[This is part two in a three part series on the Ways to Hear God's Voice]
Communication is the foundation to any relationship. Communication is about connecting, contributing, loving, strengthening and encouraging others. We are designed to live from it and we die without it.
What separates mankind from anything else in creation is our level of communication. We are made in both God’s image and likeness. We have the capacity to actually communicate with God, to talk with the One who never had a beginning and will never have an end.
I remember sitting in a church staff meeting and a Pastor around the table said, “can anyone truly hear the voice of God”. I looked at him completely shocked thinking, “Uh, you’re a Pastor?”If Pastors are not hearing the voice of the Lord then the people they lead are in trouble. So I looked at him and said, “YES!, It is possible to hear the voice of God because I just had a conversation with Him this morning. It’s called prayer.”
It is mind-boggling that we can actually have a conversation with God. He “hardwired” it in us. We have the capacity to talk with God.
God’s voice comes in many ways. Tuning into the frequency of His reality is vital to hearing His voice. For the record, God’s primary language is not English. His voice is multi-colored, multi-faceted, coming from the realms of heaven.
I want to give you twelve ways God talks to us. These ways are by no means exhaustive because God can get our attention in hundreds of different ways. Yet, these are what I would consider both normative and foundational. We will look at six now and six in in the next blog post.
1. The Bible – Hebrews 4:1
The primary way God speaks to us is the Bible. The Bible is the ultimate revelation of His voice. It’s the “litmus test”, “anchor”, the “filter” to measure all other things we feel the Lord might be saying to us. Though I believe God will never contradict His Word, I do believe He is bigger than it.
2. Visions – Acts 2:17, 2 Kings 6:14-17
The word vision means “to see”. Visions from God are heavenly scenes supernaturally imposed on the eyes and mind while one is awake. A scene you can see with the natural eye. The event found in 2 Kings 6:14-17 is an amazing example of an open vision.
3. Dreams – Acts 2:17
Dreams are a series of images and ideas that occur during sleep. Spiritual dreams originate in the Spirit and carry specific messages from the Lord. An encountering spiritual dream is where God speaks directly to the person in the dream (Genesis 31:24; Matt. 2:13). Another type of dream is where there is no direct voice and it needs to be interpreted (Daniel 2:27-28).
4. Mental Images – John 1:48
Mental pictures are images that occur in the mind while awake. They are snapshots from God that often come without warning or forethought. They often come when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation but are not limited to just the gifts. Like visions and dreams, mental images need to be prayed over before they are acted upon.
5. Audible Voice of the Lord – Mark 1:11, Acts 9:3-6
The audible voice of the Lord comes to us while we are awake and it sounds as if someone is talking to us directly. It can be heard clearly and carries with it a realm of God’s presence. Both Jesus (Mark 1:11) and Paul (Acts 9:3-6) experienced the audible voice of the Lord.
6. Still Small Voice – 1 Kings 19:11-13
The “still small voice” is sometimes called an “inner voice” where God speaks through the inner declarations by His Spirit to yours. This often comes to us when we slow down enough to listen. A busy mind is a hindrance to hearing the still small voice of the Lord.
Let me say something here. People begin to freak out when we discuss ways of hearing God’s voice outside of reading the Bible itself. What I am saying here is that all of these are found in the Bible and the voice of the Lord will not contradict His Word. I believe we need to raise up a people who, like Eli, trained Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9-11), to pay attention and hear Gods voice.
More to come –
Your Turn: Has the Lord spoken to you in any of these ways? Why is it so important for believers to hear the voice of the Lord?
this is a good series. still don’t know what I think about the increasingly popular, “God is bigger than the book”. While it is true in theory, in practice it is irrelevant. It’s kinda like saying, “God is bigger than Jesus.” Yes…but when you’re God, you get to decide when and how you are going to reveal yourself.
While in the Scripture the Lord spoke in all the ways that you mentioned above (which we need more of!), they really only served to clarify, specify, and personalize the information already given in His Word. I have lots of thoughts on this, but I won’t clog up the replies. Great series.
Bill, good angle on the “why” of His voice. Thought provoking.
Looks like a great series. I believe God is bigger than the Book, but the Book is what He wants us to rely on for He told us so and when we step outside of the Bible then we are going against Him.
