When was the last time you heard a word from God? When was the last time He communicated to you in a way that you were absolutely certain it was God communicating to you? Has it ever happened? Can it ever happen?

I believe hearing God's voice can be a regular occurrence in your life. Because the Holy Spirit of God lives within us, we can have conversations with God that are as clear as the ones the disciples had with Jesus. Those conversations may be different, but they can be just as clear.

How is that possible? How do we know when we've heard from God?

The Bible is the primary way that God speaks to us today, although He certainly confirms His Word to us through His Spirit, our prayers, and the fellowship of other believers. But there's one condition for our hearing: we must come to His Word in earnest.

Unconditional Love, Conditional Guidance
If you've ever tried to make conversation with someone who won't respond, you eventually quit speaking. It isn't that you don't care, but why waste your breath? God also expects a response from us. But when we hear His Word in honesty and respond to what He has told us, we will hear Him more and more frequently—and clearly. It's a solid, scriptural principle that if you shun the light He gives you, no more comes. But if you respond to the light you have, He'll give more. God is more than willing to reveal Himself and His will if we have ears to hear Him.

God speaks personally, clearly, and specifically if we have met this one condition. It won't be a subjective voice that causes you to wonder where it came from or what it means. He will speak to you about your life, your relationships, your work, your future, His plan for you, and your dreams—if you come prepared to follow His lead.

But the question remains: how does He speak? Exactly how can you have this honest, actual relationship with an invisible Jesus who will communicate with you and let you know His will?

I believe there are three approaches to the Bible that we need to take: (1) come to it as a love letter; (2) come to it as an instruction manual; and (3) come to it as a road map.

The Love Letter
Years ago, my wife and I were going through a difficult time. We had conversation after conversation, and still weren't quite seeing each other's point of view clearly. One day she wrote me a letter that explained how she really felt about the issues in our relationship. I carried it in my briefcase for years.

Why did I do that? Because that letter conveyed her heart. I didn't just want to read it, I wanted to savor it and drink it in. I wanted to understand the motivations behind the things she said, to be touched by every nuance of every sentiment. So I carried it with me to many cities and continents to read over and over again. Whenever I thought about our relationship, I could pull it out and remind myself of what she felt. That letter was more than just words; it was the heart of the woman I married.

If we want to hear God's voice, we need to read His Word like a love letter—not just study it systematically to get through our daily devotions. There may be times when we read the Bible out of obligation, but if you are really seeking the heart behind the words, the sense of obligation vanishes and the joy of relationship begins. You'll recognize His Word as a note of love from a God who wants to draw you closer.

The Instruction Manual
I have a friend who used to let me borrow his mountain home on occasion. With a large window overlooking a beautiful lake, it was the greatest place in the world to get refreshed. The only problem is that the home was built in stages on three or four different levels, and to turn on the water you practically needed a Ph.D.

There was an instruction sheet on the refrigerator for visitors to turn on the water. I normally don't read directions—I don't even like them—but I had to follow these to the letter. If you don't have water, you can't cook, eat, use the bathroom, do the laundry, and a whole lot of other important things. These instructions were not exciting reading, but they were necessary.