One of the most important questions Christians ask is “Can God Speak To Me” or “How Can I Hear God Speak To Me“. One thing every Born-again Christian should be certain from is that God wants to speak to them always and He is always seeking to communicate and guide our hearts and minds daily. Here are some of the major ways that God speaks to us.
1. THE WRITTEN:
The first voice of God revealed to us is the word of God. Certain verses begin to jump out almost in direct response to what you need to hear at that moment when you study God’s word. This happened to me when I had a friend who God told me to clearly stop visiting and confirmed it using Proverbs 4-6 – it’s one way the Lord speaks to us.
Imagine God is driving to your house and He wants to enter your gate. The word of God is the “gateman” that opens the gate to allow His voice to you come in. Revelation 19:13 “…and His name is called the word of God”.
2. THE NUDGE
Impressions and Nudges – this is how God often speaks to me. His leading is often a soft prompting or a compelling force. Paul described it as “necessity is laid upon me“. This feels like a knowing that you have to do something. It often feels like a little burden. Or a heavy one too.
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upone” 1 Cor 9:16
Ezekiel experienced the Spirit of God literally compelling him and so can we.
“While the voice was speaking, God’s spirit entered me and raided me to my feet, then the Lord said… ” Ezekiel 2:2
3. THE VOICE OF COUNSELORS
Emotions cloud spiritual judgment. When we are in love, it is easy to hear “Arise, my child for this is thy husband whom I have sent“, when it’s really not. Seeking counsel from trusted seniors in the faith will often help to confirm the voice of God most especially when emotions are high (clouded).
Someone messaged me about Christian mentors disappointing them: You’re not going to find a perfect mentor – everybody is learning, growing and nobody is beyond making an error. Give them some slack too as “treasures in earthen vessels” 2 Cor 4:7
Prov 11:14 “Where no counsel is, the people fail: but in the multitude of (wise and godly) counselors, there is safety”.
4. VISIONS
This one can be tricky because it takes discernment to recognise a dream or vision from God. Someone soaked in the word and spirit is more likely to discern correctly that a vision is from God or carries a message from God. Many people have been misled by a dream or vision they or someone else had claimed to have gotten from God.
“Let no one defraud you of freedom in Christ and your salvation… going into detail about visions (he claims) he has seen…” Col 2:18
Nevertheless, God speaks through visions whether during the day or at night as we sleep.
“Peter went to the rooftop to pray at around noon. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while their food was being prepared, he had a vision” Acts 10:9-10
5. THE AUDIBLE VOICE OF GOD
Most people don’t hear a voice but this could just happen to you!
“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from Heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul Saul Why are you persecuting me?” Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”.
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!” Acts 9:3 – 7
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5 Ways That God Can Speak With You
By Mayo Matesun
