How do you know when God is talking to you?

In my opinion, when we pray, we are speaking to God. (I don't pray to anyone but God, so you will get different opinions from others on that issue.)
So, we can just talk to God like we talk to anyone and He will hear us and that is prayer.
If you have not spent much time with the Lord, it will seem odd at first. Try speaking out loud to God. Say out loud "Lord Jesus I love you." You will probably be most comfortable doing this by yourself unless you are with a group of Christians who you know and who are themselves comfortable praying out loud.
Anyway, God is real and He is able to hear our prayers so when we pray to Him, we touch Him, and we are given His peace and are brought into His presence.

Often the case is that people call you "loony" if you say you spoke with God. Actually If WE Talk to God, that is fine...If We say "GOD spoke to me" then we are viewed as crazy.

If I said God Talked to me to my pastor, he would ask, what did God say to you? and he would really want to know, depending on my answer he might say well "that sounds like something God would say." Keeping in mind that the messages we get from God can not go against the very nature of God.

If I told a psychatrist that God Spoke to me, they might say "What did God tell you?" and again depending on my answer, it would be either A) thats nice, or B) You really need to take more of drug "xyz" or C) I think I need to put you in the hospital.

Someone speaks to God when they pray. I've always maintained that prayer is just a fancy word to describe communication with God, either that or it's just a short way of saying it instead of "speaking with God." Meh, either way, doesn't really worry me.

God can speak to someone in a number of ways. Firstly, He can speak audibly, which I have not experienced. In case one should doubt or even be skeptical of this, I suggest that you read the story of Samuel (see 1 Samuel 3).

Another way that God can speak to us is through the still small voice in our mind, for example, He may tell us through that voice to help someone, or give this to that person, and so on. He may also bring something to our mind, like a Bible verse, for an appropriate time and so on.

God can speak to us through His Word, the Bible, when we may just be reading and then suddenly a verse just jumps out of the page at you that just seems to be what you needed to hear at that time. Throughout the day you may not be able to stop thinking about a verse in the Bible, this is also God speaking to you through the Bible.

Finally, He can speak to us through our convictions or feelings. For example, someone who has been called to be a pastor may have this deep conviction or feeling that they know that they know that God has called them to fill that role in advancing His kingdom. Our passions can also direct us to the will of God.

Just thought of one more way: God can speak through other people! These people may not even know that it is happening. For example, a pastor may bring a message, except the Holy Spirit may apply this part to a certain event in one person's life and another part (or even the same part) differently to a different person. Sometimes the advice or caution that we receive could be God inspired; lest you be skeptical about this, how many times in the Old Testament in particular did God speak through prophets, such as Nathan rebuking king David?

Another example is that one person may confirm something that we think God may have spoken to us.

There are probably other ways, but these are the main ways that I know of and all are equally valid ways of God speaking His will to us. The only thing is that we need to be open to Him and use discernment.

Coldstone said:

I consider myself pretty liberal in my beliefs, and I never really knew how you're supposed to tell if someone is speaking to God. Maybe I'm wrong, but whenever someone tells me they just "spoke with God", I just think they're crazy.

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when you are reading the bible and thinking of what the bible contains you are speaking to god because god is the word.

when you pray, you are talking, giving thanks in seceret, in jesus's name, for things you already have.

Many mentally disturbed people get messages from God or space aliens. I suspect that the reformation would have been delayed if Prozac had been available to Luther

The easy part is talking to God. We tend to think we need to "talk God to death". Some folks do not thinkthey have prayed until they have gone on and on and on and on. I often wonder why some folks think more is better. I have seen some people pray for 5 minutes for one thing. (Actually, I am being kind, I have see folks go for almost 30 minutes...I usually doze off while they drone on)
The hard part is learning to shut up and listen. Believe me, it is hard.
However, once a person can discipline him/herself to be silent and just focus in our the Lord, you will hear His Voice. His Sheep know His voice, that is the absolute truth.
Fact is, He won't talk when you are talking so it is good to learn to zip the lips.

You know because what He says to you has purpose for Him and to you and is witnessed by the word if you are a studier of His precepts.

Hismessenger

Coldstone said:

I actually meant "God speaking to people". Sorry, I should have been clearer.

