How does God speak to you?

[TruelightUK]

Jesus said that His sheep would hear his voice, yet it seems that for some Christians this is something of a distant reality.  And still others seem to have different ideas of how we hear His voice (or even whether we should expect to).  I'd be interested to hear(!) something of people's own views and experiences on this one.  Do you believe God speaks to you personally?  If so, in what form and how regularly?  How can you be sure this is God speaking and not just your own thoughts, or even some demonic influence?

 

Anthony

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Wow Anthony,

that's a loaded question.  And a good one at that.

Well, let's see. . .

I've known God most of my life.  I've always talked with Him so I have a difficult time sometimes understanding why some people don't talk to Him.  I've always told Him what's on my heart, my thoughts and my desires and my pain.  And I've always had Him answer me.

The best way that I've found to know the difference between His voice and the devils voice is that God will never tell me anything negative about myself or another.  However, the devil always does.

Now by nagative, I do not mean never showing me areas I need to change in . . .the Holy Spirit is quite faithful at doing that.   And, it can be painful, looking at God and then looking at yourself and seeing the difference.

But the devil always tries to make me feel inferior, or stupid, or unwanted, or ashamed, or ugly, or etc, etc, etc.  He also is the one behind my thinking those things about others as well.

Another way to know God's voice is to know His Word.  That's how so many people fall away, because they don't know His Word and they just believe what someone told them.  Then when that someone fails then they tend to fall away too.  The Word will never steer you wrong.

Other than that I just know the difference.  God corrects me, the devil will tell me I don't need correction. God tells me to love my fellow brothers and sisters, the devil points out all their faults.  God tells me to pray for them, the devil tells me to tell everybody else about them. God leads me away from depression, the devil leads me to it.  God tells me to look at Him, the devil tells me to look at myself.

Hope this helps someone. 

Thanks Anthony, for asking such a great question.

 

 

[KeepTheFaith15]

i talk to him too i never really hear his voice it's not like i get a big booming response but i get these feelings in my stomache or this nice voice in my head saying this is what you need to do and if it's nothing negative i know it's god

 

[Andrew]

quote: "The best way that I've found to know the difference between His voice and the devils voice is that God will never tell me anything negative about myself or another.Ê However, the devil always does. "

I agree. My Pastor says the devil is in the putting down bizness whereas Jesus is in the lifting up business. eg how he treated the prostitutes.

I believe that something is from God using this guideline:

Jas 3:17* But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

so for eg, i know OSNAS is not from God becos it is not peaceable. No baby Christian will jump for joy when taught that.

how does he speak to me?
1. Of cse, through the Word.
2. By an inward leading/reminder to do something, that last for a few weeks/months until i do it.
3. Through annointed preaching. Many a times, it's as though God is speaking to me exactly about my particular situation thru my pastor's preaching.
4. inward peace/lack of peace. If i'm about to do something, and there seems to be a lack of peace/uneasy gut feel, i know the HS is telling me not to do it. When there's a peace, its a go-ahead signal from him. I call this the inward witness.
5. I've yet to hear His audible voice, see visions etc.

 

[ZiSunka]

God speaks to me through the Bible, through other people, through nature and through the "still, small voice."

On a couple of occassions, God has spoken to me directly. I know when it is satan speaking, because of that icky, sick feeling in my soul that I get whenever satan is trying to tempt me, and also because satan tries to get me to do/believe things that aren't consistent with God and His will. 19 years ago, he told me that my sister's unborn child was going to be a boy. I think he did that because he knew we were still in mourning over the death of my niece and we needed hope. Another time, he told me that a coworker was going to die the next day; then the cowroker died the next day. A couple of times, he has told me in advance about significant loses in my life. Every time, his voice was one of peace, still and small like they say it is, and He has never been wrong or counter to the Bible.

 

[Jenna]

Hmmm....well, I believe that God speaks to me first and foremost through His Word, through the witness of others, and by what Lambslove refered to as the "still small voice".

How do I know when it is satan that is trying to put the bug in my ear? I test everything against scripture. I spend alot of time reading and thinking on what God has shown to me through His Word. Obviously, any "revelation" or communication that I have that is contrary to His Word is not of God.

 

[TruelightUK]

It may suprise some here to know that the main way I feel God speaks to me is through the Bible - sometimes highlighting a particular verse or short passage as I am reading/studying (making the words 'burn within me', as on the road to Emmaus), or, possibly more frequently, bringing a particular Scripture to mind while I am praying, or even 'out of the blue' when I am in the middle of a situation - His wisdom for that moment. (As John puts it, the Holy Spirt bringing to mind what the Lord has said).

He also speaks to me through preaching; numerous times I have gone to chruch with some situation on my mind, only to hear the preacher speaking on exactly that subject. Or sometimes it is just one phrase which 'jumps out and hits me', and I 'know' that God has spoken! In a similar way, He sometimes speaks to me through books that I am reading - normally Christian ones, but just occasionally a sentence from a secular novel, or a work-related paper will strike me as speaking into my situation. (I've also once known this happen through a tv commercial ... a bit like Balaam's donkey, perhaps!?!) Or it might be just an 'innocent' conversation - someone comes across my path who 'happens' to come up with the answer to the question on my mind. The Holy Spirit, moves where He wills, through whom He wills - even without them knowing!

Sometimes (only 2 or 3 times in 30 years) He has spoken more 'dramatically', through a prophetic word given to me by name during the course of a service or prayer meeting, by someone who knew mnothing of my particualr situation, yet clearly answering a question on my heart.

And sometimes, through a sense of Him speaking into my heart - usually while I am praying, most often in tongues - often starting with a phrase from Sctripture, but not always. Twice, I have heard something very close to an audible voice, but more often it is far more gentle and unobtrusive. And sometimes - perhaps most commonly - it is what I guess has been refered to as the 'still small voice' - just a peaceful sense of 'knowing' what is right - the Lord confirming what was already in my heart.

As for how I know this is God: Quaffer has pretty much covered that one. God's voice brings peace and assurance and a gentle kind of joy (even when it is a word of rebuke - for He brings hope for restoration). The devil's voice 'cloys' and, even when apparently positive, somehow doesn't sit right - a bit too sickly sweet and flattering, perhaps. Condemnatory thoughts, pulling me down with no hope for a way out, are the devil's tactic - the accuser of the brethren. The Holy Spirit's voice points to Jesus, and glorifies God. The devil often emphasises 'me' - either puffing up or pulling down. And my own thoughts... are often a bit too complicated, theoretical and high-flown. Though God may use them to point me in the right direction, usually His Word for the situation is short, sharp and to the point - a two-edged sword dividing mind and spirit! And, of course, the crucial test is - does it line up with what the Bible says. Even if it is a verse of Scripture, is it being applied in a thoroughly biblical (contextually valid) way, or twisted to say something contrary to the spirit of Scripture?

Anthony