Season 11 of NBC’s hit TV series “The Voice” has just begun with the Blind Auditions. While I hope you all tune in (my wife swears she is boycotting this season though. We’ll see if she can resist!) what I’m really wondering is – how are you doing at tuning into the VOICE of God? Would you like to hear the voice of God better? Perhaps, more frequently and clearly?

Three Tips to Hear the Voice of God:

(I’m indebted to author Jack Deere and his incredible book “Surprised by the Voice of God” for these tips)

1.) AVAILIBILITY:

So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.‘” – 1 Samuel 3:9. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Serving as the New York Jets chaplain for the last 7 or 8 years I’ve learned a few things from the coaches and players. One of those things is the greatest ability an NFL star can possess is AVAILABILITY! You can be the most talented and skilled individual on the planet, but if you’re suspended or injured you’re no good to the team. I encourage you to make space throughout the day to check in with the Lord, like Samuel ‘Lord, I’m listening’ honors God and displays an attentiveness that God responds to. Americans check their smartphones anywhere from 45-110 times per day

How often are you checking in with the Lord?

2.) OBEDIENCE

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me” – John 6:38

As a Christian, I’ll bet you hear from God more often then you realize. If I were to ask you, “What is the one thing God is putting his finger on in your life or asking of you?”. I bet you’d know it. We often don’t want to do that ‘one thing’ and so we hope to move onto something else. It’s sad, but true. If we step back and look at it: God has spoken, we choose not to listen, and now we want Him to speak some more? Let’s be obedient with the revealed things of God in our life, and as we do, God will speak further.

Faithful with little, ruler over much.

3.) HUMILITY

But he gives us more grace. That is why scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” – James 4:6

I recall one particularly steamy hot, humid day in NYC awaiting the subway, at the peak of rush hour I began to pray “God let there be room on the next subway car for me to get on” as the subway rolled into the station, packed car after packed car rolled by me and as it came to a slow stop – the car was completely empty (hallelujah!). God’s face was smiling upon me, or so I thought. The subway car doors opened and a stench so strong, so disgusting, hit me in the face. Suddenly it became crystal clear why the car was empty, it STUNK! Pride stinks in the nostrils of God and if you’re full of it, he’ll pass you by. The book of Numbers informs us that Moses was the most humble man on earth and therefore God spoke with him ‘face to face’.

A humble heart is attractive to the Lord.

I hope you find this helpful and continue to grow in hearing the voice of God.

Until next time… This is the VOICE!

(By the way, if you’re curious, the Burt’s are always ‘Team Blake’!)