“Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” James 1:21 (NLT)

We’ve all noticed that a cell phone’s reception quality varies widely, depending on your location. The same is true when hearing God’s voice. You must be positioned correctly to hear him speak.

God wants to talk to us, but sometimes we aren’t tuned in or willing to hear. Or we’ve already decided to do what we want to do—and if we’re honest, it’s not always what God wants us to do. And when our mind is closed off to him, it’s harder to hear his voice and follow his plans for our lives.

But if you really want to hear from God, you have to understand what’s keeping you from hearing him. There are three mental barriers that keep your mind closed to God’s message:

Pride. If you think you don’t need God in your life and prefer to handle things on your own, you’re probably not listening for God to speak. Pride keeps you from being open to the possibility that he might want to say something to you.

Fear. A lot of people can’t hear God because they’re afraid to hear God speak. Some think that hearing God’s voice and sensing how he’s leading them makes them a religious fanatic.

Bitterness. When you hold on to hurt, resentment, or a grudge, your heart can become hardened—and that makes it difficult to hear from God. A hard heart can also make you defensive, even to God’s love.

Perhaps you’ve been hurt deeply—whether it happened this week or years ago—and you’re still holding on to it. I want you to know: You’ve got to let it go. Not for someone else’s sake, but for your sake. Resentment is a self-inflicted wound that allows people from your past to keep hurting you today. You need to let it go, not because they deserve forgiveness but because you need to get on with your life. You need to get rid of the pride, fear, and bitterness that keep you from hearing God’s voice and living out his purposes.

James 1:21 says, “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (NLT).

“Humbly accept” means you let go of your pride and stop trying to figure it out on your own. This is the key to opening your mind and heart so that you can hear from God—the One who created you, loves you, and wants to talk to you.