When I was in college, one of my favorite classes was a linguistics class. Part of the course involved participating in experiments designed by researchers in the linguistics lab. One experiment, in particular, was created to study lexical influence on perception — in simpler terms, how what we see can affect what we hear.

Each participant wore headphones and listened to a word while a screen in front of them flashed possible word options. For example, the word played through the headphones might be “pill,” but the screen alternated between “pill” and “bill.” In most cases, participants reported hearing the word they read on the screen, even when it didn’t match the sound in their ears.

Those two words — “pill” and “bill” — sound similar, but their meanings couldn’t be more different. And as Christians, this concept has a deep spiritual parallel.

What Are You Looking At?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:22–23:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”

What does this mean for us as followers of Christ?

It reminds us that what we focus on influences how we perceive everything else — even the voice of God. We serve a God who speaks, who answers prayers, who guides His children. But if our eyes are fixed on the wrong things — our desires, fears, ambitions, or distractions — we risk mishearing Him.

We may interpret His voice through the lens of our own will rather than His. That’s when we start justifying sin, chasing paths He never intended, or missing out on the purpose He’s set aside for us.

So where should we look when we sense God calling us to move but we aren’t sure where He wants us to go?

Hearing Through the Word

2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

The best way to make sure we are truly hearing God is to align what we hear with what He’s already said. God’s Word is the filter through which we test every thought, every leading, every whisper we think might be from Him.

If the message you believe you’ve received in prayer doesn’t line up with the Bible — it isn’t from God.

Too often, we pray for instruction but never open His manual. We ask for direction but ignore the map already in our hands. God has not left us in the dark — He’s given us His Word as light for our journey.

Psalm 119:105 says,

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Stay Focused on the Light

When our eyes are fixed on Jesus and our ears are tuned to Scripture, we begin to see and hear clearly. The noise of the world fades, and God’s truth comes into focus. Let’s be people who don’t just listen but listen rightly — with eyes that see Him and hearts anchored in His Word.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a God who speaks. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You so that our hearts and minds can discern Your voice clearly. Guard us from distraction, self-deception, and anything that pulls our focus away from You. Let Your Word be the light that guides every step we take. Teach us to listen, to trust, and to obey.

Call to Action

This week, spend time in both prayer and Scripture. Before asking God for direction, open your Bible and invite Him to speak through His Word. Write down what you sense He’s saying — and then test it against Scripture. As you align your sight with His truth, you’ll begin to hear His voice more clearly than ever before.