He spoke with Adam in the first garden. He instructed Noah to build an ark. He talked to Moses from a flaming bush. He promised Abraham a son. Paul heard His voice on the road to Damascus. But is God still speaking to us today? If so, how? When? Where?
This question is frequently asked in reference to an audible voice. And it is something God is capable of doing. He can do whatever he wants. He is God. So, why can’t I hear God speak to me audibly?
I am unable to respond to questions that the Bible does not explicitly address. One of those questions is how God works. I believe that “hearing God speak” may have varied meanings for each person. Some may interpret it as “I need answers for my life, or this particular crisis.” Others may say, “I’ve asked God for __, but He never answers me.”
Despite the fact that each of us is a one-of-a-kind child, God does not “speak” in the same manner to all of us. Here are eight ways God frequently communicates with us.
1. Through His Word in general.
According to 2 Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is “God-breathed.” His Word occasionally sends us a warning, a word of encouragement, or a lesson for life. It’s “His-story” written with love as God’s guide for life, “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
If someone claims, “God told me to go kill my neighbor!”, you would not believe him because God never violates His own Word or principles. God speaks to us through His Word, sometimes whispering and sometimes shouting, and gives us life principles and instructions.
I needed help raising my children, and God “told” me about it in His Word, especially in Proverbs. When I was afraid, I “heard” Jesus’ words to His disciples as they feared for their lives one stormy night: “Peace, be still!” and it felt like God was speaking to me as well (Luke 8:23-25).
2. Through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2, NIV).
The words of Jesus in Scripture allow us to “hear” God’s heart and voice, revealing God’s true nature. These words were not written for a select few who could jump through the right spiritual hoops (“For God so loved the world…”). Anyone reading the Bible, regardless of location, can “hear” Jesus’ voice.
In John 10:27, NKJV, Jesus compares us to sheep and He to the Shepherd, saying, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” The sheep know who He is because they belong to Him and recognize Him by the sound of His voice, and He is the one who will always lovingly lead them down the right path–time after time.
3. Through Nature and God’s Creation.
“For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, NIV). Through the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that God has made, we can “hear” His voice. By observing the ant’s strength to store up food all summer long, we learn about wisdom and industriousness. By studying the heavens,
4. Through Other Believers.
“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. God may use a friend, a teacher, a parent, or a preacher to convey His message of truth to us. Whether we choose to hear it or ignore it depends on us.
I’ve “heard” God speak to me numerous times through other people, including a good friend who warned me about flirting with danger, a speaker or Christian author who has both challenged and convicted me, and my own children, whose pure and honest words cut straight to my heart and spirit, reminding me of God’s true priorities.
All these things may not sound like ways of “hearing God’s voice,” but it’s possible to reduce God to our own image if we insist on Him acting or reacting in a certain way. God is bigger than that, and He once spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28), so why can’t He speak through anyone at any time and in any way He wants?
The bottom line is that if we are His children, God loves us completely and would go to any length to demonstrate this. Our job is to believe Him!
I’ve never heard God through an angel’s message, and I don’t have any taped recordings to show you what God sounds like. However, I have heard God “speak” in the methods mentioned above, as well as a few more. Read on to learn more.
5. Through Music.
Praise, like a sergeant’s command to his soldiers, instantly draws my attention and opens my ears to the soothing comfort, excitement, and passion that the words and notes bring. Perhaps it’s because in times of depression and difficult trials in the past, I would pour over David’s songs in Psalms, often singing them back to God with my own tunes, that I can sense God’s presence and “hear” His voice the best.
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faced a huge army of enemies who could have easily destroyed His people, but he did a strange thing. With a declaration that his eyes were on God, he sent in a choir of praise singers: “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NIV).
God “spoke” clearly, unleashing His strength, and Jehoshaphat’s army defeated their adversaries!
6. Through Circumstances
When others claim to hear God through circumstances, I attempt to caution them to test their conclusions with other evidence. God is a Holy God, and He frequently uses circumstances to draw our attention. However, He typically confirms it in other ways.
My husband and I were dating in high school when we were both involved in a potentially fatal accident when a speeding pick-up hit our car broadside. Although he did not “hear” God’s literal “Yes,” he felt God’s confirmation through much prayer, seeking God’s Word, and talking to others. Several months later, he committed his life to full-time Christia
Someone once told me that they just knew God was telling them it was okay to buy a brand-new pickup. They had prayed about it, and circumstances confirmed it: the local car dealership had just the color and model they wanted. But there was one small problem they were overlooking: they couldn’t afford it on their income. They also ignored other red flags.
God utilized circumstances (plagues) to persuade Egypt’s leader, Pharaoh, to free God’s people from slavery, but he refused.
I recently had my first ambulance ride to the local emergency room as a patient, and my pulse and blood pressure dropped dangerously low. For a few minutes, my world looked like a spinning photo negative, which was terrifying. After four hours of testing, the doctor declared me healthy.
I don’t know if God was speaking to me about something special, but the first thing I did was tell Him I was listening! If nothing else, life–and loved ones–became much more precious to me! One of the first things I usually ask God when circumstances change is, “God, is there anything you want to teach me through this?” Yes, I know everything is “fodder” for writers, but I want to make it personal and learn the lesson first.
