5 Ways the Jesus Challenge Helps You Hear God’s Voice More Clearly

Key Takeaways 

✅ The issue is NOT that God’s not speaking; it’s that we’re usually too busy to listen.

✅ God speaks in many ways: through Scripture, prayer, creation, wise counsel, and convictions from the Holy Spirit. 

✅ We often miss Him because we rush, second-guess His Word, or expect a lightning bolt in the sky. 

✅ The Jesus challenge offers a simple, daily rhythm of Scripture reading, walking, and reflection to help you pick up on God’s voice. 

✅ Practice makes recognition easier. Over 40 days of practice, you’ll learn to notice God’s voice speaking ALL throughout your daily life, in times and places you never heard Him before. 

How Do I Recognize God’s Voice in My Daily Life?

This is a question I’ve asked myself more than once in the hubbub of notifications, school events, and forgetting to defrost the chicken. Wouldn’t it be nice if God just sent a text message? 

💬 “Hey Rachel, today I want you to spend some extra time loving on your husband and kids.” 

Maybe you’ve wondered, “Is that God, or just my own thoughts?” 

Or, “What’s the difference between my own emotions and God’s voice?” 

“Do I know the difference between God’s voice and the enemy’s?” 

You’re not alone in asking these questions, and I’m excited to give you a practical, step-by-step path to help you confidently know exactly when, what, and how He’s speaking to you. 

But here’s a truth I want you to chew on: God is already speaking! Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” 

🚨 If that’s true, the issue isn’t that God’s not speaking, it’s that we’re not listening. So I want to ask you, are you taking intentional time to listen? 

The good news is that learning to listen for His voice isn’t complicated or reserved for the “super spiritual” people. You can practice it in small, bite-sized habits every day. 

That’s exactly why I created the Christian virtual walking challenge! It gives you a simple daily rhythm to help you slow down, tune in to His voice, and feel confident that you’re hearing His voice. 👇

Why Does Hearing God’s Voice Seem So Hard?

Okay, let’s just say it like it is: sometimes hearing from God feels impossible. And complicated. And time-consuming. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s wondered, “Am I doing this right?” 🤔

Thankfully, NONE of these things is true. It is NOT hard, complicated, or time-consuming to hear God. But here are some common issues we all struggle with that make hearing God’s voice SEEM distant or unattainable. 

👉 Remember, the true problem is not the lack of Him speaking, but a lack of us listening. 

• Busyness 🌪️

Between the news blaring, phones dinging, and a million to-dos racing around your brain, no wonder you don’t hear God’s gentle voice above all the din! We live in a world that honors busyness, noise, and distraction, so if you don’t leave any margin of quiet to listen intentionally, of course, you won’t hear God and will feel detached from His voice. 

• Neglecting Scripture 🙅

Ouch, right? But it’s true. If you don’t regularly soak in God’s Word, His voice isn’t familiar. If you’re trying to recognize a friend’s voice in a crowd, you’ll only know what it sounds like if you spend time with them. God’s Word is living and active, always speaking, leading, affirming, and convicting. Just by opening your Bible, you expose yourself to His voice! 

• Second-guessing 😓

You’ve probably wondered, “Was that God? Or was I just making stuff up?” Self-doubt creeps in quickly, especially when God seems to lead us into something challenging, unusual, or countercultural. It’s easy to rationalize it away as your own thoughts when in reality, God’s calling you to a deeper, more intimate relationship of dependence. 

• Expecting fireworks 🎉

Wouldn’t it be great if God always directed us with a word in the clouds or a thunderclap from heaven? But the Holy Spirit often speaks through whispers and nudges. Remember Elijah? He expected God’s voice in the wind or the fire, but He spoke in a gentle whisper AFTER it all died down. 

Friend, as difficult as it may seem to hear God’s voice, you CAN learn to recognize it. God does NOT hide Himself from you, and He wants you to hear Him! It thrills His Father-heart for you to desire His voice enough to slow down to listen. 

How Does God Actually Speak? 

God DOES speak. He’s not silent, He’s not distant, and He’s not ignoring you. 

Most of the time, we allow our lives to become so full, cluttered, and noisy (culturally-approved) that we just don’t slow down enough to notice His voice actually speaking. 

But when you know what to look for, you’ll start recognizing His voice speaking in these ways: 

1. Through His Word 📖 

The Bible is the clearest, most reliable way God speaks. Every page is His heart poured out for you. If you’re not in Scripture regularly, you’re missing out on the most obvious, clear direction from God. 

• “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) 

2. Through prayer and the Holy Spirit 🧎

Prayer doesn’t mean you’re the only one talking; it also requires listening. The Holy Spirit guides, comforts, and nudges us to align with God’s truth. The more we make time to listen to the Holy Spirit in your daily life, the more familiar His whispers and nudges become. 

