How can i learn to discern God's voice?

Andrew77 said:

I don't have many stories... but I have a couple.

So I was working at this nightmare place, a factory in August, and it was 110ºF in the place. I had problems with the heat, and the manager noticed, and sent me home.

So I get home 8 PM, I have very little money, and the rent is due, and now I have no job. I just prayed, told the Lord that I was in some trouble, and I needed help. There was no voice, no magic sign, no light from above. I went to bed.

The next morning at 8 AM, the phone rang. A company I had a applied for a job at, more than 2 months prior, called and had me come in for an interview, and two days later, they hired me.

So another time, I had a dear friend of mine, her car's windshield wipers quit working. She didn't have money to take it to a mechanic, and she was working a minimum wage job.

I went to the part store, and picked up a wiper motor, and then went to where she worked, and started working on her car. It was actually raining that very day, and she had driven to work in the rain, without windshield wipers.

If you have ever driven anywhere without wipers in the rain, you know how dangerous that is.

So I started working on this car, but this was a foreign model car, and I was completely lost as to how to replace the wiper motor. I couldn't figure out how to do anything on this car, that I was completely unfamiliar with.

I worked and worked, for about an hour and 15 minutes. Finally I realized I had no idea whatsoever, how to replace the wiper motor. I was going to have to take the whole front end of the car apart, and I didn't have the time or tools to do that.

I just stood there, hunched over the front of the car, and prayed real quick, Lord... I don't know how to do this, but I don't want my loved friend driving in the rain without wipers.

So literally in that very moment that I prayed this, the screw driver in my hand, slid over hitting a wire, a few sparks flew off, and the wipers jerked forward...... I just shuddered with my eyes closed, and said "Thank you Lord".

The wipers jerked forward because the motor was good, and sparks proved the wiring and electricity was good. My screw driver shorted the wire from the motor, bypassing the connection. What had happened was the connection was so rusty, that it stopped making contact.

All I had to do was take the nut off, and remove the wire, clean it and remove the rust, put it back on, and the wipers worked perfectly. I returned the motor, and got my money back.

In both cases, I never heard any voices. No magical signs. No shining light from heaven, or singing angels. Just clear obvious, direct answers to prayer.

That's it.

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Kevin Snow said:

God has given many books through which we can learn and understand what God's will is. He even commanded concerning those books this:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ~Joshua 1:8

So I counsel you to store up for yourself wisdom through reading his word both day and night, then his will will become clear. I, myself, do this according to this word and I have grown in wisdom and understanding so that I know what it is I am supposed to do.

Do you remember what commandment God gave his Son? It was "eternal life."

And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” ~John 12:50

So God commands us something that is very broad and it is through wisdom that we accomplish his will. All Yahshua was commanded by his Father was "eternal life" and from that one thing by His Spirit did he discern how to accomplish his will. As it says,

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. ~Psalm 119:96

So also, in this same way has Yahshua commissioned us in this very same commandment by spreading the gospel message. We enter into his labor by becoming connected to his will, which is eternal life. So also must you be connected to bringing eternal life to others and unless you are bearing fruit for this, then you are not walking in his will.

But God has given each of us our task within this one single broad commandment. And so for us this word holds true as well:

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. ~Ecclesiastes 9:7

And also this word:

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ ~Isaiah 28:16

Therefore we are all doing the same thing but different jobs within the ultimate goal. I pray that you seek him out in truth and ask him for wisdom so that you may approve of what is right and acceptable and pleasing to him.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ~James 1:5

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Dave G. said:

Be still and know that He is God. Read my signature line at the bottom of this message. His voice is quiet and it comes in our thoughts when we are still. Recently I have undergone trials, over the last year or so. Near the end of the trial I asked for clarity. My answer came to me as it has other times but not always, in a bible book. This time it was Job. I walked around doing my usual things not paying attention that in my mind I kept hearing Job, Job, The Book Of Job. Then later in the day Job, Job etc etc. That's the Lord, Finally it struck and I said OK I'll read the book of Job and I said it out loud to the Lord and the voice/thought was gone.. But it returned when I read the book and figured I was done. No I wasn't done, this went on for three weeks as I read and re read the book of Job. We have to be still, listen for that voice and also pay attention. It's easy to miss, to blow it off as random thoughts. But they have always rewarded me when I respond to those thoughts.

