Advent Week 2: How to Hear From God

Advent Reading Plan: Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25

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One thing I’ve always found interesting about the Christmas story in the Bible is how God foretells Jesus’ birth in different ways with both Mary and Joseph.

In Luke 1:26-38, Mary is visited by an angel. The angel told her “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus” (v. 30-31, NIV).

In Matthew 1:18-25  Joseph is given a dream. In that dream, God told him, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (v. 20-21, NIV).

Even though God’s methods of speaking to them were different, Mary and Joseph’s response was the same. They both responded with obedience. By doing so, they experienced the peace that can come from following God’s will. 

There have been times in my life and I wish God would have spoken to me though an audible voice. Even though God hasn’t used an angel to speak to me, I have found five helpful ways that we can use to hear from Him today.

I discuss this in my book, A Leader Worth Imitating. There I explain that five ways God communicates with us today are scripture, prayer, worship, community, and service. 

1. Scripture — The primary way that God speaks to us today is through Scripture. Jesus is the subject of God’s written word (John 5:39). In addition to this, in John’s gospel, he equates Jesus to the Word of God (John 1:1-14). Meaning, Jesus both encompasses and embodies the Word of God. Because of this, when we spend time in scripture, it is as if we are spending time with Him.  
2. Prayer — Simply put, prayer is our way to talk to God. 
3. Worship — In his book, Reflection on the Psalms, C. S. Lewis wrote, “It is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates His presence to men.”  While prayer is our way to talk to God, worship is His way to talk to us. 
4. Community — Matthew 18:20 reads, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (NIV). 
5. Service — In Matthew 25:32-46, Jesus shares the parable of the Sheep and the Goats. Verse 40 reads, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (NIV). Meaning, when we serve those who are in need, it is as if we are serving Jesus. 

While it’s important to consider how God speaks to us, how we respond to Him is even more crucial. When you hear God’s voice through scripture, prayer, worship, community, and service, may your response bring you peace and reflect the same obedience as Mary and Joseph.