Hearing God's Voice

Hearing God’s Voice What does the Holy Spirit sound like? June 2024
Mary Martin
The first of the six good habits mentioned in the pastoral letter “Unleash the Gospel”, is docility to the Holy Spirit. When we offer discipleship workshops and conferences, we often get asked the question: How can I hear God? How do I know it’s really him?

Just to be clear, I’m not sure anyone is 100% sure that it’s God speaking to them, but I do think there are a few ways that you can discern some of those messages you might get from God.

Expect that God will answer.

Be still.

Be consistent.

Know God’s voice.
Read Scripture daily. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is an ignorance of Christ. To help me decide what bible passage to meditate on each day, I use the daily readings from usccb.org. Liturgy of the Hours is another great resource. As you read Scripture, you will notice ways that God the Father speaks in the Old Testament. He speaks to prophets and leaders, and he speaks to regular people, as well. Jesus speaks to people, too. Pay close attention to how Jesus speaks. When he spoke to Nicodemus (John 3: 1-21), he was not condemning. When he stood beside the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), he was not shaming. He lifts people up and gives them hope like when he spoke to the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). Jesus is the good shepherd, and we can know his voice because we are his sheep. As you deepen your relationship with him, especially through reading his word, you will be “tuned in” to his frequency.

Ask.

Discernment. What does that word mean?

Direct but not specific.
St. John Neumann, even in the depth of life’s challenges, wrote that God has a plan for our happiness, and he means to give it to us. (Meditations on Christian Doctrine, 299) Any prophetic word from God or spoken by God through another person, will ring true in your heart like a tuning fork. It will make sense in the deepest part of your soul. It might even be something you’ve never shared with anyone else, even your closest friends. When God reveals it, you may feel surprised or even overwhelmed. “How did he know?” God does not give a laundry list of specifics, but rather helps us move in a direction that takes us closer to him and his plan for us. He often gives us an outline and then invites us to fill in the details.
Watch for fruits.
Saint Catherine of Siena spoke about the world being on fire with God’s love and each of us being a part of that love (The Dialogue by Saint Catherine of Siena). We are made from love and made for love. Sometimes we can get in our own way when we do hear from God, by overthinking or doubting what we heard. If you think God is asking you to move or do something, be obedient. Often God will invite you to do small things, maybe even things that don’t make much sense. Be assured that he will always bless your obedience. When we follow through on what he is asking, he will give us more responsibility. God brings the increase in every situation, so watch for his movement. Pay attention to what he is doing through the gifts and talents he’s given you.

Live in holy indifference with the answers and outcomes.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola talks about living in “holy indifference”, and not being swayed by the ups and downs of life or even our own desires (#23 of The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola). Our own emotions can be a big part of how we hear God. For example, if someone in your family is sick, you may hear that God is going to cure them. Perhaps he is, but it might not be the way we think. We want a physical cure so our loved one gets better, but perhaps God is healing the person spiritually or emotionally in ways we cannot see. Perhaps God is healing strained relationships or using this illness to heal past family hurts. The challenge is keeping our emotions in check when we’re trying to hear God.

Praise God at all times.

Seek Spiritual Guidance

What does this have to do with work?
God is a good Father. He wants to give his children good things. As we live this good habit and open ourselves to hearing God, he will speak into every area of our life, including our work life. Here are a few examples of how we can pray for God to guide our work: What decisions should I make about promotions, travel, work life balance? Who is the person I should include on this project at work? Who do you want me to share my faith story with at work? How can I be a better listener to my colleagues?

Work in progress.
We are all a work in progress.

Read this article and find other resources at utgatwork.org