How do you hear God's voice?

Many Christians pray and wonder whether anything comes back. Some wait for a clear sign and don't recognize what they hear.

The pastors, ministers, and coaches here describe something quieter. Kimbra Young calls it less a thunderclap and more learning the tone of someone you're in relationship with. Melissa Crowe and M.T. Clark both describe a still, small voice.

Their answers cover where they listen, how they test what they hear, and what helps them stay quiet long enough to notice.

Who you should listen to

Six voices: the two founders of Elevation Church, a creative theologian, an ordained minister with over 25 years in ministry, and two Christian coaches.

• 

  Steven Furtick · Founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church

  Listen for: Testing an impression against Scripture, wise people, and circumstances.

• 

  Holly Furtick · Co-founder of Elevation Church

  Listen for: Learning God's character so you can recognize his voice.

• 

  Kimbra Young · Lead communicator of The Playground, creative theologian

  Listen for: Watching for what consistently produces love, peace, and obedience.

• 

  Melissa Crowe · Ordained minister with over 25 years in pastoral ministry

  Listen for: Listening after you've finished talking.

• 

  Rosangela Atte · Christian life and brain coach

  Listen for: Dreams, and keeping a journal close.

• 

  M.T. Clark · Certified Christian life coach and prayer minister

  Listen for: Reading the Bible out loud as a daily habit.

What do pastors say about hearing God?

Steven Furtick

Founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church

GRAMMY winner

Why themFounded and leads Elevation Church, and writes and produces GRAMMY Award-winning music.

Steven’s advice: Get quiet enough to listen, and filter everything through Scripture first.

“For me, hearing God's voice starts with learning to be quiet enough to listen, because the way you talk to yourself can drown out what God is saying back. I filter everything through Scripture first, since God's Word is the clearest frequency, and then I pay attention to that inner impression, the wise people around me, and whether circumstances line up.”

Go deeper with Steven

Holly Furtick

Co-founder of Elevation Church

Co-founder, Elevation

Why themFounded Elevation Church with her husband, Steven, in 2006.

Holly’s advice: Learn his voice and character: a good shepherd who speaks with kindness, not shame.

“I used to want God to be my Uber driver, just telling me where to go and what to do, but I've learned I can't get direction from him if I don't take time to learn his voice and character. For me, hearing God starts with filtering everything through who he is: a good shepherd, not the author of confusion, and someone who speaks with kindness, not shame.”

Go deeper with Holly

Kimbra Young

Lead communicator of The Playground, creative theologian

Creative theologian

Why themLead communicator of The Playground, a digital space for people who love Jesus.

Kimbra’s advice: Less a thunderclap, more learning the tone of someone you're in relationship with.

“For me, hearing God's voice is less about a thunderclap and more about learning the tone of the One I’m in relationship with, through Scripture, prayer, wise community, and paying attention to what consistently produces love, peace, and obedience.”

Go deeper with Kimbra

Melissa Crowe

Ordained minister with over 25 years in pastoral ministry

25+ years in ministry

Why themOrdained minister who directed a School of Ministry in Charlotte.

Melissa’s advice: Get alone, worship, and listen after you've talked.

“I hear God most clearly when I get alone, put on worship music, and listen after I’ve talked. He speaks in that still, small voice, and the more I pursue Him, the more distinct it becomes.”

Go deeper with Melissa

Rosangela Atte

Christian life and brain coach

Christian life coach

Why themHelps women renew their minds and break free from limiting beliefs, drawing on Scripture and neuroscience.

Rosangela’s advice: Slow down enough to listen, and keep a journal close.

“I hear Him most clearly when I slow down enough to actually listen: in prayer, in His Word, and especially in dreams when the noise of the day finally stops. I keep journals everywhere because He often speaks when I’m still enough to receive it.”

Go deeper with Rosangela

M.T. Clark

Certified Christian life coach and prayer minister

Christian life coach

Why themFounded MT 4 Christ Community Freedom Ministry and coaches people through recovery in Christ.

M.T.’s advice: Slow down, get honest, and ask him to speak: daily prayer and Scripture read aloud.

“I hear God most clearly when I slow down, get honest, and ask Him to speak. For me it started in that work truck on Aviation Road, and it grew through daily prayer, reading the Bible out loud, and learning to recognize His still, small voice. Dr. Charles Stanley put it well: an open heart, prayer, Scripture, and quiet moments are the conditions for hearing God.”

Go deeper with M.T.

Everyone’s advice at a glance

How to hear God's voice, step by step

1. 1

   Get quiet. Steven Furtick says the way you talk to yourself can drown out what God is saying. Rosangela Atte hears most clearly when she slows down enough to listen.

2. 2

   Start with Scripture. Steven Furtick filters everything through Scripture first. M.T. Clark reads the Bible out loud as part of daily prayer.

3. 3

   Listen after you pray. Melissa Crowe gets alone, puts on worship music, and listens after she has talked.

4. 4

   Learn his character. Holly Furtick filters what she hears through who God is: a good shepherd who speaks with kindness and isn't the author of confusion.

5. 5

   Check it with people you trust. Steven Furtick and Kimbra Young both name wise people around them as part of how they confirm what they hear.

6. 6

   Write it down. Rosangela Atte keeps journals everywhere because she often hears God when she is still.