The ability to communicate by audible speech is a wonderful gift of God. All of us have certain voices the sound of which are especially precious to us. They include our marriage partner, our children, grandchildren, and so on. However, when the voice of one of our loved ones is silenced we suffer a pain far worse and lingering than any physical pain. One poet put it thus: ”But Oh for a touch of the vanished hand and the sound of the voice that is still.”

But when we profess to love the Lord, yet can live for days without listening for His voice in reading Scripture (Numbers 14:22), in meditation on Scripture (Psalm 1:2), in applying appropriate Scripture to our situation (Numbers 14:22), in memorizing Scripture (Psalm 119:11) and so on.  

I recall speaking at a missionary conference in Ecuador and after one preaching session concluded, no one moved, no sound was heard, just a remarkable silence. After a half hour a gentle weeping was heard. One after another of those present quietly stood and went to another missionary and spoke gently.

The sin of gossip, the sin of anger and other sin was confessed. Forgiveness and restoration was soon forthcoming. As one of us said later, “His voice was heard.”

At that conference I was expounding Scripture, and at one of the sessions the Lord suddenly spoke and lives were rerouted into a new direction. No one manipulated the situation, no one there caused the power of the Holy Spirit to be manifest. The Bible was clearly taught and our sovereign God spoke when it pleased Him to reveal Himself in power.

If you are listening for the voice of the Lord concerning some specific matter or are simply wanting to hear the Lord speak, use the above ways and also consider praying the brief prayer of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:10 (NASB) “Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”  Whatever you do, start praying and do not stop praying until your voice is heard and you hear the Lord’s voice in return.