How Do we hear God’s Voice Today?
One of the question that is tossed around alot is ‘How Does God speak’? As we read through stories and follow the Bible accounts, here are the main ways that God talks to us:
1. The PEACE of the Holy Spirit, the inner witness or calmness that comes with a right decision. Tranquillity, a rest and an inner contentment: Romans 8:16, I John 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 John 3:24, 4:13, Galatians 4:6. This is the main way that we know His guidance. All believers must know the difference between His peace and the lack of problems, between peace and what the world calls happiness.
2. HIS CREATION – in the design of “nature”, the perfection of the physical world, the perfection of God’s laws and the steadfastness of His principles: Romans 1:19-20, Nehemiah 9:6, Acts 14:15-17, Psalms 19:1, 97:6. He has sent the message of His perfection, His unique creativity in the world around us. Believing the worlds evoled through evolution over billions of years cannot explain the complexity of even a snow drop!
3. The CONSCIENCE – Inbuilt values or principles every society lives by, whether that society believes in God or not: John 16:8-9; Romans 2:15, Acts 17:26-28, Hebrews 9:14. However, the conscience can be programed by the culture and society we live in; what’s right for us today was not right 100 years ago. The conscience at best is a signpost to the Living Word.
4. IMPRESSIONS, intuition, spontaneous thoughts, inspiration, the “knowing that you know”, the convictions of the Holy Spirit – Acts 27:9-10, John. 16:13, Luke 21:15, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 John. 2:27, 2 Samuel 23:2, Romans 8:16. This is more than what people call ‘your gut feelings’ as it comes from a deeper, more peaceful knowing the right things to do.
5. The WRITTEN WORD – the Bible, and God’s principles found there. This is the Logos word: 2 Peter 1:20-21, Romans 8:16 and 10:16. The story of how the written word has been preserved through all the attempts of God’s emenies to destroyit is one of the greatest stoies every written.
6. The RHEMA Word, the quickened verse, illumination, the “aha” understanding. Knowledge that may be something special to you, usually from the Logos but can be from other inspiration: Romans 8:16, 10:17; 1 John 2:27, Luke 24:32. Remember the rhema and the logos word will always line up in truth.
7. Through CIRCUMSTANCES, an opening and closing of doors, events that confirm or give comfort to decisions, blessings: Romans 8:14, 28. However, we must be careful of our own willful making doors or of pushing so hard a door will open even though the Lord is not there. The botom line: “Hear and obey”.
8. The still, quiet VOICE: Acts. 10:19, Isaiah 30:21, 1 Kings 19:12. We heard the Lord deep within and often put it into our own words to share with others. Hearing His voice and the wisdom to know how to intreperate that quiet voice is also a learning experience.
9. VISIONS – either seen with the physical eyes, or eyes closed: Acts 10:1-3, 9:10-12, Revelations 9:17. Some people see pictures while others hear His words; both are valid ways to hear from Him.
10. GIFTS of the Holy Spirit, given to the Body of Christ: the gift of tongues in the assembly, own tongue, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, discerning of spirits, gifts of healing and miracles, words of wisdom and knowledge: 1 Corinthians, especially chapter 12 and 14, Acts 21:4. These ‘gifts’ are given to the church body as a way of growing and maturing His people. Most often the gifts come in groups, such as a word of knowledge with a word of wisdom. We shall look at the Spiritual gifts in another series.
11. DESIRES of the heart – If we have set our heart to following Him: Psalms 37:4. We know the heart has to be heard, but not always followed. The heart can lead us astray if it is not firmly set on what He wants. Only then can He trust us with fulfilling the desires of our heart.
12. Council of those in AUTHORITY, or by other ‘spiritual’ believers: 1 John 4:6, Hebrews 13:17, Galatians 6:1, 1 Peter 5:5. This is to be a confirmation of what the Lord has told us rather than the first stop to get guidance. Other’s can be a help along the way but not as the only way to God.
13. DREAMS: Joel 2:28. The Lord does speak to people while they sleep. We have many examples of this in Scripture. Again the issue is how to how the wisdom and guidance to intrepretate what the dream means.
14. The AUDIBLE VOICE of the Lord: Acts 19:3-6, Acts 26:13-15. Clearly the way to get your full attention but who needs faith if this was the only way He spoke?
15. ANGELS: Matthew 28:2, Acts 8:26. However, we must be careful of angelic visits as most of the major cults were started with a being of bright light bringing new revelations on the Bible, i.e. the Mormons.
16. PHYSICAL SENSATIONS – Some feel heat, ‘goose-bumps’, tears, falling over, or an electrical current in their bodies. Learn to know how your body feels in the presence of the Holy Spirit as another clue that the Lord is talking to you.
17. Other ways? God once spoke through a donkey to get someone’s attnetion. He gave the sign of a rainbow to Noah. He brought a cloud by day to protect Israel and a fire by night to keep them safe. God wants to speak to us, His creation.
He wants that relationship with us as sons and daughters. That is why He broke through time 
and space, took on human form and lived among us humans. He wants that relationship with YOU …… far more than you have any idea.
So what is your answer to the Creator, the God of the Universe?
Susanne Fengler, blog editor
www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog
You will also find a similar post on: www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog
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Tags: ways God speaks
Filed under: Foundations of our Faith, Series #1: Being a Jesus Follower
Dear admin, thnx for sharing this blog post. I found it wonderful. Finest regards, Victoria…
Thanks for your comments Bonnie. Wow all the way from the UK! Yes, I talk about what I have learned from my over 20 years as a Christian Counsellor, mentor and Coach. I’ve learned by experience in my own life how important this topic is. So thanks again and I’ll be praying that the info get deeper into your heart as well, Susanne
….well wanna say thanks for your comment! I post about once a week so come on back and visit agian. The info comes from 20 plus years of Counselling, Mentoring and Coaching. You might also check out: http://www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog or http://www.totalwholeness.mentorsnotebook.com/blog or http://www.conflictsolutions.mentorsnotebook.com/blog Praying that this infor get from head into heart as well so that this won’t just be a linking exercise, Susanne
Thanks Aybar for your comments but I’m also aiming for the professional blogger as well with the message of this blog. Thanks for your encouragement and may this info get from your head into your heart as well – that is my prayer for you. Also try our other blog: http://www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog You might find some good articles there too. Come back again, Susanne
You know what Kristian, I only know One source of ‘solid gold’ and that is the Lord Jesus. May you get to know Him and yes, that will be well worth the effort! Find Him and you will find all else, Susanne
Thanks Dahms! Encouragement always appreciated. May hearing God’s voice brighten your whole life as you let His truth get from your head to your heart – that’s going to be my prayer for you. Also check out my other blog: http://www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog or http://www.conflictsolutions.mentorsnotebook.com/blog or http://www.totalwholeness.mentorsnotebook.com/blog Blessing on your week! Susanne
Thanks Nike, for that mental picture. I’m glad you enjoyed the post! You might also enjoy reading http://www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog too. My prayer for you is that your heart finds the love of God ‘absolute amazing’ in your world too, Susanne
Thanks for the encouragement, xtoys. It’s good to know the blog is getting around the world. Where are you? My prayers for you is that our loving Creator show you more and more of His heart for you, no matter where you are spiritually or physically, Susanne