Hearing God Through the YearSample

Verifying What We Hear

“Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.” Judges 6:39-40 (NIV)

When a thought or idea comes to me that bears the marks of God’s voice, I often write it down for further study. I may also decide to discuss the matter with others, usually without informing them that “God has told me . . .” Or I reconsider the matter by repeating the same process after a short period of time. Remember Gideon and his “one more request.” Remember too that scientists check their results by rerunning experiments. We should be so humble.

I have followed this informal method of verifying what I believe I’ve heard from God in many situations—in university teaching, research and administration; in family and business affairs; in writing and conducting sessions in conferences and seminars. It’s not a formula or legalism, just a way of conversing with God.

PRAYER: Ask God to show you how you might experiment with something you believe he has told you. Write it down or ask God whom you might discuss the matter with.