Hearing God Speak

[BlessedVegan]

OK I have a question. On here I see people talking about hearing God speak to them..I'm not sure if they mean it literally, like hearing a voice, or if they just mean they get a feeling about something. I'm wondering b/c I've never felt I heard God say anything. I mean..I've read some things in the Bible that I thoguht "wow that really makes sense" and some things that really prove to me that God is real and evidant in my life. However I've never heard God speak, in a literal or metaphorical sense. So..I'm just wondering what you guys mean by this? Is it an actual voice you hear or something else? Just curious.

 

[lovesblessing]

OK I have a question. On here I see people talking about hearing God speak to them..I'm not sure if they mean it literally, like hearing a voice, or if they just mean they get a feeling about something. I'm wondering b/c I've never felt I heard God say anything. I mean..I've read some things in the Bible that I thoguht "wow that really makes sense" and some things that really prove to me that God is real and evidant in my life. However I've never heard God speak, in a literal or metaphorical sense. So..I'm just wondering what you guys mean by this? Is it an actual voice you hear or something else? Just curious.

Hi BlessedVegan!

Hearing God, huh? Boy, that is hard to explain sometimes....for people who pray in other tongues, you know, Pentecostal/Spirit-filled folks, (not to say that if someone isn't a Pentecostal they wouldn't hear the Lord's voice) well sometimes when you are praying in the spirit (tongues) you will hear words/phrases in your mind, that sound like your own voice speaking to you....you know, that little voice that runs in your head all the time ....only when it's the Lord speaking to you, you get "enlightened" about things....like you mentioned when you said you'd read things in the Word and know them? That is what it is mostly, it is knowing that you know, that you know, that you know that what you know is the right thing! Sounds crazy, doesn't it? LOL!

I do think that once or twice I have heard the Lord's audible voice....at least it seemed like it was! And sometimes, you hear the Lord's voice, because if you are praying about a certain something and have asked a question, you may hear another person's voice in your head....like your Mom, Dad, a teacher, a preacher....whoever it was that said a certain thing that the Lord is calling to your remembrance! That is really His voice, brought to you in a way you can understand. It is so wonderful to know that Father God loves us and desires to talk to us....that is what prayer is supposed to be, a conversation with God. Altho' most of us (me included! ) very often just carry on a monolog in our prayers, and don't pause and give God time to reply! LOL! That is not to say, that He will always reply right away! One of the Pastors I like alot said he had God give him an answer to something that was exactly what he needed, but it was like 10 years after he had asked the question! LOL! Sometimes we ask things that we can't receive the answer too right away coz we need to grow some more in the Lord first!

Here is something for you to do. Find a place that is real quiet, and settle down, and get quiet inside.....close your eyes and think about Jesus and how much you love Him....then say out loud, "I love you Jesus." And then just be quiet and listen.......bet you get a response!

Hope that helps some!

Blessings to you!

lovesblessing

 

[BlessedVegan]

OK well I will try that lovesblessings! OK it makes more sense to me now, that it isn't always an actual voice. Thanks!

 

[HisFireFly]

That was a wonderful reply Lovesblessing!

It is hard sometimes to be still and wait on our LORD, but the rewards are worth more than you can imagine.

Our pastor just finished a series on "Hearing GOD'S voice" and yes, it can even sound like our own voice at times.

As you begin to spend more time in HIS presence, you will begin to discern when HE is speaking. Be careful though, time with GOD is very, VERY addicting. You may find yourself wishing you could do nothing else but soak in HIS presence!

love and blessings,

HisFireFly

 

[Eagle_Wings]

You will also find out that He may speak to you differently then He speaks to others. I know that for myself there are two main ways He speaks to me. One is just in my head, sounds just like me, even uses words that I would use....but I know it's not me cause there is no way I could have come up with anything that enlightened on my own! Another way, more subtle and constant, is my "gut", also what others call their conscience. You know when you just have a feeling that you need to do something? Many times through out the day I'll have that feeling that I just need to do this or double check that, and 9 times out of 10 if I ignore that feeling and don't do, I have to go back and do it anyway! It's nothing super spiritual or supernatural, it's just in the day to day things of our lives, and I'm not even praying at that time. I guess you could also call it the prodding of the Holy Spirit. You had already mentioned another way that God does speak to all of us, and that is through His Word. It doesn't matter how many times you've read that particular passage, but for some reason this time something just really stuck out and in a way that you would never have thought of, but it really made sense this time and really applies to your situation. The only way to know when it's God speaking to you is the same way we would learn to recognize anyone else's voice, just spend time with Him! Another thing to keep in mind is that if you think you've heard Him but are not sure, see if what was said lines up with the Bible. If it contradicts the Bible in anyway then it wasn't God.

