Hearing Conference - Saturday: Session 2 - How God Speaks, and Obstacles to Hearing
May 13, 2023      |     By: Norma Donovan      |      Category: Special      |      Location: El Dorado
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Norma teaches about the many ways we can hear the Shepherd’s voice and also some helpful advice on overcoming common obstacles to hearing.

How God Speaks to Us
1. Still small voice
1 Kings 19:11-13a (NIV)
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

2. Dreams / Visions

3. Impressions

4. Word pictures

5. Scriptures highlighted

6. Hearing a phrase

7. Taking shorthand

8. Seeing a ticker tape

Obstacles that Prevent Us from Hearing God’s Voice
1. Distractions

2. Lack of listening & not making it a priority

3. Busyness / Serving God
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

4. Unbelief / Ignorance

5. Woundedness & Unforgiveness
1 John 2:9-11 (NIV)
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

6. Sin (pride, fear of man, rebellion)


Posturing Our Hearts to Hear
1. Childlike faith / Complete trust
2. Humility / Dependence on God
3. Submission to God / Obedience
4. Purity of heart
5. Reverence / Fear of the Lord
6. Make listening a top priority
7. Know your Daddy

Practice sitting still and listening.

Practical Times

Journaling Prompts
- Who do You say I am?
- What do You want to say to me?
- What is Your heart toward me?
- What do You want me to know about You - or myself?
- Ask God for a new name.