Recognizing
Gods voice:
This question has been asked by
countless people throughout the ages.
Samuel heard the voice of God, but
didn't recognize it until he was
instructed by Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-10).
Gideon had a physical revelation from
God and he still doubted what he had
heard, to the point of asking for a
sign, not once but three times (Judges
chapter 6, esp.vs.17-22, 36-40)! When we
are listening for God's voice, how can
we know that He is the one speaking?
First of all, we have something that
Gideon and Samuel did not. We have the
complete Bible, the inspired word of
God, to read, study and meditate on.
2Ti
3:16 All scripture [is]
given by inspiration of God, and [is]
profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
2Ti
3:17 That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.
Do you have a question about a certain
topic or decision in your life? See what
the Bible has to say about it. God will
never lead you or direct you contrary to
what He has taught or promised in His
Word (Titus 1:2). A topical Bible, which
lists Bible verses by many different
subjects, can be helpful with this.
Secondly, to hear God's voice we must
recognize it. Jesus said,
Joh
10:27 My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me:
If
we are to know God's voice, we must
spend time with Him daily. Be sure that
you are spending quality time daily in
prayer, Bible study and quiet
contemplation of His Word. There are no
magic numbers or formulas for this. Talk
to some other Christians that you admire
and find out what they are doing in this
regard. Find what works for you and then
make the time for it. The more time you
spend intimately with God and His Word
the easier it will be to recognize His
voice. God speaks to us so that we may
understand truth. He speaks primarily
through His Word, but sometimes also
through the Holy Spirit to our
consciences, through circumstances and
through other people. By applying what
we hear to the truth of Scripture, we
can learn to recognize His voice.
It
is also important to get alone with God.
In order to hear the voice of the Holy
Spirit, we need to be listening. Many
times we Christians get distraught
because we are trying to get an answer
from God, but we are too involved with
our situation or circumstances to be
able to hear Him. Elijah the prophet was
distraught because Jezebel had
threatened to kill him for killing the
prophets of Baal. He asked God to take
his life because he was the only prophet
left in Israel, and the people he was
preaching to wanted to kill him too.
Elijah, following God's command, and
wanting to hear from God went up on the
mount:
1Ki
19:11 And he said, Go forth,
and stand upon the mount before the
LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by,
and a great and strong wind rent the
mountains, and brake in pieces the
rocks before the LORD; [but]
the LORD [was]
not in the wind: and after the wind an
earthquake; [but]
the LORD [was]
not in the earthquake:
1Ki
19:12 And after the earthquake
a fire; [but]
the LORD [was]
not in the fire: and after the fire a
still small voice.
(Knowing
what to do when God tells me:)
Pray, especially when you're unsure of
God's will for your life.
Jam
1:5 If any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask of God, that giveth to all
[men]
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him.
Psa
37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait
patiently for him: fret not thyself
because of him who prospereth in his
way, because of the man who bringeth
wicked devices to pass.
If
you don't know what to pray, you can
always personalize & pray verses
such as,
Psa
143:8 Cause me to hear thy
lovingkindness in the morning; for in
thee do I trust: cause me to know the
way wherein I should walk; for I lift
up my soul unto thee.
and,
Psa
25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and
teach me: for thou [art]
the God of my salvation; on thee do I
wait all the day.
"All scripture [is]
given by inspiration of God, and [is]
profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16).
If Scripture commands something of us,
there's no need to hesitate & wonder
if it's really God's will for us. He
cares so much about us that He already
gave a plain and clear Guidebook to life
– the Bible.
Psa
119:105 Thy word [is]
a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path.
Psa
19:7 The law of the LORD [is]
perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the LORD [is]
sure, making wise the simple.
Psa
119:9 Wherewithal shall a young
man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto]
according to thy word.
Likewise, God never, ever contradicts
Himself, so He'll never ask you to
something contradictory to Scripture. He
will never ask you to sin. He will never
ask you to do something Jesus Christ
wouldn't do. We need to educate
ourselves about the Bible, so we will
know which actions meet God's standards.
Jos
1:8 This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy
way prosperous, and then thou shalt
have good success.
Christians also have the Holy Spirit to
discern what is, or is not, God's will
for our lives.
Joh
16:13 Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, [that]
shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit will either
agitate our conscience if we're making a
wrong decision, or He will pacify and
encourage us when we're leaning toward
the right decision. Even if He doesn't
intervene in such noticeable ways, we
can have confidence that He's always in
charge. Sometimes God can alter a
situation without us even realizing He
has acted.
Isa
58:11 And the LORD shall guide
thee continually, and satisfy thy soul
in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered
garden, and like a spring of water,
whose waters fail not.
If God is calling you to take a leap of
faith, be encouraged by His presence.
Jos
1:9 Have not I commanded thee?
Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the LORD thy God [is]
with thee whithersoever thou goest.
1Pe
5:7 Casting all your care upon
him; for he careth for you.
Pro
3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with
all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths.
Remember God is listening and willing to
have that one on one with you at any
time. Through Jesus our Lord and Gods
son we have been given back that
fatherly relationship, so use it. Stop
and listen - take a seat at his feet.
God wants to Sometimes we can't hear
because of all the noise we ourselves
are making.