7. Through His Spirit.
When we confess Jesus and follow Him as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit comes to live in us (John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16). When we are tempted, God’s Spirit warns and nudges us to do the right thing. I once heard someone teach about “minding the checks” in your spirit. Some call it “God’s whispers,” others “God’s still, small voice.”
As a writer, I rely on God’s Spirit to guide me. Some ideas come to me unexpectedly, and sometimes right after a prayer for help from God. I give credit to God for the good ideas, because He is the source of all good and perfect gifts. The others are in file 13, and even the good ones need to be developed and rewritten, but that’s a different topic.
Why do you think ten people can “hear” a sermon, but each person will walk away with a different truth that applies to him? In some cases, the speaker never said what the people say they “heard.” Many times, that may be the result of God’s Spirit speaking a personal “Rhema,” a living, breathing word of truth to our spirits. This is when Scripture comes alive to us–because it is truly “God-breathed.”
8. Through Prayer.
We may not know how to pray, but God’s Word teaches us that His Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). All of the ways I’ve mentioned that God may speak to us today are interconnected.
Often, a combination of fasting and prayer clears our minds and makes our hearts more sensitive to God. We may not hear God’s literal voice, but His Spirit confirms a certain direction or answer for us. As the distractions fade, we can sense His leading in a new way. During prayer, God’s Spirit may remind us of a Scripture or truth in His Word that we can directly apply to the situation.
Does that happen right away? Not always. There have been times when I still had no idea what to do, but I thanked God in faith whenever and however He would respond. A day, a week, or even months pass, and then one day in the shower or on a walk, a thought comes–that gentle “whisper” that could only come from Him, accompanied by His peace.
9. Through Miracles and Supernatural Experiences.
Imagine your life as a large journey, and sometimes, in this adventure, very amazing things happen, things so incredible that they feel like magic, which is what some people call miracles. It’s as if God, in His loving manner, steps into our world to accomplish something extraordinary.
A miracle is like a surprise party that God organizes for us; it is when something great and unexpected happens, and people exclaim, “Wow, that’s not something you see every day!”” Miracles can be big, like helping someone get better when everyone thought they couldn’t, or small, like finding hope in a difficult situation. Many people believe that these events are God’s way of demonstrating His power and love.”
Miracles aren’t always grand events; they can also be hidden in everyday life, like finding hidden treasures in your normal, routine day. Some see these little miracles as God’s way of bringing a touch of magic to our daily lives, such as unexpected joy, surprising solutions to problems, or experiencing kindness when you least expect it.
Now, let’s talk about supernatural experiences, which are like personal messages from God that go beyond what we usually see or hear. It’s when someone feels a special connection with God, like a warm hug during a difficult time. Some people have dreams or visions that feel like God is speaking to them directly, providing guidance, comfort, or a sense of His presence.
Miracles and supernatural experiences are God’s method of speaking a specific language just for us; they are signs and wonders that indicate His love and concern, as if God is saying, “Hey, I’m right here with you, and I can do amazing things to let you know how much I love you.”
10. Through Nature.
Imagine nature as a large, beautiful book that God authored for us. Every tree, bird, cloud, and even the wind tells a narrative about how great and compassionate God is. This book does not have words like a typical book, but it talks to our hearts in a unique way.
Look up at the sky; it’s like God’s canvas. When you see a sunrise painting the sky with warm colors or a starry night making it glitter, it’s as if God is saying, “Look at what magnificent things I can create!”
Consider plants and animals, each of which plays a part in the overall picture. Plants grow, animals roam, and it’s like God’s way of creating a busy, dynamic world. Observing them teaches us about how everything is interconnected and part of God’s design.
Nature has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season is like a chapter in God’s book: spring is about new beginnings, summer is pleasant and joyous, autumn is about transformation, and winter is about rest. God uses the weather and the environment around us to tell a story.
Have you ever stood by a large mountain or looked out at the wide ocean? It’s as if God is saying, “I’m so powerful, and I made all of this for you.” The grandeur of these locations reminds us of God’s might and creativity.
When we feel the wind on our faces or hear it rustling through the leaves, it’s as if God is whispering to us. It could be a gentle reminder of His presence or a powerful message to pay attention to the beauty of the moment. Water is extremely important because it helps plants grow, provides a home for animals, and quenches our thirst. Some see this as God providing for us, demonstrating His love by giving us what we need to live and thrive.
You are unique.
God speaks in a variety of ways, including through miracles, to each of us, and He does not speak in the same way to everyone. In other countries where Christianity is forbidden, God reveals Himself repeatedly through dreams, according to report after report. When an unbeliever has a dream about Jesus but does not know who the “man” is or what the dream means, a messenger arrives and shows them a film.
Remember One Truth.
The Bible warns against adding to the already written, God-breathed Word of God or accepting any other messenger who claims to be superior to Jesus (Revelation 22:18-19; 2 Corinthians 11:4), regardless of how God chooses to reveal Himself or “speak” to us today. He will never contradict His Word, and the message He sends will always bring glory to God.