My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27 KJV
Many people often wonder how can one hear God’s voice? I know when I was a new Christian I would hear my fellow brothers and sisters comment on things the Lord told them. After hearing their conversation I would wonder, “how can I hear his voice?” The bible says my sheep hear my voice. I wanted to hear the Lord’s voice too.
If you have not heard God’s voice and you want to find out how, this section will give you a great start. There really is no limit unto how the Lord speaks to us. Personally, I have experienced many ways. He never ceases to amaze me when he wants to get a message to me. He will use whatever method to communicate and it will be specific to me so I can understand. If you have a close friend you know what I mean when there is a special way you communicate secret things to each other. So below is a testimony of one of the occasions where I heard his voice early in my walk with the Lord.
The first thing in your walk to hearing him is “desiring” to hear him. That desire will spark a flame in you to hear him. The first time I heard his voice to tell me something to do, to be completely honest, I did not realize it was him. From my initial perspective I was having an argument with myself.
One Sunday service the pastors daughter wrote a beautiful song and sang it to the church. It had everyone in tears because the lyrics were so sweet and beautiful. Not to mention her beautiful voice that sang it. I remember thinking to myself I think I could write one. I used to write poems in high school and college English class. That was the end of that thought for that day.
So I sat down on Monday morning the following day to read my bible and I heard the words, “write that song!” I immediately responded and said, I will write it after I read my bible. I began to read again and I heard the same words, “write that song!” I again responded, “I will as soon as I finish reading my bible. I promised the Lord I would read before I start doing anything in my day.” For the third time, I heard those words again and wondered in my heart. “Why am I arguing with myself?” I suddenly realized it’s the Lord speaking to me. I quickly put down the Bible and grabbed a pen and paper and sat at the coffee table in front of me waiting for some idea to come to my mind. I sat there for a moment but I had no clue how could I start to write this song he was requesting. I asked the Lord to give me a tune so I could begin. Suddenly, I had one in my heart. I began to write and I believe within half an hour or so I had a song written down. It was a page long and fit the tune he gave me in my heart perfectly. I was quite happy and shared it with my close friend and spiritual leader at the time. They did not seem as impressed as I was. Probably because my voice is not as angelic as the pastor’s daughter….lol! But either way I accomplished my assignment. I still have that song folded in the pages of my bible to this day. It was a special moment that I will always remember.
* He Speaks Using Scripture *
So how does one know it is the Lord speaking? Well, as you begin to read and study the scriptures he will use these same scriptures to speak to you when you need some encouragement, for example. If you hear a scripture inside you you can be 100% sure it is Him speaking. There is no doubt when I heard scripture in my heart because he is the word. We don’t normally go around thinking about scriptures especially as a young person in the faith. But let’s say you are not a child in the faith and you still haven’t heard his voice. You can bet you have heard it you just did not realize it was him. Similar to when I heard his voice and I argued with myself. Or thought it was me at the time!
* He Speaks Through Dreams And Visions *
Another example God speaks to us would be through dreams. If you look through the Bible there are several examples which show God speaking through dreams and even giving visions. God spoke to Job in dreams, Joseph, the son of Jacob, is perfect to illustrate this type of communication as well. Pharaoh of Egypt had dreams, Daniel was a huge dreamer and even had Interpretation of those dreams, Joseph, the husband of Mary had a few dreams, John, the apostle, had dreams and visions. If you want to read those stories you can simply type the word “dream” in a Bible app and it will pull up all the scriptures that mention dreams. From there you can read the whole story. Understanding how he speaks comes from spending time with him. So the more time you spend seeking him and knowing his word you will know it is him speaking to you.
* He Confirms with Two or Three Witnesses *
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 Corinthians 13:1 KJV
God can also use another person to confirm what He has spoken to you. He can use two or three witnesses to confirm what he has told you. Usually, He sends someone to confirm what He has already spoken to you personally. Sometimes he uses a person to prophesy direction or call upon you.
There was a great evangelist who received a word from God this way. He wasn’t an evangelist at the time but the minister pointed him out sitting in the back of the church and said God wanted to send him to the nations. Would he go? His name was Billy Graham. This was an instance where God called him, it wasn’t a confirmation. This is why we cannot box God into a certain way of doing things. These are simply examples to help you on your road to knowing his voice.
* What Does His Voice Sound Like? *
Now that we have established a couple common ways God communicates the next question is, “What does his voice sound like”? Many times we are seeking a thunderous voice with trumpets or some other outrageous way to get your attention. It isn’t this way at all. He is a gentleman and not forceful.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23 KJV
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV
Jesus said he and the Father will come and live inside of you, and Paul told the Corinthians that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost or Spirit. Both of those scriptures say God lives in us. So what voice will you hear inside you when he speaks? It will be your voice but His words. It’s that simple! We tend to complicate things many times. You will hear your voice this is why you may find yourself arguing with ideas you have. This is the first clue you are speaking to God. You are trying to go against a Godly idea he is giving you.
There is no limit to what method God can communicate a message to you. There are definitely other ways he speaks to us not listed here. Our job is to be tuned in and see if it lines up with the Word of God. This is our thermometer, so to speak. We measure what we hear against the Word of God. Would it be something that he would do, say, or ask us to do? If you can clearly see it is then you can be certain it is from God.