 

[Dee235]

Talking about hearing God's voice: when I have experienced it it has been like a voice, someone whispering to me. Also experienced it as almost my own thoughts, but knowing that it wasn't me and that God had spoken to me, or revealed something to me. But God speaks in many ways and not the same way to everyone.

It could be that He reveals Himself in line with your character. If you are quiet and gentle He reveals Himself in that way (hope this makes sense).

May you all be blessed and during the Christmastime may you spend time with friends and family.

 

[tonya]

So many great replies...I agree with everyone else..he speaks through our inner being..sometimes a voice that sounds like our own...sometimes that inner prodding(felt this many times) and this peaceful feeling will come over you...sometimes through dituations and circumstances...sometimes through other people...just keep listening..also speak through his word...

 

[HisFireFly]

I would also recommend reading "The Beginner's Guide to Hearing God" written by James W. Goll. You can explore his website at the following link:

http://www.encountersnetwork.com/

blessings,

HisFireFly

 

[Endure2]

amen, he speaks to us in many diffrent ways, and if we are sensitive to the spirit of God and our spirits, we will recognise them.

i think the most common way God speaks besides the word of God is he speaks to us through our own spirit. the bible says that the spirit of a man, is the candle of the Lord.

and like a candle brings light, and understanding to a dark area. God will often put a feeling or a small still vioce in our spirit, that nudges us to feel "LEAD" about what to do.

though i think, if you want to hear from God clearly, you almost always need to find time to get still... ask... listen... and wait... for a response.
God very rarely brings me to a grinding halt during my day to speak to me.
he nearly always leaves it up to me to seek him for wisdom and direction before speaking to me.
as the bible says, in all your ways acknowledge him, and then he shall direct your path.

but without sufficient time alone with God, kneeling or worshiping or meditating before his thrown in your heart, NO ONE truely clearly hears much from God.
like one man said

"all decays begin in the closet, no heart thrives without much secret converse with God, and nothing will make ammends for the want of it."

like Jesus was born in a solitary stable away from the world and palaces... and kings had to seek and pursue and enquire of his whereabouts... Jesus, the salvation of all creation, was born in a secret place. and all that we are and ever will be, must be birthed and procreated out of secret place alone with God.
we must be men and women of the garden, the garden of gethsemani.

 

[C.A.B.L]

Now, I'm not an expert Bible scholar or anything like that. But I think, that when we are so into the world and interested in doing it's things, God's voice is drowned out. I think the closer we are to Him, and the more we desire to do His will, you will be able to discern His voice alot easier.

 

[heartnsoul]

I think few people have actually heard the audible voice of God. I personally know of a pastor who has heard God's audible voice twice so far in his life. I read of one woman who has also heard God's voice about twice in her life as well. It depends. I often wondered why He speaks audibly to some and not to others. Then I realized it doesn't really matter so long as we feel His presence and feel His spirit and love in our hearts. I also know from personal experience that God speaks through other people. With me, God has often worked through angels (strangers, friends, family) to love and guide me.

I believe God will do whatever it takes to reach us, whether it be audible voice, scripture, angels or just the Spirit moving us, etc. Praise the Lord for being so faithful and loving to His children.

 

[Endure2]

well the bible says that moses saw the image or form of God, becuase he was faithful in all his house... Gods treats us all diffrently and gives us all diffrent things, according to how well he can trust each of us.

some people dont have certain gifts becuase God cant trust them with such power and gifts, same goes with money, and super natural experiences.
if all can God can trust you to be is a floor sweeper and not be puffed up, then thats where hell keep you.

if some of us saw the very form of God and heard the audible voice of God, wed probly think we were one of the coming 2 witnesses in revelations or wed think were some great man or woman of God of the hour and all must bow to us becuase we have seen the face of God and we have heard the audible vioce of God... wed lose our humility, or else wed be slap scared to death...

i mean, theres a very good reason why God hasnt given me the ability to look at a man and command him to become blind like peter did, (i think it was peter, either him or paul) cus i wouldnt know how to use such power responsibly, id get mad and half the county would be blind in a week.
he cant trust me with such things.
and God cant trust us to enough to give us the kind of relationship that moses and him had, he saw Gods face physically and heard Gods vioce audibly, whether it was an epiphany or a theophany or not... God couldnt trust us to stay faithful to walk in love and humility towards others.

where much is given, much is required, and if God knows its foolish to expect a certain amount out of you becuase he knows you wont... then hes not going to give you that much.
he wont risk us hurting other people, becuase we are young and immature.

