When I am sharing testimonies, I often get asked the question, “How do you hear God?”
I believe that the Lord wants to speak to everyone. After all, relationships require communication. The problem is that most of us either don’t believe that the Lord wants to communicate with us, or we just don’t recognize when He speaks. I used to be in both of those categories.
During the next few weeks I will be sharing some of the different ways God has spoken to me, but today I will just share a quick overview from the introduction of my book, “Aha! More Out of the Box Revelations.”
Hearing God’s Voice
In my last book I mentioned that I first had knowingly heard God’s voice when I had a divine encounter in a hospital room. But, later on, I realized that I had been hearing Him speak to my heart from childhood. The main reason I didn’t know it was Him was because I was raised in a church that believed that God quit speaking to man after the last disciple died. Thankfully, I now know that He not only speaks, but He does it through a variety of ways.
Sometimes God speaks to me through a gut feeling that lets me know that something is not quite right. At other times it’s just in knowing I need to do a certain thing or go to a certain place. Sometimes His voice is in actual words I hear in my mind, giving me encouragement, confirmation, or instruction. On a few occasions, it sounded like a letter that was being read in my head. Often, it’s through a picture or vision with understanding or through a dream with an interpretation. On many occasions, His words that have brought me hope or clarity in direction have been spoken to me through a friend or even a stranger.
No matter how He chooses to speak, God speaks words of love, life, truth, hope, encouragement, instruction, and direction. In each case it is always in total agreement with the Bible.
Instead of rushing or pushing us, His voice brings peace and quiets us, reminding us to always trust instead of worrying. Instead of inciting fear, He will firmly direct us and calm us with words of His perfect love. His words will encourage us and validate our true identity. They will restore our wounded souls by bringing clarity in the midst of confusion and comfort in the midst of heartache, distress, or chaos.
Although He will warn and convict us, God does not condemn us because He is always for us and not against us. He has a huge heart for us and is continually leading us and cheering us on to fulfill the plans that He has destined for us. “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV).
I pray this brings some clarity.
On Monday I will be addressing God speaking through gut feelings.
May you be abundantly blessed!
Jeannie