I often struggle to know what to say when writing a card to someone. I want my words to express what’s in my heart… but that’s not always easy. However, through prayer, I can often discern what God wants me to say to them.
Hearing from God for others is one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone because it conveys his heart and words to them. It loves people by giving them Jesus, encouraging them, and helping them find direction and clarity in the confusion of life.
It blesses you as well, because you have obeyed God to encourage someone and help them to grow in their relationship with Jesus. You are connecting them to Jesus when maybe they can’t at the moment, allowing them to praise Jesus too.
Who Did God Speak to Personally in the Bible?
Biblical figures were people just like you and I, so you shouldn’t think that God can’t speak to you, too. God speaks to us through his word. We see in the Bible that some of the people God spoke personally to are Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2, NIV)
In the New Testament, Jesus came down to Earth and spoke to people. He is God. Today, Jesus speaks to us in many different ways.
When you love God deeply, you draw near to him which allows you to hear from him in prayer, through his word, and in the silence of just listening. Loving God allows you to love yourself and love people by hearing from God for them.
How Does God Speak to Us Today?
God can speak through us if we allow ourselves to be his vessel. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that accomplishes this. You can see this in the book of Acts, when the disciples were empowered with the right words to speak into people’s hearts and they became saved.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV)
You have this power too, through the Holy Spirit. Only he knows the hearts of others and what they really need to hear to keep walking on the path Jesus has for them. Be filled with his words by asking and having faith. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.
Hearing God for Others
If you want to hear from God for others, be confident that God talks to people. We see it in the Bible and he still communicates directly with us today, his people. God spoke to me through another person and it was powerful.
When God speaks, things happen, leading you to take action when you wouldn’t have done so before.
We need to empower others to walk more closely with God, and in his will. Giving people a word from him can help them. Here are 5 ways that can help you hear from God for others.
1. God’s Vessel
Hearing from God for others requires that you are in deep surrender to him, offering yourself to him as a vessel.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1, NIV)
Your heart needs to be humble. You need to be deeply submissive to him, wanting to love others in this way with no other agenda—only wanting his words to come through you. This allows you to lay down your life to be used as a vessel for Jesus.
Your motives are key; they need to be pure. Jesus knows your heart and uses the pure in heart. He uses those who are desperate for him and feel they have nothing to offer—those who truly seek to love others with no other motives but to show his love and be a messenger for him. It needs to be all about him and you giving him all the glory.
When God uses you as a vessel, powerful things happen for his kingdom. Be God’s vessel to hear his words for someone by praying before you talk to them.
2. Let Go of Fear
Fear can stop you from hearing from God. It can make you feel like you are incapable of hearing from him. You need to cast off fear and walk in confidence that you have that ability.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
Fear cripples. When you do feel like you heard from God, fear can make you second guess that, stopping you from giving the word that you heard from God to someone.
The enemy wants this. Cast off fear when you are praying for someone, and the Holy Spirit will speak for you.
3. Let Go of Expectations
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit and allowing yourself to be God’s vessel so the Spirit can speak through you, you need to let go of expectations. Jesus knows what someone needs to hear, not you. He knows how to best love someone. This means surrendering what you think they need to hear and just listening to him.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13, NIV)
Give them his words, thoughts and truth. Pray before you speak to someone that you would let go of your expectations of what you think they need to hear, or you need to say, and just be God’s vessel. Be open to him speaking through you.
4. Don’t Feel Like You Have Something to Offer—Only God Does
When you are seeking to hear from God for someone, know that he is what they need. Don’t be prideful, thinking that your words and thoughts are better. Jesus is solely what we all need. Give them Jesus.
In this posture of humility, you might feel weak… but this is where God moves in powerful ways as you surrender to lean on his power.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)
Relying on God’s strength lets you walk in his power and this posture of humility will allow you to hear from him.
5. Have a Clear, Sound Mind
Sometimes when we are desiring to hear from God for somebody, our thoughts can be skewed. We want them to be healed or to get that new job, or that their relationship will work out. But we have to just be God’s vessel by having a clear mind and not thinking but just listening.
“… for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16, NIV)
Let God direct your mind and give you words (or pictures). His words are what they need. Clear your mind before talking to someone and praying for them so you only hear from God.
Hearing from God for others blesses them so much, and blesses you abundantly also. These 5 ways can help you hear from God for others: be God’s vessel, let go of fear, set aside your expectations, don’t feel like you have something to offer—only God does, and have a clear, sound mind. God’s words are so powerful; everybody needs them.
