Learn and explore the different ways The Lord speaks to His people.
Scripture says, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). The ability to prophesy is possible to those who have tuned their spiritual ears to hear their Master’s voice and have a passionate pursuit to learn how to love like Jesus.
This 10 Day Challenge invites you to step out of your comfort zone and take a leap of faith into hearing God and obeying what you’ve heard. Be assured, this is not a science. This is a relationship with Jesus. We are not in a performance. We are pursuing God personally. You may make mistakes in stepping out in faith to hear God; however, just like a new baby who is taking their first steps, the Father is leaping for joy that you are walking forward, even if you stumble a bit in your effort to grow.
Are you ready to grow in hearing God?! Each of the 10 challenges are set up to help you explore what Scripture says about hearing God’s voice. There is space for you to write in your thoughts, but we would recommend that you grab a journal for this exercise and keep a record of how you succeeded in hearing and what you learned when you may have misinterpreted something. Remember, the same grace that saved you is the same grace that grows you.
Day One: Open My Ears
Verse
“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” – (Jesus) Matthew 11:15
Hear It
Start with a time of prayer and ask God to open your ears to hear and understand. Start with a real and honest conversation with God and express your desire to hear His voice daily and understand how He speaks to you personally. Address any doubts, fears, and insecurities that may be keeping you from this amazing encounter with God. Ask the Lord to help you trust Him deeply and open your spiritual ears.
Do It
Write down your prayer. Then pause, get quiet, and listen.
Reflect
What did you sense as you prayed about hearing The Lord’s voice? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Two: His Word
Verse
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Hear It
Spend 30 minutes in focused study of the Bible. God speaks through His Word, and reading the Holy Scriptures is a fundamental spiritual habit for all who follow Jesus. If you haven’t already started reading the Bible daily, start by reading Psalm 11, Matthew 13-14, and Proverbs 15 today. Then consider using a One Year Study Bible or use the YouVersion Bible app and download the One Year Bible Plan for study.
Do It
Based on what I read today, The Lord taught me to:
Reflect
What did you learn as you listened to God’s voice through Scripture? How are you going to apply what you learned to your life? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Three: My Identity
Verse
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. – Hebrews 4:12
Hear It
Today you are going to allow God to address your innermost thoughts about yourself and your desires. Remember, God is our Father. His voice will be gentle, loving, and filled with passion for a good future through Jesus Christ. As you get quiet and ask Him to speak to you, know that God is wise, pure, and kind. Start by praying, “Lord, search my heart and renew a right spirit in me. What lies or limitations have I believed about myself? Help me to hear Your thoughts about who I am.”
Do It
Based on what I heard today, I am:
Reflect
What did you learn as you listened to God’s voice? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Four: Made For Community
Verse
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27
Hear It
Today, you’ll learn that God’s voice is directional. He is leading you to follow Him into the great adventure of loving God and loving others. Will you ask God to share what’s in His heart for someone else? Take a leap of faith and humbly share what you heard from God for someone else. Remember, God is love, so His voice and thoughts for others will be rooted in love and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22).
Listen tip: Scripture teaches that God speaks to His people in different ways. First, make sure you discern what is God’s voice, your voice, the enemy’s voice, or your emotions. There is a difference. God has spoken to others through visions, pictures, an audible voice, quiet inner-voice, angels, dreams, creation, Scripture, etc. So be alert in all these possibilities.
Do It
Based on what I heard today, I encouraged someone else with these loving words from the Father’s heart:
Reflect
What did you learn about how God speaks to you and through you? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus and how He sees others?
Day Five: Faith For The Future
Verse
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17
Hear It
Today you will learn that hearing God will increase your faith! Today ask the Lord to speak to you about your future and His plans for you. Ask Him to increase your faith to believe for things that may expand your thoughts about who you are and what God wants to do in and through you.
Do It
Based on what I heard today I learned the following about my future in Christ:
Reflect
What did you learn about God’s plan for you? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus and how He sees you?
Day Six: His Goodness
Verse
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” – John 14:26
Hear It
Today, you will see that the Lord will often speak to you through your memory. He helps us by reminding us of how He has spoken to us in the past. In prayer, ask the Lord to remind you of words He’s spoken over your life that you may have forgotten. Ask Him to help you rediscover those faithful truths that may have been abandoned.
Do It
Based on what I heard today, I remember:
Reflect
What did you learn about your history with God? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Seven: Heavenly Wisdom
Verse
Stephen spoke with wisdom and power given by the Holy Spirit. They were not able to say anything against what he said. – Acts 6:10
Hear It
Today we explore wisdom. God is truth and He has promised to give us wisdom if we ask (see James 1:5). Think about a recent situation or issue for which you need God’s wisdom. Get quiet and listen to the still small voice that leads us into all truth.
Do It
Based on what I heard today, I learned:
Reflect
What did you learn through God’s wisdom that you didn’t know before? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Eight: I’m Available
Verse
Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Philip ran up and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”- Acts 8:29-30
Hear It
We see that God’s voice often interrupts our day to ask us to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ. Today is a step of courage. Know that God is with you, and to remain in His love as you ask God to divinely lead you to someone who needs Jesus’ grace. Before you start you day, pray “Lord, today I am available at any moment. If you need me to encourage someone with Your Word, speak to me in the moment and I will go.”
Do It
Based on what I heard today, I experienced the following:
Reflect
What did you learn about the voice of God? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Nine: Dreams & Visions
Verse
At this time Peter went up on the roof to pray… he saw in a dream things God wanted him to see. – Acts 10:9-10
Hear It
Let’s further explore new ways that the Lord may want to speak to you. Often, we get comfortable with a way the Lord speaks to us so we don’t expand our faith to hear God in new ways. Has the Lord ever spoken to you in a dream, vision, or through a prophetic word from someone else? In prayer, ask the Lord to begin to instruct you with dreams and visions. If a dream already comes to mind, ask the Lord if He is speaking, and what instructions to take next.
Listen Tip: Not all dreams are from God. Usually, are the results of normal deep REM sleep activity. However, other times our dreams or visions can be powerful messages from God with profound and deep meaning. Make sure you test each dream with what you know about Scripture and the nature of God before you consider it (1 Thess. 5:19-22).
Do It
Based on what I learned today, I will:
Reflect
What are your experiences with God’s voice in dreams and visions? Have you experienced a dream or vision from God and how did you know it was from Him? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
Day Ten: Voice of Creation
Verse
I passed by the field of the lazy man, by the grape-vines of the man without understanding. And see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching. “A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands to rest,” and your being poor will come as a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight. – Proverbs 24:30-34
Hear It
Today you will learn to hear God through the things He has made. Creation testifies of the nature and existence of God the Creator, and it is speaking right now. Throughout your day, observe how God’s attributes are speaking through what He has made and listen. What is creation itself teaching you about who God is? What did you hear about God by observing the wonderful things He’s made?
Do It
Based on today, I observed and heard:
Reflect
What did you learn about God’s voice through His creation? What did you experience? How has this changed or deepened your connection with Jesus?
