Tina lined up the white cue ball with the black eight ball for a corner pocket. It was a straight on, can’t miss shot, with the game riding on the outcome. She slowly drew the pool cue back and then pushed it forward, striking the cue ball. It rolled across the green cloth, hitting the eight ball with topspin, sending both balls into the side pocket. She scratched, which meant she lost the game of spots and stripes to me.
“You’re so lucky,” Tina said, tossing her head back. “I hate making mistakes.”
I laughed, knowing luck played a major part in my victory because she was a more skillful player than me. The only reason I even played was to celebrate her nineteenth birthday after our lunch together.
“Well,” I said, “you had better get used to making mistakes if you’re going to walk in your calling and prophesy.”
Her blue eyes narrowed.
“No, I don’t have to make any mistakes.”
“Oh for sure,” I replied with a grin.
“No, I don’t have to make any mistakes. All I have to do is study the Bible, pray, and obey the Holy Spirit. If I do that, I can prophesy without ever making any mistakes. I know I can!”
I laughed and she slapped me on the shoulder. We returned our pool cues to the rack and left the Iowa State University Student Union’s poolroom. (Excerpt from The Hunt for Larry Who by Larry Nevenhoven, an Amazon eBook.)
Another big hindrance to hearing the voice of God is fear.
What if we make mistakes? What if we listen to the wrong voice? What if we end up following a cult? What if? What if?
Fear paralyzes Christians. It forces us to make the biggest mistake of all, which is doing nothing.
Such love [agape] has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. (1 John 4:18 NLT)
What are some other problems for hearing the voice of God for ourselves?
(Continued in Part 5)
Larry Who 
If God made mistakes, why can’t humans?
Bad Wolf,
The God that I know has never made mistakes, but the human that I know best has made many errors and the day is not yet over. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh yes . ..fear! And fear of failure and mistakes! I know one thing for me that can cause me problems hearing God is when I start relying on someone else to tell me what God is saying instead of spending time with Him myself.
God bless you as you make mistakes that He uses in your life and others!
Debbie,
I enjoy hearing prophetic words for myself from other people, but that does not negate me from hearing for myself from the Lord. Too many experiences have already proven this to be true for me. God bless you.