- Bind the voice of the enemy. When you pray, Satan will try to interfere. So, before you start to pray, bind his voice. Do this in the name of Jesus. Then trust the Holy Spirit. He will lead you and guide you into ALL truth. (Matt. 16:19; John 14:26; 15:26,27; 16:13-15; Jas. 4:7,8; 1 Pet. 5:8,9.)
- Submit your own will and reasoning to the Holy Spirit. Your own will and reasoning often get in the way of what the Spirit of the Lord wants to share with you or communicate to you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Ps. 119:104,125; Prov. 3:5; 16:3; 1 Cor. 2.14-16; Jas. 4:7,8.)
- Turn off your own problems. This isn’t always easy, but it is necessary to have proper communication. Concentrating on your own problems forms a “static” that can interfere and bring confusion, causing a mixture of interpretations. (PSs. 37:5; 42:5; 43:5; Prov.3:5; 14:30; Isa. 26:3; Phil. 2:4; 4:6,7; 1 Pet. 5:7.)
- Give your undivided attention to God’s Word. Focus your mind on what He is saying; hearing is passive, while listening is active. This will require mental effort and attention. Satan will fight you on this because the more revelation of God’s Word you have, the more threat you will be to the kingdom of darkness. (Ps. 37:7; Prov.4:4.20,23; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 2 Cor. 10:5.)
- Limit your own talking. After petitioning the Lord, take time to be still and wait upon Him. You do this in the same way you would carry on a conversation with a precious friend. (Num. 9:8; Pss.18:28; 27:14; 31:24; 37:5; Song of Sol. 2:14.)
- Write it down. Listen to your inner thoughts and ideas. The Spirit of the Lord will speak to you through impressions or pictures in the theater of your mind. When this happens, write them down because, with time, there is a tendency to forget. And the Lord might want to add more later. Soon you will begin to see that what you have written fits into a pattern. As you continue to pray and see the answers to your prayers, certain pictures will have a special meaning for you. (Exod. 17:14; Pss. 16:7; 36:8b,9; 37:5; 77:6; Prov. 9:10; 16:3,9; 1 Cor. 2:9-16.)
- Don’t argue mentally. When the Spirit of the Lord speaks, you may tend to argue with yourself and say, That’s just me, or my imagination. But as you check your written notes, God will give you confirmation from previous times with Him, or He could be giving additional “witness” to His future plans. (Isa. 46:10.11; John16:13; 1 Cor. 2.-16; 2 Cor. 13:1b; Phil. 2:5.)
- Wait upon the Lord for the interpretation. Don’t try to figure out impressions when you receive them. Wait upon the timing and wisdom of the Lord (PS. 27:14; 37:7; Prov. 2:6; 16:3; Dan.2:22,23,28,30; John 10:4; Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9.)
- Don’t get ahead of (or lag behind) the Holy Spirit. Often when the Lord shows or tells us something, we get so excited that we run and share it, but the Spirit of the Lord isn’t finished with us yet. Let Him develop the thoughts He gives you; wait until you know He is through. Don’t try to make things happen. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Jer.10:23; I Cor. 4:5a; 2 Cor. 4:6; 2 Pet 3:9a.)
- Be trustworthy. The Lord will share with you just as you share with a friend; He expects the same from you that you expect out of the one with whom you share your personal confidences. The more He can trust you with deep and intimate things, the more He will entrust you to you. (Gen. 18:17-19; Num. 12:7.8 Ps. 25:14; Isa. 45:3.)
- The Holy Spirit speaks through music. Sometimes in the mornings, you wake up with a song in your heart, such as “Only Believe.” Listen to the words; during the day, it could be the very key you will need to build your faith and lead you to victory. (Exod. 15:1; 2 Chron. 20:21,22; PS. 32:7b; 40:3; 42:8; 138:5; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.)
- Pay attention to your dreams. The Lord often speaks in dreams and visions (word pictures). Eventually, these dreams will fit into a pattern, and certain pictures or circumstances will begin to mean something that will help you interpret what you have dreamed. Not all dreams are of God; those that are will stand out and will leave a deeper impression on you. You will be able to remember them beyond just waking up in the morning. Remember to write them down; this is the only way you will be able to recall the details. Even if you don’t understand the dream, write down what you think it means to you. (Job 33:14-16; Dan. 2:19-23; 4:18; 7:1,2.7,13; 9:21.22;10:14,21; Matt. 1:20; 2:1)
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