Hearing the Shepherd's Voice: How to Build a Real Relationship with the Living God

Developing a Spiritual Relationship with God 

What do you do when your world starts crumbling around you and you realize, in a moment of sheer terror, that you really need God? I mean when you are totally, bone-deep desperate. We have all been there—those seasons where nothing seems to work, no one seems to care, and every friend you thought you had flees from you like you have the plague. Maybe you have even dug your own pit, or perhaps a snare just snapped shut on your life and you are left staring at the wreckage of your own choices.

In those "hurricane junctures" of life, we often find ourselves falling on our faces in a prayer closet we haven't visited in years. We rub our pride in the dirt, we cry, we fast, and we pull out all the stops. But then a chilling realization sets in: you are screaming into the dark, and you don't actually know the voice of the Lord. You are dialing 911 for Jesus, but you realize you don't even recognize the Person on the other end of the line.

This is the "fire-alarm religion" that plagues so many of us. We treat God like a genie in a bottle or a celestial Santa Claus, ignoring Him when the sun is shining and then demanding a microwave solution the second the storm clouds gather. The problem is that if you don't know the voice of the Lord before the storm, it is going to be incredibly difficult to hear that still, small voice when the wind is howling and the rocks are flying.

The good news is that having a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus is not reserved for some "elite" class of Christians. It is the birthright of every sheep in His flock. Today, I want to share how I moved from suppressing God's voice to walking in a daily, vibrant fellowship with Him—and how you can do the same before the next hurricane hits your life.

My journey into a deep, spiritual relationship with God didn't start in a seminary; it started with my dad. I can still remember as a young boy while my dad taught me how to pray. He didn't just teach me a list of "thees" and "thous"; he taught me that I was speaking to the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

Even as a child, something clicked. I realized that if I was talking to the One who made the stars, His response was of more value than any "laundry list" of requests I could dream up. I started seeking Him every day, throughout the day. I would walk around and just ask the Creator questions. And he will answer me, and I will call upon him as long as I live (Psalm 116:2 KJV). I decided then that nothing was more important than this connection.

However, like many of us, I wandered. I spent years in a backslidden state, trying to fill the "God-shaped hole" in my heart with booze, drugs, and carnal reasoning. But here is the thing about the Spirit of God: He is persistent. During those dark years, I was like someone trying to hold an aired-up basketball underwater. It took constant, exhausting force to keep the Spirit suppressed. I had to become callous to ignore Him. He would say, This is the way, walk ye in it (Isaiah 30:21 KJV), and I would pour another drink just to drown out the whisper.

The turning point came in 1995. I had a powerful encounter where that voice I remembered from my childhood—the voice of the Shepherd—went off in my spirit like a bell. I recognized it instantly. It wasn't the voice of a judge or a stranger; it was the voice of the One who knew me before I was even formed.

One of the greatest deceptions today is that the "prophetic" is something like a psychic reading or a New Age trick. I see people on social media claiming that God will "jump up and give a word" just because it's Monday or because it's a new month. That isn't the biblical Jesus; that's an enchanter with a familiar spirit. Real relationship isn't about "microwave" revelations; it's about the Spirit and the Word agreeing. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 John 5:7 KJV).

To truly develop this relationship, I had to learn to "dial the phone" when there wasn't an emergency. I started choosing the Lord over television shows and fiction books. I began going on worship-type prayer walks in the cool of the morning. There is something powerful about seeking Him before your critical thinking and intellectual wrangling wake up for the day. In that quiet, amazed wonder, the Spirit of God "kisses" physical reality. You look at a tree or a sunrise and suddenly, the Holy Spirit ignites a truth in your heart. It’s like the Dove landing on Jesus as He came out of the water.

During these years, I became so hungry for His voice that I started wearing an mp3 voice recorder around my neck at all times. Whenever the Lord would drop a revelation into my spirit, I would record it immediately so I wouldn't lose it. I also carried a Franklin electronic Bible in my pocket. I was constantly looking for that "aha" moment where the Spirit of Truth would guide me into all truth as promised in John 16:13.

Personal Reflections

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven't always been the "perfect" student of the Spirit. There have been seasons where I was pathetic and complacent. I call them the "famine years." Just as Joseph prophesied about the seven fat years and the seven lean years, we have seasons where we are sitting in God's lap, and seasons where we feel like we are praying to a wall of brass.

