Hi Friend,
If you’ve found your way here from the Proverbs 31 Daily Devotion, welcome! I’m thrilled that you’ve stopped by and hope you stay for a while.
If you’re a current subscriber, then you already know I think you’re awesome! But in case you’re curious, feel free to hop over to P31 and check out my devotion there.
You’ll get a chance to read my story about discerning God’s voice one day when I was blow drying my hair.
No, I’m not kidding.
Honestly, I just love how God is always eager to meet with us. He never considers our tasks too mundane. Even blow drying our hair!
He can speak to us in any situation and teach us biblical truths by using simple, everyday objects.
In fact, Jesus did this all the time when He taught the disciples and multitudes.
If you read my P31 devotion, you may be thinking, Why is it important for me to discern God’s voice?
It could be that you’re more comfortable hearing from your pastor or Bible teacher. So why not let them get the straight word from God and just fill you in on the important stuff?
Maybe in the past you’ve been taught that only certain people can hear from God and you’re just not sure your name is on that list.
Well, here’s what Scripture says:
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.
John 8:47 (NIV)
{Note: Click here if you can’t see the graphic above.}
I don’t know about you, but if God has something to say to me, I definitely want to make sure I’m listening when He speaks.
Do you see the graphic above? Take a minute to read the words and really think about what it says.
Now, can I ask … have you given you life to Jesus Christ?
If the answer is yes, then based on John 8:47 you belong to God and already have the ability {through the Holy Spirit} to hear when He speaks to you.
It’s okay if this is a totally new concept to you. For years I didn’t realize God was speaking to me. I mistakenly considered His voice as random thoughts that seemed to come from out of nowhere.
Then, a friend challenged me to start looking at these “random thoughts” under the microscope of 4 questions:
- Does this thought line up with a truth I’ve read or learned in the Bible?
- Does this thought line up with God’s character or attributes?
- Does this thought confirm something I’ve been reading in Scripture, hearing from my pastor or learning from other Bible teachers?
- Is this thought something God would say to me or about me?
Aligning these questions next to those thoughts became a filter in helping me decide what to do next. Each step was important and can I be honest? Sometimes I got it right and other times I got it wrong.
Either way, God used each experience to help me grow in a better understanding of Him.
Here’s the thing … God knows my heart and He knows yours! He will always encourage us to keep seeking, asking and listening for His direction.
We won’t get it right 100% of the time, but His grace will cover us as we seek to faithfully follow Him.
Your Turn:
Does the idea of hearing God’s voice or discerning His direction seem impossible to you? Do any of the 4 questions listed above help you have a better understand on how to discern God’s voice? What has God been saying to you lately?
Lynn says
How timely this message has come, but how difficult to open my heart to trust what I am hearing is from God after much sin and repeated failures, hurts, and mistakes in my life. Why would He answer a prayer of hope, love and safety for a sinner like me who deserves nothing.
Leah DiPascal says
Simply because God loves you, Lynn. He always has and always will. God created you with a specific purpose in mind. God has given you special talents and abilities to fulfill certain assignments that He’s hand-picked for you. And here is the amazing thing about God’s forgiveness of sins:
“If we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” {1 John 1:9}
Debra says
Because He loves you.
