When God speaks

[Armistead]

I hear many people that say they know when God speaks to them. Some
claim they even hear audible voices. Others say they hear him in their minds.

Throughout my walk, more in my early days I would claim that "God told me so" or " I heard him in my spirit."

When making decisions, certainly we want to if it's God's plans. We come to a crossroads and ask God to send us down the right fork.

So how do judge when God speaks, over possible emotions. Do we often
want God to speak so much that we make it up.

I know and in years past have asked God for signs, to let me know if he will act or not or simply what to do. I know many that do this, but then
you can start reading into any possible thing that happens.

Mostly now, I just trust my gut, but how do you know when you feel for
sure God is speaking to you.

 

[Yarddog]

Hello Armistead,
I understand how difficult things can be. I have heard the spoken word of God, when an audible voice is heard, on many occasions. I have also experienced understanding, where God reveals something to you as in one thought. These are the easy ones to recognize.

The tough ones are those gentle tugs at the spirit. It is hard, for me, to tell the difference between these and my own thoughts at times but God is working with me on that.

One occasion where this occurred was a few years back. We were taking my son's 8th grade class to Chicago for their year end trip. (10 kids)

We were warned about all of the beggers that would hit you up on every corner but it surprised me at the numbers. You cannot help them all and we were told that many of these were really well to do individuals. It wasn't long before we became desensitized to all of it.

We had just left the Hancock Building and the female teachers wanted to get some popcorn to take back to the hotel. There was a famous little shop across the street and I was left in charge of the kids. (I was really nervous trying to keep an eye on the kids with so many people shuffling by. Some of the girls had already been hit on a number of times and my full attention was on them)

An old woman approached from the side and asked for some money to get something to eat. I felt that small tug on my spirit but because of the distraction from the kids, I ignore it and told her that I didn't have any money. A few seconds later God spoke and said, "That was the one."

I immediately knew of my failure and I turned to give the woman some money but she was no where to be seen. I personally believe that she was an angel but I'm not positive. If she wasn't, I'm sure that God took care of her.

I felt quite a bit of shame and the trip back to the hotel wasn't fun. I prayed all night for forgiveness and understanding. God wanted me to know that I needed to work on that part of his word. I still worry about missing something.

God is kind and merciful and he does communicate with us. Not always in a audible voice but mostly in that quiet tug on our spirit. Trust in him and he will guide.

God Bless,
Yarddog

 

[wayseer]

I hear many people that say they know when God speaks to them. Some claim they even hear audible voices. Others say they hear him in their minds.

-snip-

Mostly now, I just trust my gut, but how do you know when you feel for
sure God is speaking to you.

I guess it comes with maturity and experience.

I know God has had to use large hard objects to gain my attention. I'm learning.

I'm suspicious of my own inner feelings knowing all too well they are generally a reflection of my own desires. I am cautious. I also accept that I will get it wrong probably more times than I get it right. I also know the situation is fluid so what happened in the past is not a blueprint for future decision making.

The other side of the coin is that I don't want God giving me a shopping list for the day. This would undermine my own decisions making responsibility.

But I do note that God seems to operate with me through others. At the darnest times someone will say something, in relation to some other way off beat subject, that 'speaks' to me. The speaker will not even know what they have just uttered is a personal answer to prayer.

 

[HighwayMan]

Hello Armistead,
I understand how difficult things can be. I have heard the spoken word of God, when an audible voice is heard, on many occasions. I have also experienced understanding, where God reveals something to you as in one thought. These are the easy ones to recognize.

The tough ones are those gentle tugs at the spirit. It is hard, for me, to tell the difference between these and my own thoughts at times but God is working with me on that.

One occasion where this occurred was a few years back. We were taking my son's 8th grade class to Chicago for their year end trip. (10 kids)

We were warned about all of the beggers that would hit you up on every corner but it surprised me at the numbers. You cannot help them all and we were told that many of these were really well to do individuals. It wasn't long before we became desensitized to all of it.

We had just left the Hancock Building and the female teachers wanted to get some popcorn to take back to the hotel. There was a famous little shop across the street and I was left in charge of the kids. (I was really nervous trying to keep an eye on the kids with so many people shuffling by. Some of the girls had already been hit on a number of times and my full attention was on them)

An old woman approached from the side and asked for some money to get something to eat. I felt that small tug on my spirit but because of the distraction from the kids, I ignore it and told her that I didn't have any money. A few seconds later God spoke and said, "That was the one."

I immediately knew of my failure and I turned to give the woman some money but she was no where to be seen. I personally believe that she was an angel but I'm not positive. If she wasn't, I'm sure that God took care of her.

I felt quite a bit of shame and the trip back to the hotel wasn't fun. I prayed all night for forgiveness and understanding. God wanted me to know that I needed to work on that part of his word. I still worry about missing something.

