As a younger Christian, I asked myself this question many times and I seldom received an understandable answer. In the scriptures, God's voice traveled a range of volumes and intensities, depending on the situation. He thundered when defending His people. After a windstorm, earthquake, and fire, He whispered to Elijah at the mouth of a cave. At that time, i wondered what would be the nature of His voice if He spoke to me personally?
In one sense, we all have to know and identify God's voice on our own. He speaks uniquely to each of us, and from experience, we learn whether we are hearing our own imagination or even the deceptive voice of the enemy. At the same time, it helps to learn how other believers discern God's voice and what prompts them to act on what they have heard. When people say, 'God told me this', there have been times when I have asked them: "How do you know He told you?" The answers that I have received over the years have been somewhat vague for the most part. While some people are able to describe specific feelings and signs that identify God's voice to them, others are not as descriptive at all. From my experiences, a two pronged pattern seems to commonly emerge concerning the voice of God. Sometimes the Holy Spirit impresses a thought upon our minds and stirs our heart. If He speaks to the mind, it is usually a thought that intrudes upon the brain and is very different from what we have been thinking about. It produces a distinct quality that causes us to say, 'I wouldn't have thought of that myself,' and it suddenly gives us enlightenment into people or situations. If the Holy Spirit speaks to the heart, it is often through a nudge that compels us to action or a sense of restraint that warns us not move forward. The mind and the heart can also be in sync with a thought that agrees with a inner impression. This doesn't have the same impact as the thunder and it isn't a windstorm, earthquake, or fire, but it is nonetheless the powerful voice of the God who is speaking to you.
1 Comment
christdriven77
4/30/2012 12:58:45 pm
In hearing the voice of the Lord there is one thing that is constant and will never change. His voice always lines up with His Word and will never direct you apart from His Word. To me a misunderstanding of the Word blocks the hearing of His voice; not because it has the power to but because our faith only allows us to go so far with Him. This is why it is important to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us His Word.
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AuthorPastor Earl Goings shares his thoughts on everyday concerns. Comments Are Welcomed
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