How Jesus Speaks to Us: Growing Closer to God Through Scripture, Surrender, and Obedience

How Jesus Speaks to Us

Figuring out how Jesus speaks to you is one of the most beautiful parts of walking with Him. His voice is gentle, personal, intentional, and He knows exactly how to reach each one of us. For most of my life, He spoke to me through music and worship. Those were the moments where my heart would finally settle, where the noise of the world faded, and where I could sense His nearness in a way I couldn’t explain. But this past year, Jesus led me somewhere I never expected. He began revealing Himself to me through books.

Now, books have never been “my thing.” I used to battle with myself every time I tried to sit still long enough to read. It felt like a chore, something I wanted to want, but couldn’t genuinely enjoy. But as my relationship with the Lord has deepened, I’ve learned that staying comfortable keeps you from growing. If you’re unwilling to step out of what feels familiar and safe, you’ll never grow into the full potential God has for you. And the Lord loves us too much to let us stay the same. He takes us by the hand and walks us straight into the uncomfortable places, not to overwhelm us, but because that’s where real transformation begins.

The Foundation: Worship and Memory

Music has always been a constant in my life. My dad was a musician, and some of my sweetest memories are of him sitting with his guitar, singing songs that somehow brought peace into moments I didn’t fully understand. His music became something my heart could rest in. Looking back now, I see that those moments planted something deep inside me—a tenderness toward worship and a sensitivity to God’s presence. I didn’t recognize it then, but Jesus was already shaping my heart.

My dad passed away twelve years ago, and losing him nearly shattered me. But over the years, as I began my own journey with God, healing slowly began to take root. There are still moments when all I long for is the comfort of my dad. On those days, I play his old demo tapes and let myself rest in the memories. Just as I sometimes need the familiar comfort of my dad’s voice, I’ve found that I need the steady, loving voice of my Heavenly Father even more. There’s a deep need—a longing and desire—to sit in the presence of my Abba Father and be filled with the peace that surpasses all understanding.

When Worship Was the Beginning

Words hold power, and what we fill our minds and souls with eventually becomes what flows out of us. So when I began my walk with the Lord about eight years ago, it was worship that God used to reach me. He knew music was the one thing that could still my anxious thoughts, calm my spirit, and draw my focus back to Him. Songs became my prayers before I knew how to pray. They became the place where I met Him.

But even as my love for worship grew, I struggled with getting into the Word. I didn’t enjoy reading, and half the time I couldn’t understand what I was reading, so I avoided it. Without realizing it, my lack of willingness to be in Scripture became a barrier between me and the relationship Jesus was inviting me into.

The Call to Go Deeper

At a previous church, I was blessed to receive encouragement and guidance through prophetic words spoken over my life. This person repeatedly said, “God is standing at the door knocking. All you have to do is open it.” At the time, I didn’t understand. I thought my heart was open. I remember crying out, “God, I’m right here. My door is open.” But what He wanted wasn’t half surrender or moments of worship. He wanted all of me.

Jesus was inviting me into something deeper, something rooted in Scripture, grounded in community, and marked by obedience. He wanted me not just to feel Him, but to know Him—not just to sing about Him, but to walk with Him, listen to Him, and let His Word reshape the parts of me that needed healing.

As I continued to press in, He continued to meet me faithfully, gently, and consistently. And every act of obedience, no matter how small, opened the door wider for Him to transform me from the inside out.

Choosing Growth

Everything has a starting point. For me, it began years ago in those sacred moments with my dad’s music. But where I am now—this hunger I have for Jesus, this desire to know Him more—comes from choosing to pursue Him for myself. The seed was planted early, but the growth has been intentional. And I’m grateful for every uncomfortable, stretching, and refining step.

So how do you deepen that connection with Jesus? You stay in His Word. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that “the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” His Word is living—it moves, it breathes, it challenges, comforts, and reshapes us. And for me, it was consistent obedience that finally allowed Scripture to sink deep into my heart and renew my mind.

