Praying With Eyes Wide OpenSample

Make a Decision

John 10:1-5

Jesus assures us that he calls us by name, he leads us, and we can recognize his voice. Hearing the voice of our Good Shepherd should be normative, not a rare exception.

So today I invite you to make a decision to listen for the voice of God. You can develop a holy habit of hearing the voice of the Shepherd if you will be serious and intentional about this part of your spiritual life:

Sit, kneel, stand, lie down, or take a walk in a quiet setting. Find a posture and a place that help you seek God. Remove distractions. Wait on the Lord and keep your heart open.

Invite God to speak. Declare to him that you want to be ready to follow where he leads. Commit to do all you can, with his power leading you, to follow him.

Identify the source. If you feel that you hear something, ask yourself, “Where is this coming from?” If you suspect it is coming from your own mind or from the enemy, set this message aside. But if you think what you are hearing is from the Lord, move to the next step.

Test it against Scripture. The Holy Spirit of God will never lead a child of God to act in a way that is against what is revealed in the Bible.

Take note of God’s peace. God is Sovereign Lord over all things, and when he is present, his peace is nearby.

Get wisdom in community. Ask for confirmation and wisdom from godly men and women and invite them into a process of praying for and with you.

Submit and obey. This may be a call to repentance, a direction for an important life decision, or a direction toward serving, giving, or reaching out to someone.

Learn to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. As time passes, you will discover that you are hearing his voice with increasing clarity and confidence.

Follow this step-by-step process as you seek to hear the voice of your loving Shepherd in your prayer time today.