Denise Perez says
I am so glad that you wrote about this topic! When I was a young teen and newer in the faith, God spoke very clearly to me. I know with unwavering certainty that God speaks to each of us. Sadly, I made some bad choices and wandered away from God for a season, and even believed that I could not be forgiven for any of my sins any longer. Panic, fear, shame, self-punishing thoughts and anxiety took the place in my mind that had previously been filled with light and the comfort and wisdom of God’s voice guiding and directing my path. It has been a long road of spiritual and emotional recovery from that place, and I now know that God never left me. I have had to learn to listen for God’s direction a bit less directly over these many years – through sermons, devotionals, His word and through others who walk with Him. I also know that he is still there in the background, among all of the chatter in my brain. But, as you said in the devotional for P31, how do you know which of those “messages” rattling around up there are from God? Could any of the thoughts that are taking up space or just driving by like a fast car really be from God? In fact, I have been wrestling with this very thing the last few days. The thought that “nothing brought against you will stand” popped into my mind sharp and clear the other day. I hadn’t read that phrase recently, nor had those words been part of a song that I had recently heard, but there they were, plain as day. Ever since those words came into my mind, I have been holding on to them with all my might. They have strengthened and energized me for a personal battle that I am fighting. But other thoughts keep creeping in too, as if to try to steal away the confidence that those words have given me, and I begin to question if I am just wishfully thinking that this was a special word for me from God. After reading your P31 post and your blog post, and applying the four questions to what I feel I heard God say to me, I am more confident than ever that God spoke to me quite directly the other day. I can swat away those pesky lies that try to rob me of my faith as if they were nothing more than flies. Thank you for sharing your message about hearing God’s word, and giving this girl a boost to believe that I can still hear His voice.
Leah DiPascal says
Denise, I think those words were inspired from God to strengthen and encourage you. Let’s face it, the Enemy would never speak those words to you. The last thing he wants to do is build your faith stronger. Keep pressing on and watch as God wins the battle for you!
Jennifer says
As i majorly got it wrong a few months ago, I started to fear I could never discern Gods voice. Now, God has asked our family to make a major move and has shown us a clear path. And the lesson I’ve really learned is even when we majorly screw up, no matter what, His grace covers us when we get it wrong!! What an amazing God.
Leah DiPascal says
Jennifer, thank goodness God’s grace far surpasses our mistakes. I’ve been there too! Without His promises in Romans 8:28 there would be no hope for our blooper and blunders in life. He can take any situation and make it right if we keep trusting Him.
Vicki says
Leah,
Thank you for this message from your heart. I find that the more I keep my heart open, the more I hear Jesus speak into my life. I can trust that it is Jesus’ words when I find confirmation through devotionals that come in my inbox and through the words of trusted friends and it is even more powerful when the confirmation comes from a total stranger. I also know the voice or idea in my mind is coming from Jesus when I hear something and it takes me a day or two to think it over and over in my mind and then it touches my heart and then I know that I have heard it right. If a thought stays in my mind then it is probably not from Jesus but when it travels to my heart there is my confirmation. I will continue to pray for you in your ministry; that you will continue to follow Jesus’ direction for your life. I am always blessed by your posts.
Leah DiPascal says
Vicki, thank you for sharing all the ways you discern God speaking to you. Isn’t it amazing how our minds can get us in trouble sometimes. I’m so grateful God has given us the mind of Christ, because left to my own decision making, I can certainly make a mess of things. 🙂
heather says
As I read through the four questions, I find them helpful to discern the thoughts in my head. Too often, I listen to the wrong thoughts. I love John 8:47! What a wonderful reminder of how we can hear GOD!
Leah DiPascal says
Heather, I’m so glad the 4 questions were helpful to you. John 8:47 is one of my favorite Scripture verses and holds a beautiful promise for every believer.
Joy says
Hi Leah,
Thank you for your words through Proverbs 31 today. I often find my email pops up just as I stop rushing through the early morning tasks and have time to sit with a cup of tea and Jesus. He has been throwing the words “follow me” and the picture of his sheep hearing his voice in my path for several weeks now. I am not sure if he is preparing me to hear something important, or whether, as you write, it is fostering a deeper and deeper relationship he wants me to focus on. I think either way, the relationship is the most important thing! I feel a deep need to know my shepherd so intimately that I will not hesitate to listen to his voice… and obey!
God bless you today,
Joy x
Leah DiPascal says
Joy, I completely agree and think God would much rather grow that intimate relationship with you than assign another task. I love how He is engraving your thoughts with pictures of the Shepherd and the flock. What a beautiful thing!