We are the sheep of God’s pasture. We are entitled to understand God’s voice because He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27
God speaks to us through His Word, however, there are steps in having a good grasp of God’s voice through the Scriptures. These steps are:
i) Reading:
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” – 1 Timothy 4:13 (NIV)
This entails filling our leisure time with the word of God. He said to give attendants to public reading of Scriptures. This means for instance while you are waiting for your flight in the airport, search the Scriptures as others are searching through sports, entertainment, political news etc. As you read, highlight points and verses that minister or blesses you.
ii) Study:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
Study those points you highlighted. Cross check them in other translations and also cross reference across the entire Bible for better understanding. Search for the meaning of Words for better comprehension.
iii) Meditation:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalm 1:2-3
When understanding comes, meditate on it day and night. You may not physically read your Bible everywhere but you can meditate on what you have read everywhere. Think Scriptures instead of thinking problems. The more you meditate, the more you develop and deepen your roots until you begin to bear fruits.
iv) Paint Pictures:
“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.” – Isaiah 2:1
As you meditate, see the reality of what you are pondering over in your own life. If you are meditating on healing, see yourself healthy and back to work. If you meditate on soul conversion Scriptures, see yourself transformed and display moral excellence. If your meditation is on prosperity, see yourself lending and not borrowing.
v) Verbalize:
“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak” – 2 Corinthians 4:13
Make those Scriptures your confession not only during prayers but even in your daily conversation.Do not say one thing in your closet and say another outside out of fear of people. It is better to stay quiet than speak words that are contrary to your conviction. However, it is best to maintain the confession or profession of your faith. The spoken word must precede creation. Before God created man in Genesis 2:7, He first formed man by His spoken word in Genesis 1:26-28.
vi) Act on the word:
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” – James 1:25
Do not just speak but go ahead to act on what you believe. Take steps in line with the word you have stored in your heart. Display actions of love,moral excellence,good health, prosperity based on the persuasions of the word. It is not mechanical effort, the Spirit of God in the word will make you do it by default. Prophet Ezekiel said as the word entered his heart, it set him on his feet (Ezekiel 2:2). This because the Word is Spirit and life. It will make you do what it says when it takes a hold on your heart.
vii) The final result is that your profiting, progress and advancement will be obvious to all. It will spread abroad. But it is a process that starts with reading, studying, meditating, verbalizing etc. – 2 Timothy 4:15