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It is more difficult to know when God is speaking to us, and the more time we spend with Him, the better we know Him and the more easily we recognize His speaking. He speaks to us in our conscience helping us to know right from wrong. It is easiest to know when God is telling you "no". As we mature and grow in His life, we will begin to see Him working in our lives and speaking to us and sometimes speaking through us. He also speaks to us through the other parts of our spirit - fellowship and intuition.

I guess you may be wondering how people know that it is God speaking to them and not themselves and not demons or voices in their head or whatever.

For one thing, what God speaks to us or through us will always line up with His word. And, other members of His Body, other Christians should agree with His speaking.
And, I think that His speaking should help to build up His Body.

billwald said:

Many mentally disturbed people get messages from God or space aliens. I suspect that the reformation would have been delayed if Prozac had been available to Luther

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ROFL

"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." 1 John 5:6-9

It seems to me that when God is talking to us, it is in agreement with 1. His Spirit 2. His Word and 3. His nature. The more I become familiar with each of these, the more effective our communication becomes.

ShammahBenJudah said:

ROFL

"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." 1 John 5:6-9

It seems to me that when God is talking to us, it is in agreement with 1. His Spirit 2. His Word and 3. His nature. The more I become familiar with each of these, the more effective our communication becomes.

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and blessings not for ones self but others, that is how you know you are succesfull, others get it.

ShammahBenJudah said:

ROFL

"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." 1 John 5:6-9

It seems to me that when God is talking to us, it is in agreement with 1. His Spirit 2. His Word and 3. His nature. The more I become familiar with each of these, the more effective our communication becomes.

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That verse talking about Father, the Word, and the Spirit is known as the Johannine Comma and didn't appear in the early manuscripts but was added later (it only appeared in Greek manuscripts from 1500s); but you are right, God will not speak something which contradicts what Jesus has said or what He has revealed in the Bible.

This passage says that there are three witnesses that God has given which validate Jesus Christ as His Son: the water (Jesus' baptism, together with the Father's words to Him at that time), the blood (the cross, together with the resurrection), and the Spirit (who was given to Jesus in a special way at His baptism and who guided Jesus throughout His ministry). The Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, continues to testify about Jesus to us.

I know that God hears ME because I have faith that He is listening and because He answers, sometimes very clearly.
I know when He talks to me in several ways. Sometimes it is thru things that happen (I don't really believe much in coincidence), sometimes thru something someone says os something I read or hear where God just sort of "highlights" it for me, as if He is saying "see this? That's meant for you". ANd sometimes I have "heard" His voice in my mind directly. It's hard to explain (and probably not proof for anyone else for me to say it), but I always know for certain that it is God. I just know.
The Bible has Jesus saying that His sheep know His voice, I just KNOW.
Yes, I know people hear "voices" that aren't God. My mother is schizophrenic, believe me, its not the same thing at all. For one thing, I have talked to many other CHristians who have had the same experience. ANd the things God's "voice" say are in accord with Christian beliefs. For another, God's "voice" is wonderful to hear. Schizophrenics' "voices" are not helpful, hopeful, encouraging, or happy. God's "voice" IS, even when He is reproving me.

God speaks to us through:

His Word--Scripture always tells us what God thinks and says.

Other People-- God can and does use others to speak to us what He wants.

Our Circumstances--He uses situations around us to speak to us.

There are not the only ways God speaks to us, but I have found these 3 to be the majority.

A good book on the subject is...

Hearing God's Voice by Henry Blackaby

WarriorAngel said:

Look for signs...like;
a burning bush.
stone tablets being written on by lightening bolts...

God doesnt talk to ppl......He inspired them through His Spirit.

And these Spirits are to be testted.

Do they contradict ancient teachings?
DO they inspire hatred?
DO they ask for a violent act?

etc

If so, pretty much not the Spirit of God.

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Do a study in Scripture sometime of all the times God did speak to people.... you might be surprised in all the ways and means He used.

Isaiah 30:21
21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

You can hear God's voice, a strangers voice you will not follow.

The key is knowing His voice by knowing what He might say.

Example:
Let's say you're a huge fan of Shakespeare, you've read and reread everything he's ever written
You're standing at the bus one day, and you hear someone say,
"My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late."
(or something like this)

You've never actually heard the sound of Shakespeare's voice in person.
But because you know that you know what things He says, you just know that is indeed him standing behind you.

Same thing.
Read the Word, know His voice.



(Sometimes people like to tell you that they have a word for you.
Beware, it could be their flesh, because God is perfectly able to speak directly to you also.)

my 2 cents
sunlover