Cancer: Encouragement for HealingSample

Day 5—Hearing God’s Voice

Hearing God’s voice will cut through the tumult we can be experiencing to bring us peace, clarity, and guidance like nothing else can. Make no mistake about it; God is always speaking (Deut. 30:11-14). But how can we be confident that we are hearing His voice in either a rhema-word from the Scriptures or a still, small voice or impression we feel upon our hearts that it is genuinely Him talking?

Both Paul and James give us guidance for hearing the Lord. They reveal that God’s voice is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8). His voice brings peace, is gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy, as opposed to every other voice, including the devil, the world, and ourselves, which brings confusion, envy, and self-seeking pursuits (James 3:15-17).

Ask yourself these questions to help determine if the Lord is giving you a rhema or a personal word for your situation:

• Does the passage or what I am sensing strike a chord in my emotions? Does it resonate deep within me? Does it encourage or warm my heart, or do I sense hope or joy? Because even when Jesus speaks difficult-to-hear words, He infuses them with His love.
• Do I feel confusion and a lack of peace, or does this verse or these words encourage and strengthen me in Him?
• Am I receiving greater clarity about my situation that is giving me peace?
• How does the scripture or what I am thinking line up with what Paul and James wrote about hearing God’s voice?
• Is this passage or what I think might be God’s voice so out of alignment with the rest of the Bible that I am manipulative?
• What do my spiritual mentors or pastors sense about what I am reading or thinking about my situation?

Hearing God’s voice takes practice and faith. The next time a scripture touches your heart, or you sense the Lord speaking directly to you, answer the questions above, then apply what you are hearing and trust it. Our faith grows as we exercise stepping out in faith in His Word and the Holy Spirit’s leading (Heb. 5:12-14). The benefit? God’s peace, joy, comfort, and yes, healing overwhelming our lives.