How Do You Know If You’re Hearing God’s Voice
“God, is that you?”
Hearing God's voice is an essential part of the Christian’s life. After all, Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
However, many of us struggle with discerning whether or not we’re actually hearing from God. It’s common for us to think we’re just hearing our own thoughts or feeling our own emotions, and maybe sometimes we even think we’re hearing from God – and we’re actually not.
That’s why we’re going to dive into how you can know for sure that you’re hearing God’s voice so you can act in obedience to his instruction.
5 WAYS GOD SPEAKS TO US
Realize that it’s not always an audible voice we’re hearing when God speaks (though it certainly could be). There are several ways that God speaks to us…
1. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's Word, and if you’ve ever dived deep into scripture, you know why people sometimes say it’s the “Living Word.” When you focus on the written word of God, scriptures pop out at you that are perfect answers to questions you have in your life. It’s truly miraculous!
God had his word written down for a good reason: It’s the primary way he speaks to his people. It contains the keys to salvation, the solutions to our problems, and the comfort we need to make it through hard times.
Reading and studying the Bible can give us insight into God's character, His will, and His plan for our lives.
2. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PRAYER
Prayer is a fantastic way for us to communicate with God. When we pray, we speak to God and ask him for comfort, provision, guidance, and direction. Do you believe that, when you speak to God during prayer, he hears you? If so, is it unbelievable to think that God would respond during this time? God can speak to us through prayer by giving us peace, clarity, or a specific direction.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
3. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE
God can also speak to us through other people. This can be through a sermon, a friend, or a mentor. When we hear something that resonates with us, we can pray and ask God if that message is meant for us.
In the Bible, we see many examples of God speaking through others. Moses and all of the prophets in the Old Testament, for example, spoke the words that God gave them to say to the people of Israel.
Similarly, God can use other people to speak to us today. It could be through a friend who encourages us to take a certain action, a preacher who delivers a message that speaks directly to our hearts, or a mentor who offers guidance and wisdom with love and care.
4. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH DREAMS
Throughout the Bible, we see countless examples of God using dreams to communicate with people.
In the Old Testament, God spoke to Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, and even Pharaoh in dreams. Similarly, in the New Testament, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife.
While not all dreams are from God, this is a method that God has used many times in the past to speak with us, and it’s possible your dreams are a place for God to get your attention.
5. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES
God can use circumstances to speak to us by guiding us in a certain direction or teaching us a lesson. For example, if we are struggling with a decision, God may use circumstances to make the decision clear. This could be through a job opportunity or a change in our circumstances that makes the decision more obvious.
It is important to note that not all circumstances are from God. Sometimes, circumstances can be a result of our own choices or the choices of others. However, when we are seeking God's will and guidance, He can use circumstances to speak to us and guide us in the right direction.
DISCERNING GOD'S VOICE
There are a lot of voices around us – including our own voices – that may confuse or distort God’s voice in our minds. Once we understand how God speaks to us, we need to learn how to discern his voice.
SEEKING GOD'S WILL
When we seek God's will, we are more likely to hear His voice. This means spending time in prayer and reading the Bible to understand God's character and what He desires for our lives.
COMPARING WHAT WE HEARD TO SCRIPTURE
God will never speak something to us that contradicts his written word. If you believe you’ve heard from the Lord, test it against scripture and ensure that it is truth.
RECOGNIZING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
When we hear from God, the statement should ultimately produce spiritual fruit. This includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we are not seeing these fruits, we may need to re-examine if we are hearing from God.
CHECKING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
It is important to check with other believers to make sure that we are hearing from God. This can be done by talking to a trusted leader or mentor who can offer guidance and wisdom regarding what you’ve heard.
PRAYING FOR CONFIRMATION
Praying for confirmation is another way to discern God's voice. When we pray for confirmation, we ask God to reinforce the word he’s spoken to us. This can come in the form of a peace that surpasses understanding or a confirmation through other means.
GOD WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU!
Hearing God's voice is necessary for any believer, and God desires to speak with us every day. While it’s not always easy to discern whether or not we are hearing from God, it is possible. By trusting in God's plan, being open to His voice, seeking His will above all else, and getting help from each other, we can hear from God and be able to act in obedience to his voice.