How God Speaks To Us
I had a conversation with someone recently about whether or not God speaks to us. He said he didn’t know, but thinks everyone needs to experience God differently. He wants to see signs of God revealing Himself to us and make it blatantly obvious He’s present in our lives.
That was an interesting conversation. There have been times I believe God spoke directly to me, but how are we able to distinguish God’s voice from our voice?
Does He speak to us all the same?
Short answer: No
How does God speak to you?
Here are 5 ways I believe God speaks to us.
Scripture
Relationships are a two-way street. We need to speak and listen. God speaks to us through the Bible and we speak to Him through prayer.
My relationship with my wife only works because I listen to her and she listens to me. We both speak to one another. If I didn’t listen to her and only told her what I wanted to say, our relationship wouldn’t work so well. I’d probably get some slaps to the back of my head sooner or later or the relationship would eventually crumble.
God is speaking to us through the Bible.
Some of my favorite scriptures on guidance are:
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
Spirit
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
He urges and nudges us through His Spirit.
I had a situation not too long ago where I finished my workout and was about to leave the gym. Before I walked out, I really felt compelled to go into the other room, but I didn't know why. I just had in my mind I needed to leave and I was headed for the door. Before I made it to the exit, the nudging of going into the other room was so strong that I decided to listen. When I got there, I ended up meeting a guy and somehow we started up a conversation. He and I instantly connected because of several common interests.
We ended up talking for quite a while and had a pretty intense conversation. He shared with me some very intimate details about some marital struggles he was going through at the time. I firmly believe the prompting I felt to go in the other room was from the Holy Spirit so I would encounter that man and have the conversation we did. It gave us an opportunity to connect with one another and I was able to counsel, encourage, and pray for him. We’ve stayed in contact since and still talk to each other quite regularly.
Counsel
Advice from other Christ Followers in the Church
Listen to their advice and make a wise decision.
How do you know when it is God speaking to you through the Spirit and our friends rather than just hearing our own voice?
Test the Spirits
Is it in line with what the Bible tells us?
Is it loving and strengthening for us?
Do we feel peaceful about it?
Paul says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Common Sense
The Bible is not clear and direct on all decisions, but what it does is guide and lead us to the decision. Then we use our common sense to make the choice.
God can shut doors and He can open them.
We are supposed to trust God to lead us where He wants us to go and allow ourselves to be led.
Sometimes we just need to keep doing the next right thing.
If I keep taking the next right step, God will lead me where He wants me to go.
Consistent Coincidences
Spoiler alert: there are no coincidences
God uses our mistakes.
Back in 2002 there was a week that completely changed my life. I was doing my own thing and going my own way.
Because of my life patterns of being an ignorant, self-centered twenty-something, I was fired from my job, evicted from my apartment, a couple days later my car was repoed, and then the girlfriend I had at the time (because of everything else that happened) broke up with me. I was literally down. It took me to that point before I realized the control I was seeking was leading to my destruction.
All this didn’t just spring up on me. It took a while and I can clearly see the things that caused this downward spiral to occur.
Oftentimes we can’t see what’s happening in the moment, or we’re too stubborn to shift gears, but when we look back we can see the dots connecting.
I believe this is a way God works too. He guides us by using experiences in our life to mold and shape us into who He wants us to be.
When I look back now, I can see the dots connecting and God navigating me through those circumstances to get where He brought me now. He used my mistakes to forge me into the person I am today.
There have been several other instances I have seen the results of God connecting those dots, however in the midst of my circumstances, in those moments, I wasn’t able to see how this was going to be used for any other purpose. It's amazing how looking back we are able to very clearly see God working.
SUMMARY
God speaks to us through Scripture, through His Spirit, Counsel of others in the church community, through Common Sense, and through Consistent Coincidences that aren’t really coincidences at all.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
The more you recognize Jesus, the more you will recognize His voice. How do we recognize His voice?
Reading the Bible and Pray
Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Sometimes God guides us specifically and directly, in an audible voice, but often times He will nudge us toward the direction we ought to go.
The more you know Jesus Christ, the more you recognize his voice and understand where He is leading us. How do we know Him? Read His written Word, the Bible. This is the source of how God speaks to us today.
God connects the dots.
There’s a popular Christian song called “Waymaker” by the artist Leeland, that I think is an anthem for how God works in our dots. Here are some lyrics from it: “Even when I don’t see it you’re working. Even when I don’t feel it you’re working.”
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
How have you heard God’s voice speaking, guiding, or nudging you in your life?
When you look back, can you see where God has been working in your dots or perhaps you are in a dot right now?
Have you actively read the Bible to “hear” God’s voice speak directly to you through His Word.
I’d love to hear what you think. Please leave me a comment below.
