Jesus’ plan for your life.
3. Read or listen to the Scripture passage in faith. You might want to use the Mass readings for that day, or perhaps work your way slowly through a gospel or a New Testament letter. Whatever passage you choose, be careful not to make it too long. The goal is not to memorize or examine a part of Scripture but to listen to God speak to your heart. And for that, less is often more. Take your time. Be deliberate and careful in your reading. Do it expectantly. God’s word can change our hearts.
4. Read it over several times until you understand its meaning and feel comfortable with what the verses are saying.
5. Don’t try to force anything. Be still and listen for God’s voice. Listen for an impression that these words make in your heart. Are they stirring you with hope? Are they pointing out an area of darkness that you need to bring into the light of confession? Are they comforting you or encouraging you or filling you with a sense of gratitude and love? Are they moving you to take some kind of action, perhaps by dealing with a bad habit or a difficult situation or a relationship?
6. Make it permanent. Write down the passage of Scripture that spoke to you, or even underline the passage in your Bible. Finally tell a friend about what you have learned.

No matter what God says or how he says it to you, his words will be accompanied by a sense of immediacy and intimacy. This is not something that we can manufacture. It is a gift we can receive only with gratitude, humility, and love.

God loves to speak to the deepest part of our hearts. He loves to reveal his truth, confirm his love, and teach us his ways. May we learn to desire that experience. And may we never tire of listening for his voice and receiving his revelation!

Angela Burrin is the Director, Ministry to Prisoners and Bryan Keilty is the Director, Ministry to Service Men and Women of Partners in Evangelism (http://www.partnersinevangelism.org), a ministry of The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/).

Questions for Reflection/Discussion

• 1. The article tells of how St. Augustine life was changed as he read Scriptures. Do you believe God can speak to you through Scriptures? Why or why not?
• 2. The article goes on to say these words, “How the Lord longs to speak to our hearts and convince us of his love! He can fan a flame in us to love and follow him. His word can bring us wisdom and direction, healing and freedom, far beyond anything we can ask or imagine.” Share a time when God has impacted your life by “speaking” to you through Scriptures, the Word of God.
• 3. What is your understanding of “prayerful reflection” of Scriptures? What has been your experience?
• 4. Over the next few weeks, if you don’t already have a regular time of Scripture reading, try using the “Six Steps for Reading Scripture as the Word of God” to develop one. Even if you read Scripture regularly (preferably every day), experiment with some of the steps described in the article. Share the results at future men’s group meetings.
• 5. At the end of your men’s group meeting, pray for one another that each of you would be faithful to reading Scripture regularly and to “listening for his voice and receiving his revelation.”