Happy Valentines Day everyone!!! – I am so sorry the linkup didn’t go live last week, I had been caring for my dad and I forgot to hit publish (YIKES) and by the time I realized it, it was in the evening. It was definitely a FacePalm moment.
Anyway, thanks for linking up each week and I pray you have a blessed day filled with lots of laughter, love, a little bit of chocolate. 🙂
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I spent a great deal of my life trying to connect with God. I kept waiting by the phone for Him to call and by my mailbox waiting for Him to send me an invitation. The truth is the calls had been coming, my phone just wasn’t turned on, and my invitation had already arrived. I simply had to turn on the ringer and RSVP to His invitation.
It may seem strange to some, but most of my growing up years in the church, I didn’t know that God still spoke today. I didn’t understand that God wanted a relationship with a two-way conversation. I didn’t realize that we could speak to God just like we do with our friends or family and that He would respond.
There are many things that can hinder our ability to hear from God. However, the following 8 things listed below are some of the more prominent ones I have found throughout ministry and my own journey to hear from God.
Tweet This8 hinderances to hearing from God
1. Sin
If we have any unconfessed sin in our lives, it is a huge hinderance to hearing the voice of God, because God does not abide sin.
When Jesus bore our sins at Calvary, Matthew 27:46 tells us, “about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Even King David also cried out, in times of trouble, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” (Psalm 22:1 NIV)
If we are having difficulty hearing God’s voice, we need to take an account and see if there is any sin in our lives, remember, God does not abide sin.
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18 – NIV).
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)
2. Misunderstanding/Wrong Teaching
In my own life I had many misunderstandings surrounding hearing from God. Due to previous teachings from the conservative church background I had, I didn’t understand that God still speaks today. I had a view of God that didn’t leave room for Him speaking to me other than pointing out what I was doing wrong. These misunderstandings and wrong teachings actually formed and shaped a paradigm for me to hear from God, or not.
3. Fear
Hearing from God is founded in faith and belief. Fear and faith cannot co-exist, they battle for space within us. If we allow fear to take over then faith gets pushed aside. Faith is from God and fear is from the enemy. In 1 Kings 19 we see how detrimental fear can be to hearing God. Elijah, God’s prophet, had just had an amazing victory, when verse 3 tells us that he became afraid and ran for his life. Fear has a way of distorting truth and eats away at what God is doing in our lives. When we are afraid, it’s difficult to discern whose voice we are hearing making it challenging to hearing from God. We need to have faith that Scripture is true. If we are God’s children, we can hear and know His voice and the voice of another we will not follow.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NIV).
4. Doubt (lack of faith)
Doubt states something about who we think God is. God’s nature is love and His promises are sure. Struggling with doubt reveals our insecurities about either God’s ability, our view of our standing with God or our lack of deserving. Allowing doubt and unbelief into our lives can become a hinderance to hearing God’s voice. When we doubt that God speaks at all, or we doubt that He will speak to us, it creates a blockage in our hearts and minds. If we doubt the truths of God’s word, we need to confess and repent. Ask God for forgiveness and to open our spiritual ears to hear from Him.
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7 NIV).
5. Pride
We are called to be dependent upon God not independent. Pride is sin, plain and simple. It’s a mindset and attitude that says, “I don’t need God,” “I don’t need to hear from Him,” or “I can do it myself.” As you read Samson’s story in Judges 13-16, we see he clearly had pride. Samson was overconfident and determined he didn’t need help from anyone or anything including God, he wanted to do things his way, and often took matters into his own hands.
“As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion'” (Hebrews 3:15 NIV).
6. Distractions/Too Busy
We live in a day and time when life is busy. My to-do list is overflowing with an abundance of items from my personal, profession and ministry life. Society has taught us that “busy” is the new normal. In fact, we can keep ourselves so busy that we don’t have time to spend with God, let alone wait on God. Now throw in distractions like social media, TV, video games and other similar items and there’s so much noise it’s difficult to tune into God’s frequency.
7. Shame
Shame keeps us from accepting our true position as children of God and can be an obstacle to hear from Him. Shame tells us that we don’t measure up and we are not enough. Shame makes us believe God would never speak to us, or we are unworthy, and these feelings can separate us from God. It’s imperative we fight against shame with confession, inner healing and standing on the truth of Scripture.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2 NIV).
8. Listening to others instead of God
We all have been given the Spirt of God. Good friends can confirm and advise, but they can never replace the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, it is all too easy for us to turn to others and ask their opinions and advice before going to God. I’ve been guilty of this very thing myself, have you? A crisis moment occurs, and we go to others first instead of God. We want their council; their opinions and we want them to approach God and hear for us. When this happens, we insert someone else in the middle of our personal relationship with God. God wants to speak to us, He wants us to come directly to Him, unhindered, vulnerable, and available to listen when He speaks.
What delight comes to those who follow God’s ways! They won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat (Psalm 1:1 The Passion Translation).
