Overcoming Mental Barriers to Hearing God's Voice

In summary of James 1:21 it says, “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”

Bottom Line:

Put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. In gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, it has the power to save.

What this means to me:

I am to get rid of every evil, immoral, and wicked conduct in my life. Then with humility submit to and accept his word that he plants in my heart.  With his word, my life can be so much more.  However, in order to receive his word I must position myself correctly so that I can properly hear God speak.  Often I do not give God a chance to talk to me.  I pre-make up my mind to do what I want to do and not what God would want me to do.  I harden my heart and become unwilling to listen.  When I’m closed like this, he’ll not talk to me.  In general there are three mental barriers that will close me off from hearing God’s message.

. Pride - I think I don’t need God and want to handle things myself.  In this case I’m not open to listening for him to speak. Its this pride that keeps me from being open to the possibility that God might want to say something to me.

. Fear - I may not hear God speak because I’m afraid to hear what he has to say.

. Bitterness - If I’m holding on to hurt, resentment, or a grudge, then I’m not going to be able to hear God.  When I’m bitter my heart will be hardened.  Resentment is a self-inflicted wound that allows people from my past to continue to hurt me today.

Ultimately I need to get rid of the bitterness, fear, and pride that keep you from hearing God’s voice and living out his purpose for your life.  James 1:21 says, “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (NLT).  To “Humbly accept” means that I let go of my pride and stop trying to figure it out on my own. Doing this will be the key to opening my mind and heart so that I can hear from the Lord.