'I Live to Hear God Speak ' Bill Yount

The first time God spoke to me personally, I didn't know it was Him. I thought it was my mother.

When I was five years old, she would tell everybody, "This is my little preacher!" It embarrassed me at the time.

But looking back, it was God speaking to me through her. Fifty years in ministry, and I am still preaching. It's humbling. The Lord will often speak to us through the least likely people; it's part of our training before we can hear His voice for ourselves. 

As a new Christian, Hell tried to cancel any desire to ever hear God's voice. A wedge of offense developed between my Bible teacher and me the moment he said, "God spoke to me." Those words were alien to me.

I was flooded with doubt. The enemy whispered those famous words: "Indeed, has God said?" (Genesis 3:1). Surely this man had a big ego thinking God Almighty would take the time to speak to him personally.

I left the Bible study in frustration that evening thinking this man was certainly out of his mind. Thoughts about that crazy teacher kept me awake. Hours later, questions drifted into my mind, "What if you could? What if you could actually hear God speak to you?" The questions lit a fire within me that has never gone out. I began to faintly consider an answer.

I thought to myself, if God would actually speak to me, I would be willing to wait thirty or forty years to hear him speak just one word: not a whole sentence, but just one word.

Two hours later, the Holy Spirit interrupted my sleep. He said, "Son, I want to speak to you more than you know."

My journey of listening for His voice began in that moment. Now you know what I live for. I live to hear God speak.

I believe we are in a time when we must personally hear God's voice. Interestingly, at the age of 77, I finally gave in and got hearing aids. The hearing in my physical ears has greatly improved. I pray for us all: May the hearing in our spiritual ears improve as well.

Bill Yount

info@billyount.com