How Do Christians Recognize The Voice of God

Hearing the voice of God is vital for Christians. Don’t get caught by confusion. Learn how to recognize the voice of God.

How Do Christians Recognize The Voice of God

One summer, our family drove two hours for a day trip to a popular Six Flags amusement park. A planned event the whole family was looking forward to. The morning and afternoon went by faster than we would have preferred. My kids found their rhythm and were having a blast riding the attractions. The day was wonderful. One ride, in particular, caught their attention. They enjoyed it so much that they wanted to ride it multiple times.

As you know, parents are not built the same way as kids. Things that go round and round or up and down too frequently are stomach-turning. We made the decision to watch them from a short distance away. It must have been on their second go-around when my kids left the ride and began walking towards the exit. A massive crowd quickly surrounded them. They found themselves trapped. We noticed right away that they were apprehensive and scared. They couldn’t see us, but we could see them.

My husband quickly let out one of his high-pitched whistles. His whistles are well-known to close friends and family. They are quick and ear-piercing if you are standing in the direct line of fire. I have found myself leaping into space as he sends one off into existence. My kids heard his whistle and instantaneously turned in the direction from which the sound came. As they looked up, we saw the smiles on their faces as we waved them over to join us. In an instant, they went from being out of sorts to being comforted by their dad’s signal.

In today’s world, we have numerous voices in our lives.

These voices can crowd us out and distract us from hearing from God. They, too, can make us apprehensive and scared. Each day, we wake up to people speaking into our lives. They tell us what we should be eating, how we should be dressing, and the latest trends in home decorating.

These voices can seem familiar and encouraging. However, if we allow them to be louder than God’s voice, they can pull us away from His purpose for us. Distractions can limit our hearing. Luckily, we have a God who can cut through any noise. The loudest, most familiar, and comforting sound comes from His whistle. When we look to Him, He is not hard to find.

When we are attentive to the voice of God, He will guide, instruct, and keep us eternally safe. Proverbs 1:33 says, But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. It’s amazing how encouraging this promise from scripture is. Recognizing the voice of God is accessible to everyone who believes in Him. Frequently, the distractions of life can drown out the sound of His voice. Here are ways we can heighten our awareness of His expressions.

To know God’s voice, we must read the Bible

The Bible contains 66 books, written on three different continents, in three different languages, by 40 different people, covering roughly 1500 years. These essential details alone make the Bible extremely unique. However, from the Old Testament to the New, the Bible contains flawless consistency, pointing to the Lord’s astounding love for us through His son, Jesus.

To know God’s voice is to read His words. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness… Every chapter, from sentence to single word, is a dictation from the Lord. It is a truth without error and directly inspired by God. Through it, He tells us what we need to know.

My kids know their dad’s whistle because they often hear it routinely. It’s something they know well, just as regular Bible reading enables us to know and familiarize ourselves with the voice of God.

Communicating with God through prayer

Prayer shouldn’t be a line item we cross off our to-do list. Similarly, we wouldn’t check off our friends as if they were objectives we created. Cultivating any relationship can’t happen without proper care and attention. Your best friend didn’t become your best friend by you ignoring them. No, of course not. You became close friends because you enjoy spending time with each other. Healthy friendships require a blend of trust, honesty, respect, and open communication.

Prayer is giving God your complete attention, free from other distractions. It is honoring Him. Speaking to God allows us to place our burdens on the one who can carry them all. Having daily Christ-centered moments is an investment. We often think we don’t have the time to give, but God will bless the time we spend with Him.

Jesus tells us in John 15:4, Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. This verse highlights the importance of maintaining an intimate connection with Him. Jesus was teaching the disciples in a parable that they could understand. We must remain attached to Him to grow and flourish.

The more we stay connected to God, the more we can recognize His voice.

God can speak through others

Have you ever spoken to someone and thought, “That is exactly what I needed to hear!” or “The Pastor was speaking directly to me today.” I know these phrases well because I have said them myself. God has a clear history of using others to speak directly to us. He reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These men were fathers, brothers, uncles, neighbors, friends, etc. They were real-life flesh and blood people, not superheroes, but God-chosen instruments.

He took ordinary men and empowered them to achieve extraordinary things, and He is still in the same business today. Guaranteed, God used a person to tell you about His son, Jesus. He takes everyday people to play a role in spreading the gospel’s message of truth.

A casual conversation while on a walk with a friend or a ride-share to work can contain a real word from the Lord. The speaker may not even recognize the significance of what they said, but you can. In the Bible, Paul explains in Romans 10:17, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Jesus didn’t leave behind a specific coliseum or fancy museum to tell His story. No, He left us with the Bible to read and spread to others.

The familiarity of His voice comes from living immersed in Christ.

God knows we are not perfect and will slip up. The good news is He never stops speaking. We must continue daily to cultivate and deepen our relationship with Him. After all, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Let’s Pray Together

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come together in prayer to be in your presence. Help us to know Your voice and to keep our eyes focused on you. Give us the wisdom to block out the voices of the world, the flesh, and the enemy and to take in the voice of the Holy Spirit. We want to glorify you in everything that we do.

In this, we ask in your precious name, Jesus. Amen!

Read More on Jen Schreiner

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• How Do Christians Recognize The Voice of God