5 Powerful Ways to Know When God is Speaking to You

5 Powerful Ways to Know When God is Speaking to You

Did you know that more Christians than not struggle to hear when God is speaking to them? They tend to complicate the situation, or give up when they don’t think they are hearing a response from Him. If this is you, then I am here to tell you that, it is easier to know and understand when God is speaking to you. Because, I was just like this.

I have been saved for a long while now, but I struggled with hearing from God. I found it hard to hear His voice in my mind or to see an answer or response to prayer in a verbal way (similar to when you are speaking to a friend and hear them respond back to you with their voice). But God communicates with us in more ways than just one.

2 Things You Need to Know About Hearing from God

Before I go into the different powerful ways God can speak to you, I need you to understand some things first.

1. We need to test the spirits. When we have a certain thought in our mind, or what we think is a response or confirmation from God, we need to test the spirits to make sure that it IS God’s voice we are hearing and not from the devil. You can do this by reading the scriptures and confirming that what you heard aligns with God’s Word. 
   
   “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1)
   
2. You will know if you are hearing from God because it will bring you comfort, peace and joy. It won’t seem like a negative, personal attack on you or your family or your life. The devil will use certain words to put in your head to manipulate you, discourage you, sadden you and distract you. His goal is to play games with your mind and get you distracted from walking on the straight and narrow. For instance, the devil will attack your personal image, question your actions, make you feel anxious and afraid. But do not be discouraged because God has NOT given us a spirit of fear, but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND. God’s voice is just that – powerful and loving, NOT one of fear or worry.
   
   “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7)

God’s voice vs the enemy’s voice

As I said before, there is a distinct difference between God’s voice and the enemy’s voice. God’s words are filled with His perfect love, that bring you peace and comfort. They are not words that will negatively impact on your mindset and well-being. God does not attack us with His Words; instead, He reassures us and fills us with His joy and love through His comforting, soothing words. 

Spiritual Warfare in the Mind

The devil, on the other hand, knows just what to say and how to say it to you, by filling your head with negative thoughts, and lies about yourself, or others. He gets you doubting yourself, second-guessing yourself, and bringing you down. His ultimate goal is to drag you down with him, and discourage you in the faith. If you have a history of anxiety, or are someone who is easily worried or stressed out (even if it runs in the family), the devil and his demons know that that is a weak spot for you, and will use it against you. This is because the devil’s primary goal is to attack your mind. 

This is why we need to put on the full armor of God each day, and cast down all imaginations (negative thoughts and worries) and command them to submit to the obedience of Christ. You HAVE the power and ability to be in control of your thoughts and actions. You CAN and WILL command in the name of Jesus, all negative thoughts and attacks to be cast out, and for all to submit to the obedience and will of Christ. 

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We all have free will, so we are all capable of making the decision to either entertain those negative thoughts and feelings in our mind, OR, to use the power and authority of the name of Jesus to cast them out. 

Now that we know what God’s voice sounds like, let’s take a look at:

5 Powerful Ways We Know When God is Speaking to Us:

1. The Word of God

The best way to hear from God is through His Word. When you sit down to read the Bible, oftentimes there are scriptures that will stand out to you. God is speaking to you through His Word. You can also confirm things in the scriptures when hearing from God after giving your requests to Him in prayer.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)

2. God’s Voice in our Minds

There are times when God will speak to us by sending us a message we hear. It may not be a physical voice we hear, per say, but God can place certain thoughts in your mind that can bring you peace and confirmation from a prayer you recently prayed. That is why it is important to test the spirits and also know for sure what God’s voice sounds like vs what the devil’s voice sounds like. 

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

3. Through Sermons Preached at Church by our Pastor

Have you ever gone to Church and listened to the Pastor preach and go, “wow, that is exactly what I have been going through, or what I needed to hear?” If you go to a Bible-believing Church where the Pastor hears from God and preaches what He wants the Pastor to say, then there will be plenty of messages that you and the rest of the congregation will relate to.

God knows what each and every one of us are going through, and what we need to hear to encourage us in our walk with Christ. It is of paramount importance to find a great Church where the Pastor is not preaching sugar-coated sermons, or is soft in his message, but rather, asks the Holy Spirit for guidance on what to preach and how to preach it to the rest of the Church. We want to actively hear from God when we go to Church. We want to feel His presence in every service.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

4. Confirmation of Hearing from God through Others

There are times when we can get a message from God through others. But again, test the spirits, and confirm in the scriptures if that is God speaking to you through someone else. You could be hearing someone sharing a testimony or a story of something that they have recently gone through, and it could relate to you, or even encourage you as well. There are many different ways that God will reach out to us. He loves us so much and everyone has an opportunity to hear from God. 

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). 

5. When there is Peace in our spirit

We are filled with the Holy Spirit, and when we have peace in our spirit, it is a great way to know that God is confirming some things with us that we have prayed about. If you are going through a difficult time, or are in a new season, or situation, and want God to reach out and help you, He will bring us peace and comfort in our spirit.

“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

How Do You Like to Hear from God?

I pray that this has encouraged you today to grow closer to God and be still in His presence. Do not be frustrated or upset if you think you do not hear from God, because there are many ways that He will speak to you. You just need to learn to be still and listen.

“Be still, and know that I am God:” (Psalm 46:10(a)). 

We often spend so much time in prayer talking to God and giving our requests and burdens to Him, but we forget to give time for Him to respond back to us. If you practice doing that, as well as reading the Word each day, praying to hear from God in the scriptures, you will know when God is speaking to you.