God speaks to all of us we just need to quiet ourselves and listen and know His voice, that is where the Bible comes is for often He speaks in verses for each situation. Fasting really helps as we deny self and focus on Him.
I have never heard the audible voice of God but I have heard God through; the Bible, visions, dreams, mental images and the still small voice. God usually speaks to me via the Bible, small voice and images. I know this comes from God because it is a deep knowing that this is from Him and when I obey I feel great but when I don’t obey I feel a loss and I am saddened. These also line up with His word found in the Bible.
Looking forward to your next post.
Child of God recently posted…Prayer & Fasting Changes Nations
Wow! You are connecting on 5 of the 6. Awesome! Let’s see how you do on the next six.
I agree with you on the Word. The Bible needs to be front and center and the filter for all things we perceive are coming from the Lord.
Really enoying this series Pastor Greg, especially since I’ve missed the sermons. I love how God speaks to me through mental pictures. I’ve even had a couple of open visions. I believe I have heard the audible voice of God once. It’s weird, you would think that it would have been very loud, but it was a very quiet yet loud in my spirit voice. He called me by my name. I’ll never forget that day!
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You got one up on me.
Haven’t heard His audible voice yet.
Getting pictures is a huge way the Lord speaks downloads things to you. I am glad that you have learned how He speaks. Lean into the other ways, He might surprise you!
Thanks for this reminder! I love how God can speak in so many distinct ways.
Thanks, Marc. Six more coming in the next post
jux growing in Christ and really wanted to know more about him i guess the most important thing i have learnt is not to doubt him having faith is the key i have learnt a lot God richly bless you Pastor Greg
Thanks, Donrinda. I pray that you will grow to into the fulness of your anointing and calling. This article might help you with the faith you need. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the six ways,i will really put it into practice,some months ago,i experience something i have never experienced before,on my way to school around 7:30am in the morning,as i was going i heard a strange voice,it was sounding heavily on my ears,it was like the voice of tongues,i thought it was people that were discussing in the farm but when i look into the farm i will see nobody,i cannot understand the language of the voice,it was very strange that i become so afraid inside,the voice kept on echoeing in my ears blebleblebleblebleblbelbeble,until at a certain place i stopped and said in my mind oh God pls am going for my examination,please this voice strangest me pls God help me,immediately the voice stopped.i have never witness it again,but am stil confuse,since then i have been praying for God to speak,because,i so much need him into my life as much as i need myself,pls pray for me along with you,my name is MARKANTHONY FROM NIGERIA, THANKS
MarkAnthony, This reminds me of Samuel when he was a boy. Eli taught him to respond to the voice after Samuel was initially confused.
Here are some thoughts:
1. Does the voice promote peace in your heart? If so, then proceed with the asking the Lord if He is speaking to you.
2. If so, even if you don’t understand it, thank Him for speaking to you.
3. Ask the Lord to speak to you more with greater clarity.
It could be that the Lord is seeing if you will receive what has been given to you with thanksgiving though you don’t understand. Also, it’s important to realize that the Lord desires to to speak to the heart first then to our understanding (mind). This could be the process you are in.
Each person is so unique in HOW God speaks to them. It might never happen again or it might. God might speak to you in a completely different way. This is part of the adventure and the joy of knowing the Lord. So keep pursuing Him.
So good to have friends in Nigeria. Please tell your friends about this blog. Rich favor and blessings to you in your journey with the Lord! You can always contact via email as well!
God’s great he talks to me through the mind. When i think it’s in him. He speaks in a way that sometimes i doubt maybe he is. The write up above is very good above all setting the mind in a positive way is a way to hear his voice. An example was when i was young, a child was conceived and i asked the mother that what the name of name the baby, the mother said the baby has no name instantly words flow through my mind and the name of the baby was known to me. To my greatest surprise the child was named what i already know. Dreams also was a major way God speak. I greatly thank this article. It not hard all you need is to be God’s lover
You are right, Fredrick. Loved your experience in regard to the name of the child. There are all kinds of secrets the Lord wants to share with His kids, especially those who truly love and pursue Him. May His voice continue to come to you in many ways. Great testimony. Keep going, friend!
How do i hear Gods voice?
Hello Taiwo. I would encourage you to read these two posts on hearing God’s voice and begin to experiment a little bit. Try and recognize how God speaks uniquely to you. It’s an adventure.