So recently a lot of questions have been asked regarding hearing from God. What does the voice of God sound like? How can I know if he’s really talking to me? How do I even know if he is talking to me? I think these are all very valid questions and to be honest, I don’t have all the answers (I know that may come as a shock to some of you). Therefore I can only answer you from my own personal experience and from I read in the Bible.

First of all, I have never heard God speak to me audibly. I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen I’m just saying that it has never happened to me. I’ve never had a burning bush experience so I cannot really relate to that either. However, I have heard from God many times.

About three years ago I was with some of my closest friends. I don’t remember what night of the week it was but I do remember we were sitting around trying to find something to do (I’m sure you can all relate to this). This idea of going somewhere to worship popped into my head. I don’t know where it came from I just know that the thought of worshipping came into my head. Brushing if off as silliness, I tried to ignore it. I asked my friends if they wanted to see a movie or something. I pretty much suggested everything but that crazy idea of worship. Finally, since we couldn’t decide what to do, my friend Ted said, “I really feel that we should go worship somewhere.” That was exactly the same thought I had in my head, except I was too chicken to say anything. Had I heard from God? I believe I did and Ted even confirmed it by suggesting the exact same thing that I was too afraid to say.

That episode taught me several things. First, I learned that God really does talk to me. Second, I became a little more familiar with the voice of God. In the Old Testament and even in the New Testament, God spoke audibly to some people. This, however, was not the only way he spoke to them. See, the Bible tells us that “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24). Since God is a Spirit, we are to “worship him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This means that our spirit communicates with the Spirit of God. Many times God will communicate with us through his Spirit and our spirit. In one place it says that we can “have an unction from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). In another place it says “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit” (Romans 8:16). So you see there that there is a lot of spirit to Spirit communication.

Part of the issue is learning to recognize the voice of God. When the Lord spoke to Elijah, he sent a mighty wind, an earthquake and a fire. But, the Word says, the Lord was not in any of these loud, demonstrative things. Afterward, the Lord spoke to Elijah in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). Then the Word also mentions that he will speak to us in visions and dreams (see: both Josephs) in Acts 2 as will as with words of wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 12). The trick is knowing which voice is the voice of God and which is not.

Here are some things that may help. First, any word from God will not violate the Bible. Because “thy word is truth” (John 17:17), we can hold up anything that we think is from God to it and use the Bible as a measuring stick. They should not contradict each other. The Bible even says to “let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge” (I Corinthians 14:29). Even the prophets are subject to having others judge their prophecy. If you’re not sure if what you hear is in line with the Word ask someone that you know hears from God and knows the Word. There is nothing wrong with that. By doing this you’ll become more familiar with God’s voice. Once you can even sort of recognize his voice, start following it and obeying it. The Bible says that Jesus is our Shepherd (or pastor) and “the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10:4). When you start obeying it you will surely be blessed. As Pastor Jeph says, “Blessings follow obedience.” Also look for God to start “confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20). After that, keep talking to God. I notice in my life that it works best in a dialogue fashion especially to questions that I have. Keep talking with him and learn to listen for his voice. Once you can start recognizing his voice, the other voices will become quieter and quieter.