As Matt Smith once said, “The Word of God stands because God stands by His Word. We’re called to let that Word dwell within us, but we have to be willing.” That willingness is what allows us not only to maintain our relationship with the Lord, but to fully embrace the shaping, stretching, and beautiful transformation that comes from walking closely with Him.

An Invitation Through a Book

In the spring of 2025, I had the privilege of attending Jesus Camp. During the weekend, they hosted a book exchange—something that, at first, didn’t particularly stand out to me. But God is always moving behind the scenes, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. Looking back, I truly believe He handpicked the book that would eventually find its way into my hands.

When I unwrapped it and saw the title, LORD, I Want to Know You, something within me stirred. I realized how deeply that reflected the longing of my heart—to know Him more, to walk with Him more intimately. In that moment, I knew this book wasn’t meant to sit untouched on a shelf; it was an invitation I couldn’t ignore.

That invitation stayed with me. A few weeks later, I finally opened the book for the first time. That day, something reignited within me—an old flame sparked back to life. That’s when the real journey began: walking with Jesus, not ahead of Him, but right where He was leading. I wanted what He wanted for my life, because deep down I knew His plans would always be greater than my own.

I wanted what He wanted for my life because I finally reached a place where I trusted that His plans would always be greater, wiser, and more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine. I realized, just as John 3:30 says, “He must become greater; I must become less.” It’s not about me controlling the outcome—it’s about letting Jesus lead, guiding my steps, and shaping my heart according to His will.

What You Feed Will Grow

One evening during Bible study, a sweet friend shared a simple phrase that settled into my spirit with unexpected weight: “What you feed grows, and what you starve dies.” The moment the words left her mouth, I felt the Holy Spirit press them into my heart. It was as though God was gently unveiling another layer of what He had been teaching me all along.

In that moment, I began to see how much of my life had been shaped by what I’d been feeding without even realizing it. Old hurts, fears, insecurities, and patterns I thought I had buried—truthfully, I had still been giving them space. Not intentionally, but they were still being nourished by my thoughts and reactions.

In that quiet moment, God reminded me that I had a choice before me, and it would be one I’d face every day. I could keep feeding the things that drained me, or I could starve them. I could stop breathing life into what was never meant to define me. At the very same time, I could choose to nourish what truly strengthens me—God’s Word, His presence, His peace, His truth. Because what I water will bloom, and what I deny energy will eventually dry up and die.

Quieting the Noise

We have to step away from the noise, distractions, expectations, and constant chaos, and rest in the stillness around us. When we intentionally quiet our minds and hearts, His voice becomes clearer. The more we tune out the noise, the easier it becomes to recognize His presence and hear Him speak.

As I’ve learned to quiet my heart, stay rooted in His Word, and follow where He leads, I’ve discovered that intimacy with Jesus isn’t found in striving, but in surrender. The treasures He reveals along the way aren’t meant to be hidden or held tightly, but shared with love and humility. When you encounter Him for yourself, when His Word takes root and transforms you from the inside out, you can’t help but speak of what He’s done—telling the world of the treasures you’ve found.

Apryl

Apryl Coalson

Apryl is a wife, mama, and follower of Jesus who is learning to walk faithfully through every season He places her in. She deeply values family, faith, and becoming the woman God has created her to be. In this current season of waiting and the unknown, after recently being let go from her job, she is focusing on caring for her home and children while trusting God to lead her into what’s next. Jesus has been her anchor through some of the hardest seasons of her life, including fighting for the adoption of her nephew/son. Over the summer, God placed it on her heart to share their adoption journey—the joys as well as the heartbreak—in hopes that what He has done for their family would draw others closer to Him. She serves on the worship team at her church, where her heart feels most alive, considers herself a self-proclaimed water sommelier, thrives in quiet moments (just not the eerie kind), and is a huge animal lover who would happily rescue every homeless furry friend if her husband allowed it.