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
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Debbie Kitterman is a natural born encourager who is on fire for God. She is passionate about equipping individuals, so they can go deeper in the relationship with God, reach their God-potential and claim their Kingdom inheritance. Debbie is a wife, mother, author, pastor, speaker and the founder of “Dare 2 Hear,” a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. Her writing and teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at: www.debbiekitterman.com
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
d2htrainging.com membership site is open, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
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Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
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My Posts: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year & And So Do We! & Know Your Why & Jesus in Us! were featured here:
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I am glad you’re here this week, and I assumed that last week’s snafu had something to do with your caregiving role. Be gentle with yourself in this season–there’s a lot on your plate every day.
Thank you Michele! You did guess correctly in that the caregiving role caused a snafu last week. Thank you for your words of wisdom and grace with the reminder to be gentle with myself in this season. 🙂 Blessings
Number one on your list gets me every time! Thank You Lord for Your mercy and Your on-going grace.
Susan, I think #1 gets us all, but as you put it so well… thank you Lord for your grace and mercy. Blessings
Fear and shame seem to walk in hand in hand, don’t they. Makes me wonder if one is banished that the other one will slither off, too.
Linda, yes, the do tend to hold hands don’t they? You know, I’ve never really thought about it in those terms, but yes, I suppose if one got banished the other one would slither away too. Great visual actually. Thanks for sharing.
I agree that sin keeps us from hearing God. I believe that is the reason we are commanded not to sin – not as a punitive measure, but because we focus on the sin and not on God.
Laurie, such a great point – not as a punitive measure, but because it keeps us from God. Thanks for being here today.
I’m sure at different points I’ve had all 8 of these blockages. I like seeing them listed here so I can watch out for them. Hope you have a great Valentine’s Day too, Debbie. Definitely include that little bit of chocolate. 🙂
Lisa, seeing them listed out sure does help us keep our eyes open for them so they don’t sneak in and surprise us. Thanks, for the Valentine’s Day wishes…. a little chocolate was included today for me too 🙂
Such a great post full of good information today. laurensparks.net
thanks Lauren!
The first part of this post reminds me of a funny thing I did once. (I actually wrote about it a few years ago, too!) Anyway, I was praying as I was driving. It was a great conversation! When I was finished, instead of saying “amen” I automatically reached for the “off” button on my phone! LOL When I realized what I was doing I had a good laugh, and I’m sure God did, too! However, it sure illustrated to me how God hears all our prayers! He is just one call away…
Blessings, Joan
Oh Joan.. LOL this story is funny, but I am sure more people can relate. I can picture God laughing right along with you and shaking His head thinking, I sure do love her….. I love the reminder that God is just one call away… Blessings to you and thanks for sharing your story. It made my day.
Thank you for hosting. I love sharing with your readers and always find inspiration here. Happy Valentine’s! Have a blessed week! #OverTheMoon #ThursdayFavoriteThings
thanks Marilyn. 🙂 SO glad to have you here each week and Valentine’s Day Blessings to you.
Debbie, this post really spoke to me. I also was once confused about how God spoke to us. I thought the only way he spoke was through other people. I am so glad I have since learned the truth. I live by the verse “be still and know that I am with you”. Thank you so much for sharing!
Angela, that is such a great verse. When I get so busy doing and not enough of just being with God, He gently reminds be to BE still and let Him be God. I too used to think God would speak to and through others, I just wasn’t one of them. I am glad that I have since come to know that He speaks to us all. Blessings and thanks for being here today!
Thank you so much for hosting!!! <3
Blessings,
Amy
you are most welcome Amy! Blessings to you as well.
Debbie, this is such a good list. It is so easy to become caught by these and then think “Where is God?” This is a wonderful resource for a spiritual heart checkup.
Thank you Elaine. You are so right, it is all too easy to get caught up in asking where God is in everything. I like that you see this as a great resource for a spiritual heart check Thank you!
Your list is so helpful! Thank you! I hope that all is well with your dad.
Thank you Elizabeth! My dad is doing so much better now and is in a skilled nursing facility to get daily PT & OT. I just talked to him yesterday on the phone and his voice and spirit is strong. Thank you for asking
Very nice list. I am trying to avoid these things. I pray for forgiveness all the time. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thanks Patrick. I too do my best to avoid these things and seek forgiveness. I like to keep short accounts as much as possible. Blessings
Great list! Distractions are probably my biggest challenge. Thanks for the reminder to prayerfully open up my life to Him.
Thanks Amy and you are most welcome for the reminders. Distractions get me too, more than I want to admit 🙂
I think the first three in your list can be intertwined. I remember being a young Christian and scared to spend time with God because He might read my mail. When really, we need to understand that He has so much more to say than convicting us of sin. He is good, and I pray we will desire to hear Him more.
Oh Amen Kelly! and I so can relate with you. I too was scared of spending time with God – afraid of what He might say or how He would point out all my faults, sins and failures. But God isn’t like that at all. Thanks for leaving me a comment over the weekend. blessings