Learning to Listen: Leading with the Holy Spirit, Not Just Our Voice

Just because a leader is a Christian, just because they go to church and pray, doesn’t always mean they are hearing what the Holy Spirit is telling them. The Holy Spirit speaks to us in many ways throughout our day, but it can take intentional practice to understand what God is saying. God is working in the world at all times, and we are at our most effective as leaders when we understand the work and take the actions that the Spirit is guiding us to take. 

Our prayers say a lot about how we are communicating with God. What is the nature of our prayers? Are we just asking for solutions to our problems? This is not wrong, but indicates where our focus is. What if we explore what God is already doing and ask how we can participate? When our focus is on what God wants and what God sees in those around us, we gain more clarity than when focusing on what we want and what we see. Remember: we work for God, not the other way around! 

We can begin by positioning ourselves to look and listen carefully for ways the Holy Spirit communicates with us. We can ask ourselves simple questions: “What am I not seeing that He wants me to see? What questions does He want me to ask?” In the Bible, Peter positioned himself to listen by praying at midday in some free time before his meal. He listened for the Holy Spirit’s direction in prayer, rather than filling that time with his own needs and questions. Through this time of prayer, Peter learned that Jesus’s message was not just for the Jewish population, but for all. 

God wants to raise us up; He wants us to express His kindness and love to the world, and if we cooperate, we can take part in His beautiful work and help each other see as He sees. 

Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV)

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages, he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

I return to this verse often, especially when struggling with a client. If I feel personal disappointment in my mentee, I can take a step back and ask, “What is God saying about my mentee? What is His perspective?” In this way I can avoid judgement and focus on God’s hopes for this person. 

A tip for more effective listening:

Try deliberately creating a space and time, free from distractions, to experience His love’s warmth and the Holy Spirit’s nudges. For me, walking on the beach without headphones or phone, away from the demands of calls and the needs of others, really lets me focus on what the Holy Spirit is telling me. Find a space to experience God’s presence and align your thoughts with His. I encourage everyone to find the time daily to sit with God, even if it’s only for a few minutes, and then an extended period of time once a week. You might be surprised how much communication between yourself and God can open up when you create an intentional rhythm to pray and listen. 

Begin the conversation by asking, “God, who are we talking to today? Who are you bringing across my path? How can I be present in my conversations? Can you help me to see from your perspective?”

Reflection Questions: 

• What do my prayers say about my relationship with God? 
• Am I making intentional time and space to listen to God? 
• When was the last time I heard a clear message from God, and how did that affect me?

What’s next: How vital is my relationship with God? Take the Health of a Christian Leader Assessment and plan a conversation with a mentor. https://vervelead.com/tools/#profile