• “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) 

3. Through creation and circumstances 🌿

Have you ever gone on a quiet walk and noticed the beauty of a sunset or the quiet morning breeze? That’s God speaking to your heart through His creation! He also uses circumstances like closed doors, unexpected opportunities, and even interruptions to redirect you and align you with His purpose. 

• "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1) 

4. Through other believers and wise counsel 🗣️

God often uses people in your life to deliver His truth, sometimes through encouragement and sometimes through gentle correction. Wise, godly counsel helps keep your ear tuned in for His voice and helps you discern His direction for you. 

• "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) 

5. Through peace or conviction of the Holy Spirit 🕊️

Have you ever felt an unexplainable peace about a decision, even though it doesn’t make sense? Or a deep conviction that something’s not right? That’s how the Holy Spirit speaks! He sometimes uses our own senses to indicate His leading us and keep us firmly on His path. 

•  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) 

Instead of waiting for a booming thundercloud, God’s inviting you to tune into His everyday nudges. The more you prioritize listening, the more familiar you become with your Shepherd’s voice. And the more familiar you are with His voice, the more confident you are that, YES, that conviction, that peace, that Scripture – was God speaking to you. 

That’s exactly what the Jesus virtual challenge is designed to do: to help you clear space in your full day, open God’s word, and tune into what He’s already saying. 

How Does The Jesus Challenge Help Me Hear God? 

Let’s walk through some very practical and simple ways the Christian virtual walking challenge helps you recognize God’s voice. 

1. Daily Scripture: Becoming Familiar With His Voice 👂

Just like you'd recognize your best friend's voice, you recognize God's voice by spending time with Him. The virtual Jesus challenge gives you daily Scripture readings that help His voice and character become more familiar. This familiarity enables you to spot Him easily throughout your days. 

2. Quiet Walks: Space to Actually Listen 🚶

So often our prayers sound like, “Here's my list, Lord, thanks, bye!”  But the walking/running element of the Jesus virtual challenge gives you space to breathe and removes you from the bustle and business of your home and phone. As you move, distractions fall away and your mind quiets down to hear His voice. 

3. Built-in Rhythm: Consistency ☑️

Hearing God is built on relationship. The Jesus challenge helps you build a steady rhythm of Scripture-reading, walking, and intentional reflection. Over time, that consistency builds a habit of listening for His voice. It dispels your confusion and trains your ear to easily recognize his voice. 

4. Reflection Prompts: Nudges From the Spirit ✍️

The virtual Jesus challenge includes daily prompts to help you pause, process, and apply what you've learned. This is the perfect opportunity to recognize God's spirit speaking to you, and pay attention to that little tug in your heart. 

5. Confidence Through Practice 👟

The more consistently you practice, the more natural it feels! By the end of 40 days, you’ll KNOW with full confidence that you DO hear God. Simple, everyday moments like sitting in traffic or sipping your morning coffee will suddenly feel rich with His presence! 

The Jesus virtual challenge gives you all the tools and space you need to cut through the busyness of your life and truly hear God's voice. Hundreds of participants have completed this challenge, learning to recognize the many ways God reveals Himself to them. And I know YOU can experience that same intimacy with God, too! 

Is the Jesus Challenge Your Next Step To Hearing God’s Voice? 

Before you answer that, let me ask you: 

• Do you want to feel SURE that you actually know when God is speaking – and what He’s saying? 

• Do you wish you could stop second-guessing yourself and trust that you know His voice? 

• Do you struggle to slow down enough to listen for God’s voice in your day-to-day life? 

If you answered yes to any of those three questions, then YES, the Jesus challenge is a GREAT next step for you! 

• The Jesus virtual challenge will help you move through your day with CONFIDENCE, knowing you’re walking according to the clear guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

• It teaches you to recognize God’s PEACE over your busy schedule as you tune in to His guidance and purpose. 

• It shows you just how NEAR God is to you at every moment, delighting in every detail of your life. 

So YES, if you want to experience a new depth of intimacy and relationship with the Lord, where you hear Him speak clearly to you, this is your invitation! Sign up below to claim your spot for our next Jesus challenge. I’m so excited to meet you! 🤩

Commit Now 

Quick Recap 

• Hearing God’s voice is very attainable and possible, you just need to make time to listen. 

• God speaks through His word, prayer, creation, the Holy Spirit, and a sense of peace. 

• The Jesus challenge is a natural, practical way to train your ear to recognize and respond to His voice – perfect for busy schedules! 

• As you walk with Him daily, spend time in His Word, and protect time to listen to Him, you’ll notice a new sense of confidence in hearing and understanding His voice.