Obstacles to Hearing God

One of leaders' primary roles is to make decisions. As believers we not only want to be aligned with God’s will, but we can receive insights from the Holy Spirit for important choices.

Yet there are many things that can interfere with hearing from God:

1. Bad theology

2. Bad behavior

3. Bad biology

4. Bad wounds

5. Bad spirits

Before making a decision, advisors can help leaders consider each of these potential issues.

Bad theology: for instance, believing God will make me rich if I obey his laws, believing God doesn’t care about my work at all, men are bad, or all people are trustworthy.

Solution: Discipleship.

Bad behavior: Also known as sin.

Solution: Confession and repentance.

Bad biology: for instance, neurochemical imbalances, fatigue, hunger, headache.

Solutions: Varied – medication, rest, food, aspirin.

Bad wounds: e.g., past trauma like neglect, abuse, betrayal.

Solutions: Therapy, emotional healing prayer, intensive programs like The Crucible Project.

Bad spirits: Christian traditions vary about the influence that the demonic can have on believers. The most common incidence is lies attached to a wound or sin.

Solution: Deliverance prayer.

Conclusion

As with diagnosing a health issue, identifying the correct root causes are critical to working toward health. For instance, using deliverance prayer on someone who has a neurochemical imbalance may do them more damage, or quoting the Bible and good theology for someone who needs rest won’t work. The solution must address the actual root cause.