“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

Many genuinely ask, “How do I hear God?”

That’s a good question. There are many voices out there purporting to be God’s voice. You have a plethora of preachers. They are on TV, on social media, online. There are all kinds of books.

How are you supposed to know what God is saying?

This is a legitimate question. And we will get to answering this question. But before we answer this question, I want to make sure we are asking the same question.

There are some who ask, “How do I hear God?” and what they mean is which one of these different preachers and books are going to say something I am agreeable to? You know something that makes me feel good without asking me to do a bunch of stuff, or God forbid, ask me to give stuff up!

If this is you, I encourage you to ask a different question. Instead of asking “How do I hear God?” you really need to ask yourself, “Will I obey God?” Because until you are ready to obey God it doesn’t matter what God says.

If we are legitimately wondering how we can discern God’s voice amongst all the noise?

We are a people of the Book. The always “go to” answer is God’s word. We turn to God’s word. You want to hear from God? Read his word. AND, most importantly, obey God’s word.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

But be transformed…

It is absolutely true that God invites all sinners to come to him just as we are. If God expected us to be better or holy or more Christ-like before coming to him, no one would qualify.

It is absolutely true that everyone is invited to come to Jesus just as they are. BUT no one is allowed to stay as they are.

Once we come to Jesus and are forgiven from sin and declared righteous as God’s sons and daughters, it would be ludicrous to stay in the same condition that we showed up. It would be ludicrous to remain the same ol’ sinner.

NO! We are called to refrain from “conforming to the pattern of this world.” Instead, God calls us to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” And when we are transformed by renewing our minds according to God’s word, we are able “to test and approve what God’s will is – his good and pleasing and perfect will.”

Yes. Everyone is invited to come to Jesus just as they are. BUT no one is allowed to stay just as they are. Everyone who is forgiven is called to be changed by God’s renewing word.