The first book the Lord ever gave to me in this way was 1 Corinthians. He wouldn't leave me alone and that time went on for two weeks. Followed by going to bible study and having the pastor say to open our bibles to 1 Corinthians. Another very profound one was 2 Thessalonians and another Proverbs 3 and Proverbs 4. As I said these titles just come into my head and repeat and repeat until I respond. I don't do anything but listen and respond !

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DW1980 said:

There's a great book I am working through called "Can you hear me - tuning in to the God who speaks" by Brad Jersak.

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Richard T said:

It is great that you are seeking from God for direction and guidance. What helped me in my walk was to learn more and pray on this subject. An oldie but goodie from an earlier charismatic is How to Know the Fathers Voice, May 1993 by Bill Basansky. There are lots of books out there from various perspectives. It is amazing how many scriptures show God's desire to lead us.

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Andrew77 said:

So I don't mean to be brutal to anyone on this forum, or anyone anywhere.....

But every time I run into a Christian that says they 'hear G-d's voice', their lives are all train wrecks. And I do mean literally every single time. I had this lady once tell me that she could hear G-d speaking to her when she went on walks, and she would see a butterfly and G-d would 'speak' to her saying 'I'll take care of you like this butterfly'. (her words, not mine)

She was divorced, her kids were convicts, she was kicked out of her apartment for failing to pay the rent, lost her job, was constantly completely broke, had a history of drugs, her ex husband was an abusive alcoholic, and the list goes on.

When I meet Christians who live lives that are worth living, I can't think of a single one that said they heard G-d's voice.

They read their Bibles. They pray. They try and live out what they believe in Jesus Christ our Lord. They make the most wise choices they can, with wise council.

I always think of Proverbs 16:9.

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."

You know what it doesn't say? It doesn't say a man sits at home, and waits to hear G-d's voice, and then follows his step by step directions.

Not there. In fact, that isn't anywhere in the Bible.

Here is what I've seen from the Christians I know who are leading good lives. I'm not a prophet, and I don't have divine wisdom. This is only what I've seen.

Christians make a plan, and start walking towards that plan. G-d then will direct their steps. If he doesn't want them going down one path over another, he will put up walls and barriers to direct and guide them into the path he wants.

This is what I suggest you do.

Whatever it is that you are facing, make a plan, start moving on that plan. If G-d wants you to move in a different direction, then have faith that G-d will direct your steps in the direction he wants.

Do not wait around to hear a divine voice.

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dqhall said:

Someone who wants to be a professor must spend much time studying. Someone who wants to know God needs to be able to sort out what is fact and what is fiction. God's voice sometimes manifests itself in one's conscience. I found Bible verses to be of different qualities. I know I do not need to follow a voice that asks me to stone someone for working on the Hebrew Sabbath (Saturday) even thought Moses commanded it (Numbers 15:32-36). Even though some people call stoning people for picking up sticks on the Sabbath God's word, I do not believe them. Such a wicked voice cannot dwell in my mind. Jesus appeared to Israel as a leader. He was not like Joshua or David in as much as he told people they should be harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16). If a voice tells me not to think about having sex, I can do it as I am not married.

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FutureAndAHope said:

Hi aiki,

Is the conscience an inner voice? Yes or no? Where does it come from... God or the devil? It according to scripture is God's way of warning us of sin, evil, and of what is right. Has your conscience never been active? Surely it would have remined you of scripture?

Men are warned by God in their conscience, that small inner voice:

Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

God spoke to Paul through his conscience:

Romans :1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Sure the word of God is sufficient in all ways, but a discerning person, will hear from God, through His inner witness. A thing I am sure you have experienced, your conscience, but just never known it was there.

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