Are you hearing from God? (And how to know if it's God)

James Earl Jones. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Morgan Freeman. Ellen Degeneres. Elvis. This collection of celebrities has something in common that sets them apart from hundreds of other famous people. They have voices so distinctive that they can be recognized by their voices alone. 

God also has a distinctive voice, and He speaks constantly. None of us had the opportunity to literally see and hear Him through the life of Jesus, but to the trained ear His voice is nonetheless recognizable and undeniable. Learning to recognize God’s voice is a skill that can be developed. We recognize the voices we hear most. The more time we spend with God the more recognizable His voice becomes.

As a young boy, Samuel lived in the house of the Lord under the care of Eli the priest. Samuel became familiar with the rituals of serving God, but he did not know the voice of God. Eli, however, was familiar with the voice of the Lord. Not only did Eli help Samuel identify the Lord’s voice, Eli instructed Samuel in how to respond to it. 

Like Samuel, when individuals begin a relationship with the Lord, it is helpful to know someone who already recognizes the Lord’s voice so and can distinguish between God’s voice and the many other “voices” they hear in a given day. As group leaders, we often get to be that someone. 

As we hear from God ourselves, we grow more familiar with His voice. We also have an advantage over Samuel because we have the Bible and the Holy Spirit living in us. God is constantly speaking to us through the Bible (Hebrews 4:12). In the pages of Scripture, God reveals His character and desires, which helps us recognize His voice when we hear it. 

Sometimes, God will speak to us by drawing our attention to a passage of Scripture. Other times, the Lord speaks to people in their hearts. He directs them through a sense of knowing on the inside. Regardless of the circumstances, helping someone recognize God’s voice is one of the greatest gifts we can give another believer. 

Reflect:

• Have you ever sat in a church service and felt like was God speaking directly to you? How did that experience affect you?
• Why do you think we hear God’s voice more clearly and directly on some days than others?
• Is there a particular issue you feel like God is being silent about? If you do not have a mentor, stop by the Care Room at any campus on Sunday or reach out to us here. We’d love to talk with you.