Editor’s Note: The following was written by a dear friend, Eileen Schott. As a member of our community at the Almond Branch, she sent me this piece after I shared about discerning God’s voice in this season. I appreciated this out of the box perspective and thought it would be good to shake up people’s thinking in regard to hearing from heaven. While some might say this “method” lacks a conversational intimacy, I know her as someone who engages with the Lord from a sincere and faithful place and I have been personally enriched by many of her testimonies. (And besides that, she affirms the necessary conversational dynamic at the end of the article). God wants to speak to us more than we want to hear from him. I don’t believe he chides his children in any way as they seek to approach him. To that end, I pray this blesses you…

Over 40 years ago I heard the story of a boy who decided what God was saying to him by writing ”yes” and “no” on two small pieces of paper, spitting on the back of them, sticking them to the wall and waiting to see which one stayed up longer. The boy in question grew up to be a pastor. 

In 2013, I was struggling with a question of my own and that story came back to me. I truly believe that His sheep know His voice.  What I realized is that I don’t always understand His language. The Lord showed me that the boy had found a language that God could use to communicate with him. I took a coin in hand and prayed that God would honor the language I was choosing. I also told Him that, lacking any other way to discern his will, I was going to be absolutely committed to whatever answer he allowed to come to me.

My language experiment was so effective that I have used it many, many times over the years. God has never failed to give me the best possible answer. I didn’t always agree with his choice initially, but I could always look back and see that it was the better one.

I’ve passed this technique on to a very few people when they looked to me for help in making hard decisions. They tell me they have all found success with it. Not just occasionally, but 100% of the time.  Most continue to use it.

Recently, the Lord has been showing me that the boy with “yes” and “no” papers and my coin tossing are by no means original. In Judges 6:36 Gideon creates a workable communication by placing a wool fleece on the threshing floor and asking God for dew on the fleece and dry ground around it. To confirm God’s answer, the next night he asks for there to be a dry fleece and the ground around it to be covered with dew. He goes confidently into battle.

In Exodus 28:30 I learned that the Urim and the Thummim were placed over Aaron’s heart in his breast piece whenever he entered the presence of the Lord. Scripture says, ”Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord”.

In 1 Samuel 14:41 Saul uses this decision maker to determine guilt or innocence. “If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.”  Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.

And in Acts 1, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas by a similar action. Verse 23 says, “So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. Then they prayed ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the 11 apostles.”

It’s critical to note that none of these actions were taken without prayer. And, clearly, commitment was made to fully abide by the answer given. Under these two conditions I have found this to be extremely helpful in hearing God’s voice.