 

[Endure2]

my God... this is it, this is proof that how God speaks to us is regulated by our faithfulness and how well he can trust us...
and remember this chapter is speaking about the time when aaron and miriam took a stand against moses in their pride becuase they thought that due to how God has used them, they were able to stand agaisnt moses, they came boasting about the miracles they had done in numbers 12.2 and God sternly dealt with them and this is what he said concerning how he spoke to most people, and how he spoke to moses diffrently...

numbers 12.6-8
and he said, hear now my words: if there be a prophet amoung you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
(thats how God speaks to most folks)
My servant moses is not so, WHO IS FAITHFUL IN ALL MINE HOUSE!
with him i will speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefor then were ya not afraid to speak against my servant moses?

God made it clear, he doesnt speak to everyone as openly he did moses, because moses was faithful in everything... he couldnt trust everyone.
becuase wed end up like miriam and aaron boasting, and thinking we had the place to correct our pastors and authorities in the church... and other evil prideful things.

we cant hear the audible vioce of God... becuase we are to immature.

and as you can see, when moses was being accused and railed and attacked... he did not stand up and fight and defend himself, i would have said something like "you BOTH BETTER shut up, God dont talk face to face with you like he does me! God dont show himself to you like he does me! how dare to disagree with me! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? IM THE ONLY MAN GOD TALKS TO FACE TO FACE!"
nope....
moses didnt say nothing....! not one word!
but this was written of him
"(Now the man moses was very meek...)"
and then God almighty heard them two talking and showed up and set them jokers straight! turned one of them into a leper and they had to cry out and ask for forgiveness... and miriam was healed but God made her live in the wilderness seven days to humble that woman.

 

[heartnsoul]

my God... this is it, this is proof that how God speaks to us is regulated by our faithfulness and how well he can trust us...
and remember this chapter is speaking about the time when aaron and miriam took a stand against moses in their pride becuase they thought that due to how God has used them, they were able to stand agaisnt moses, they came boasting about the miracles they had done in numbers 12.2 and God sternly dealt with them and this is what he said concerning how he spoke to most people, and how he spoke to moses diffrently...

numbers 12.6-8
and he said, hear now my words: if there be a prophet amoung you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
(thats how God speaks to most folks)
My servant moses is not so, WHO IS FAITHFUL IN ALL MINE HOUSE!
with him i will speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefor then were ya not afraid to speak against my servant moses?

God made it clear, he doesnt speak to everyone as openly he did moses, because moses was faithful in everything... he couldnt trust everyone.
becuase wed end up like miriam and aaron boasting, and thinking we had the place to correct our pastors and authorities in the church... and other evil prideful things.

we cant hear the audible vioce of God... becuase we are to immature.

and as you can see, when moses was being accused and railed and attacked... he did not stand up and fight and defend himself, i would have said something like "you BOTH BETTER shut up, God dont talk face to face with you like he does me! God dont show himself to you like he does me! how dare to disagree with me! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? IM THE ONLY MAN GOD TALKS TO FACE TO FACE!"
nope....
moses didnt say nothing....! not one word!
but this was written of him
"(Now the man moses was very meek...)"
and then God almighty heard them two talking and showed up and set them jokers straight! turned one of them into a leper and they had to cry out and ask for forgiveness... and miriam was healed but God made her live in the wilderness seven days to humble that woman.

Thank you for the clarification and the scriptures. Very interesting reading! I appreciate you taking the time to research and analyze the "audible" voice of God. It makes sense. It's true that God knows our hearts and therefore He will deal with each of us accordingly. I've already been blessed tremendously by God and I realize that the more I'm blessed, the more thankful, generous and passionate my love for Him becomes. His love is very humbling to me and I hope to continue to glorify Him daily. Praise the Lord!

 

[Believer-in-Christ]

It's true God does not speak from a voice. He speaks from inspirations and revelations of the heart. The Spirit is the driving force for all of this. It is the only way, and only through Christ can we speak to the Father

 

[Paid in full]

I think because God knows us better than we know ourselves he knows how to get us to hear his voice.Some people by prompting by the spirit,some by visions(while asleep,awake,or praying)and some audio.
Also I think it depends on the situation you are in.
Does that make sense!?

 

[HisFireFly]

YES! That makes perfect sense. GOD alone knows what method will get through to us. In HIS ultimate creativity, HE can vary the many ways HE speaks.

HisFireFly

 

[BlessedVegan]

Ah I see. That's a good point. It's God's decision how he communicates with us, not ours. Who cares if it's auditory or whatever? If it works it works. Thanks for everyone's opinions!