I remember a time when I was still "backslidden as all get-out," yet God was still trying to direct my path. I had a very real opportunity to become an attorney. I was already looking into it, my carnal mind was set on it, but then I heard it—that deep, "knower" voice. Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! (Luke 11:46 KJV). I didn't even read the Bible much back then, but I knew that verse existed and I knew God was telling me that path was not my destiny. Even while I was seeing psychics and messing with New Age garbage, the real Shepherd was calling His sheep. I obeyed because I knew His voice, even when I was trying to convince myself He didn't exist.

Years later, in 2005, the Lord told me to move to Florida. I didn't want to go. It was going to uproot my entire life. I started "tempting" the Lord like Gideon with his fleece. I told Him, "Lord, if you really want me to go, have this specific person call me today and say these exact words." I felt foolish even saying it. I was being a bit of a jerk, to be honest. But God, in His infinite mercy, had that person call and say those exact words. I realized then that I had to love God more than my own ego.

I've learned that if you don't value the Spirit, you won't fast and you won't pray. Fasting is simply telling your flesh to "shut up" because you value the things of the Spirit more than a sandwich. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess (Luke 18:12 KJV). While we shouldn't be legalistic like the Pharisee, the principle remains: we must seek Him diligently.

Biblical References

The foundation of our spiritual relationship must be the Word. I often say that no man gets to the Father except through the Word. When I read the scriptures, I’m not just looking for historical facts; I’m looking for the Spirit behind the text.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man commeth unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6 KJV).

Developing this intimacy is what keeps us from being the "speechless" guest at the wedding feast or the one to whom Jesus says, "I never knew you."

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23 KJV).

That word "knew" implies intimacy. It's the same kind of relationship Peter had when he began to sink in the storm. Because Peter knew Jesus, he knew exactly who to reach out to. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him (Matthew 14:31 KJV).

If you want to dive deeper into these supernatural encounters and learn how to discern the voice of God from the many "voices" vying for your attention, I talk extensively about my own journey in my book OPEN YOUR EYES: MY SUPERNATURAL JOURNEY. I also share strategies for dealing with spiritual opposition in Overcoming Night Terror: Making the Demons Leave.

Key Takeaways

• Don't Wait for the Storm: Develop your relationship with God now so you recognize His voice when a crisis hits.
• The Word and Spirit Agree: Any "word" you receive must align with the "corral" of Scripture. If it violates the Bible, it isn't God.
• Seek Him Early: Use the quiet moments of the morning before your critical mind takes over to worship and listen.
• Watch for Confirmations: God often speaks through "coincidences," street signs, dreams, and the mouth of two or three witnesses.
• Value the Spirit Over the Flesh: Fasting and prayer are practical ways to show God that you value His presence more than your physical comfort.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Having a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus is the only thing that will ever truly fill that hole in your heart. You can try to fill it with work, entertainment, or even "religious" activities, but only the Living Waters flowing from the throne of God will satisfy that thirst.

If you are in a "famine" season right now, don't despise it. Use it as a reminder to dig deeper and go higher. Store up the revelations during the "fat" years so that you can stand firm when the world tells you to bow to an idol.

I want to hear about your journey. How are you developing your spiritual relationship with Jesus? What "aha" moments has the Holy Spirit given you lately?

If this message challenged you, please share it with someone who might be struggling to hear God's voice in their own storm.

Action Items

• Start a "Confirmation Journal": Write down things you think the Lord is telling you, your dreams, and the "coincidences" you notice throughout the week. Look back later to see the tapestry God is weaving.
• The 30-Minute Morning Rule: Commit to spending at least 30 minutes every morning in prayer and worship before you turn on the news or check your phone.
• Carry the Word: Keep a physical or digital Bible with you at all times. When a scripture comes to remembrance, look it up immediately to see how it connects to your current situation.
• Practice "Amazing Wonder": Spend time in nature specifically to worship the Creator. Ask Him questions about His creation and listen for the "quickening" of the Spirit in your heart.
• Evaluate Your Intake: Identify one "fleshly" distraction (a TV show, excessive social media, etc.) and replace that time with seeking the Lord for the next seven days.