New York Times bestselling Christian author Lysa TerKeurst says that people often wish that God would speak to them but what they really need are "better ears" to hear His answer.
"I don't know about you, but I wish God would just speak to me," she wrote on her website. "Sometimes I just wish the clouds would part, a shining light would drop down from the heavens, and the booming voice of the Almighty would speak. Is that too much to ask?"
But Lysa, author of 16 books such as The Best Yes, Made to Crave, and Unglued, among many others, said that even if God answers in the way His people expected, His people would not really listen.
"The truth, I think, is that God is speaking. We just struggle to listen. And sometimes we mistakenly believe that calling is about listening," she said.
Lysa then said that there are three choices people can make in order to hear God's voice correctly. The first of these is to be still.
"God's call tends to not come in the midst of noise and chaos. It often arrives when we are quiet — late at night or early in the morning or maybe in the middle of the day. Or perhaps, those are just the times when we can hear," she explained.
The next choice is to ask for help. Lysa said that God's call is not personal and she cited several instances in the Bible when community confirmed God's voice - Moses sought the guidance of Aaron and Miriam, and even Jesus had the inner circle on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Lastly, Lysa urged Christians to just say yes. "I know it sounds simplistic, but God will only push us so far when we say no. He is looking for us to invite Him deeper into our lives. Yes, He's calling, but it's up to you to respond," she said.
