I remember clearly the first time I really heard from God personally. I grew up in a Christian home going to church every Sunday and would often “feel” Gods presence but never really heard His voice. I actually didn’t really even know it was something that was possible. I always had a strong intuition and knew without a doubt that God was real but the Bible was a bit boring for me and sometimes prayer seemed a bit sleepy.

I had signed up for a year-long mission trip called “The World Race” and it was during training camp that I first heard God speak to me directly. After one of the afternoon sessions – the leader prayed that we would be baptized by The Holy Spirit. I opened up my hands to receive and didn’t feel anything special but believed that it had happened. That evening during worship, I sat on the floor crying. Crying to God about how my life had turned so drastically away from what I wanted as a little girl. Asking God to heal the deep wounds in my heart. It was then that I heard a still small voice say “I will never leave you.” I then saw a picture of myself sitting with God. There was more that was said, but that is between God and I. However, the words hit a part of my heart that no person could ever really heal. I had read so many self-help books and yet these simple words from the King of Kings launched me into a journey of discovering who I am and who I was created to be.

One of my favorite verses says:

Ephesians 1:11-12 The Message (MSG)
11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

I believe that many of us (Christians and non-Christians) are trying to figure out who we are and what we are meant to do – without Jesus. However, it is in Christ that we find out those things. No wonder so many Christians feel unfulfilled sitting in pews when they don’t hear from God personally regarding the direction of their lives.

One of the 4 life foundations of Salt Churches is that – God desires ALL men to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). As followers of Jesus – our job is to preach the Gospel and make disciples. We need to lead people to Christ and then teach them how to follow Him. One of the core ways to following God is knowing HIS VOICE.

John 10:27 says:
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Many people believe that we are called simply to believe in God, and although that is a good starting point, as the Church we need to help people become FOLLOWERS of Jesus, not just knowers. The scripture says, that even demons believe in God and shudder. (James 2:19).