2 Peter 3:1c I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

It is easier to understand a voice if He uses His Words. If you have been reading the Word and renewing your mind, then the Word is in you and shall not go away. The very first inkling that you are hearing Jesus, His voice, is hearing His Word. There will be times when circumstances bring to mind scripture, a matter of remembrance.

Peter gives us the secret of assurance that it is the Lord speaking. We have identified the first essential, that you have been in the Word and been diligent to acquire a solid familiarity with the Word of God. The second is in the stirring. I thick mixture is difficult to stir, a stiff one nearly impossible. It is difficult to hear the Lord if you are being stubborn, willful, proud.

Third and very important to listening, your mind cannot be preoccupied with worldly issues in any form. It does not have to be a sin to prevent you from listening, all it takes is your focus to be so strong that you do not allow that still small voice to be heard. If rooting for your favorite sports team is your total focus, then the Lord will allow you to do what you want. Desire is a large part of listening. We began with that first question; do you want to hear the Lord.

Now comes the more difficult part of listening, what is your appropriate response? In the beginning hearing the Lord is training in knowing His voice. One must be careful to make sure you have the scripture memory accurate. The Lord is the Word and He will not misquote or use His Word inappropriately. Do not trust in your memory, which is your mind, flesh and fallible. The appropriation of the Word is only if it is from the Lord.