God is kind and merciful and he does communicate with us. Not always in a audible voice but mostly in that quiet tug on our spirit. Trust in him and he will guide.

God Bless,
Yarddog

audible? You mean in the same way as hearing another flesh-and-blood person talk to you?

I don't know. I mean, if we assume God really does exist, then it might be possible. But I have never experienced anything remotely like that. I know of the "tugs" you speak, but we can easily say that is your own morality. But a real physical voice?

Also, doesn't help matters that many people who have done very crazy things have also claimed they have heard God's voice, they "trusted their spirit" and all that. So its very hard to make the difference between a legitimate claim and a lie.

 

[firstborn888]

I've never heard a physical voice but mostly get strong impressions, usually while fasting.

The closest thing I've ever had is a literal (spiritual) voice inside. On one occasion - I dozed off to sleep (while fasting) but immediately woke up and heard a voice inside say as clear as a bell "Sharon will be your wife". My first thought was "This is CRAZY" and it was nuts because we'd never even dated or been romantically involved in any way. That was going on 29 years ago and we've been happily married for the last 27 years.

Funny thing is - I had given up on ever getting married (too much hurt/confusion from the past) and would have never made it through the courtship/engagement process without the absolute assurance that she was 'the one' so I guess that's why it had to come down to a literal word.

The only other time this happened was before I knew Christ - God spoke to me 4 simple words which ultimitaly led me to Him.

The whole story (for anyone interested) can be found on my friend Debbie Boutwell's site here:
http://scaredofhell.com/

The 'testimonies' page is here:
http://scaredofhell.com/Testimonies.html

Mine is the third one down called "Byron's story"

 

[Yarddog]

audible? You mean in the same way as hearing another flesh-and-blood person talk to you?

Hello HighwayMan,

It doesn't happen quite the same as another speaking, since sound waves are not involved, but one "hears" a voice. Unlike a thought, where you have a whole concept come to you all at once, you hear each word separately.

I don't know. I mean, if we assume God really does exist, then it might be possible. But I have never experienced anything remotely like that.

That may probably still a seeker, but don't worry, as a percentage, not many christians hear the voice. Most experience God in many other ways.

I know of the "tugs" you speak, but we can easily say that is your own morality.

Yes, they are the hardest to discern between our own conscience and God.

But a real physical voice?

Yeah, I believe that much of it is to build my faith. Between, 2003 and 2006, this occurred quite a few times but I haven't heard the voice since then. I have had other times when I knew something instantly, but no voice. There have been thousands of tugs, but I'm not sure which were God and which were me.

Also, doesn't help matters that many people who have done very crazy things have also claimed they have heard God's voice, they "trusted their spirit" and all that. So its very hard to make the difference between a legitimate claim and a lie.

I understand and we should never put our trust in what another person says that God says. I think that some people do that in order to lend credibility to what they say, such as some preachers. (I think George Bush did that,once, before going into Iraq.)

God is there and he wants to be close to his children. He doesn't express himself to each person in the same manner but he does call.

God Bless,
Yarddog

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

I hear many people that say they know when God speaks to them. Some
claim they even hear audible voices. Others say they hear him in their minds.

Throughout my walk, more in my early days I would claim that "God told me so" or " I heard him in my spirit."

When making decisions, certainly we want to if it's God's plans. We come to a crossroads and ask God to send us down the right fork.

So how do judge when God speaks, over possible emotions. Do we often
want God to speak so much that we make it up.

I know and in years past have asked God for signs, to let me know if he will act or not or simply what to do. I know many that do this, but then
you can start reading into any possible thing that happens.

Mostly now, I just trust my gut, but how do you know when you feel for
sure God is speaking to you.

I had a lot of friends who would regularly claim "God said..." I think in such a case, fruits speak louder than claims...
I really do think that some people so want something supernatural that they may convince themselves...

How do I know that God is 'speaking' to me? It is absolutely consistant with the Bible. I have never heard a voice, or seen writing on the wall. But there have been a few unmistakable times. I'm pretty skeptical about this kind of stuff, even with myself, and I second guess whether I'm just emotional or justifying to myself etc. For me, when I want some clear answer, the answer has usually been staring me in the face in the Bible already, I just either, forgot, ignored it, over-complicated it, wanted to whinge some more, or have trouble doing it.

 

[dayhiker]

Amistead,
That is a very isteresting question. I think faith is often the key, but not a faith that can be put in a test tube.
I'm sure there were times in the past when I talked myself into Gold told me to do this. I clearly am much more careful about saying today that God told me such and such. But I can say there are times when even today I feel God has spoken to me in some way.

This reminds me if when I realized that Bible history isn't a continous stroy of God speaking to His people. There wer times when God spoke and there were times when we don't have a record of God speaking. So I now expect me life to be like that, some times God will be speaking and I'd be concious of that. Other times I expect to live as you say more from my gut trusting that God wants to see how I'll live out of what I know about Him.

Blessings brother.