How To Recognize The Voice Of God & Avoid The Enemy’s Deception.
I don’t remember the date nor the time nor the occasion. I just remember His voice. His soothing, peaceful, and protective voice in a moment of terror guiding me to His peace.
When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I walked with childlike naivety onto what I would later learn to be an elevator. I stood in the middle of the floor looking up at the brown ceilings, gazing around the walls until my eyes fell on the pretty buttons that lit up when pressed. And that’s when it started.
As the small space started to move, I was thrown off balance with nothing to hold on to. To the child that I was, it felt like everything had fallen out from under me. I searched for those who had accompanied me. I became even more terrified when I realized that I wouldn’t be getting any help.
Tears began to fall and I started to yell in fear. I heard snickers. And that’s when it happened.
A voice that sounded unfamiliar, but yet so familiar and safe told me “Look at what they are doing. Do that.” I will never forget these words. It was like a heightened sense of awareness.
I quickly found my footing, posted my little body against the wall, spread out my arms, and held on. I felt instant relief.
This is the first time I can remember hearing God’s voice. His stepping in for me during my time of fear as the loving Father that He is.
If you’re struggling to hear God’s voice, He’s given me some tips for you. But, first, let’s look at some examples from the Bible of God making His voice known to His people.
Biblical examples of hearing God’s voice
Samuel
Samuel, the child Hannah prayed for and the one God used to anoint the first kings of Israel.
1 Samuel 3 explains that Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli during a time when the word of God was rare and visions were few and far in between.
Yet at the appropriate time, He called Samuel….literally. While lying in bed, God called Samuel’s name. Samuel was a young child and thought that it was Eli calling him.
When God called again and Samuel ran to Eli, Eli realized that it was actually God calling him and told him what to do.
God did indeed call Samuel’s name again. Samuel asked the Lord to speak as he was listening and willing to obey.
This started Samuel’s journey as a prophet.
Moses
Exodus 3 for reference
Moses was going about his day caring for sheep when a voice started speaking to him from a burning bush. It was odd because although the bush was burning, it was not consumed.
God tells Moses that He has heard the cries of the Israelites in their suffering as slaves in Egypt. He was calling Moses to lead His people out of Egypt into a better land where they would be free.
Their conversation continues into Exodus chapter 4 as God alleviates Moses’ doubt and empowers him for the mission.
But this wasn’t Moses’s only encounter hearing God’s voice. Throughout their journey, God spoke with Moses leading him as he led God’s people.
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Exodus 33:11
Elijah
For reference 1 Kings 19
King Ahab and his wife Jezebel were leading the people of Israel astray in their worship of false gods among many of their other misdeeds.
When Elijah defeated the prophets of the false God Baal, the king and queen threatened Elijah’s life leading Elijah to go on the run.
In his weariness, Elijah wanted to give up and God showed up. God sent an angel to provide food and water for Elijah. He then went to Horeb, the mountain of God.
It was here that he was instructed to stand in the presence of the Lord. The was a great wind powerful enough to split rocks, an earthquake, and a fire. But God was in neither of these.
After these came a gentle whisper. This was God.
7 Tips On How To Hear God’s Voice
God’s voice may not meet your initial expectations.
By this, I mean He doesn’t always show up how we expect Him to. For example, at the time of this writing, we are a few weeks out from Christmas. Thus, I’ve been listening to teachings about the coming of the Messiah on Pray.com during my morning drives to work.
During the time Jesus was born, the Roman Empire was spreading its influence around the ancient world. People anticipated the Messiah would come as a warrior like David. But, no.
He was born an innocent baby in a manger to a teen girl and her carpenter husband. He grew into a man who was humble, obedient and embraced the role of servant. He wasn’t a warrior and king in the sense that David was and He didn’t have the riches of Solomon.
He came to live a blemish-free life and offer himself as the perfect sacrifice to free the world from the claws of sin and death.
I say all of this to say that God’s voice doesn’t always come as this powerful, billowing voice instantly capturing your attention. It’s not always like the “sound of many waters” noted in Ezekiel 43:2.
In my experience, it’s often a gentle, resolute, and peaceful voice that sounds like a friend. And you’ve likely heard it before.
It’s that voice that possibly sounds like yours in your head warning you of dangers to come, encouraging you or helping you make a decision.
Just like the biblical examples above.
God’s voice is never confusing, but always resolute
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
There is absolutely no confusion when God speaks. He knows the past, present, and future and there is no changing of His mind. He wouldn’t tell you to go one way and then be like oops, I meant the other.
He doesn’t shift like the sands. He is a strong tower controlling every aspect of the physical and heavenly realms.
This is one way to distinguish His voice from that of the enemy. The enemy will want you confused so that you do the wrong thing. Just as He did with Jesus, he’ll ask, “Did God really say that?”
With this very question, He was able to manipulate Adam and Eve leading to the Fall. But Jesus says my sheep know my voice.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
We are His sheep and when we spend more time with Him, His voice becomes clearer and clearer for us. Keep reading to learn some other ways that you can discern God’s voice from the enemy.
The voice of God is never chaotic, but always peaceful.
You know that feeling of being rushed or being “all over the place?” Well that’s not God. The fruits of the Spirit are telling of God’s character.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
As the author of peace, God’s presence and voice resonate with this characteristic. He’s not yelling at you, fussing at you, or shaming you.
He’s calming you, encouraging you, and loving you. And even when you mess up (which we all will at some point), His voice is convicting, but still with love for your well-being.
So if the voice sounds or makes you feel chaos, it’s not your Heavenly Father. It’s the enemy, the true author of chaos.
Rebuke him immediately and find God’s peace.
God’s voice aligns with His word
The Bible is God’s special gift to us. It’s His thoughts, instructions, and love letters created just for our eyes and ears. So since we know how God thinks from what He tells us in His word, we know how he speaks.
But, remember Jesus’s encounter with the enemy in the wilderness. Our adversary, Satan, is also very well-versed in the word of God. He just tries to twist it for his benefit of manipulating you.
Above we talked about one of his tactics of causing confusion which he used in the Garden of Eden with the question, “Did God really say that?”
Here’s another one of his tactics exposed.
When Jesus was at one of his most vulnerable states due to days of fasting, Satan saw the perfect opportunity to strike. He used God’s word in an attempt to convince Jesus to fulfill the desires of the flesh and not the will of the Spirit of God.
If he did it to Jesus, he will most certainly use this tactic on you too. For instance, when you’re at your loneliest, he’ll send a bad influence to throw you off your path with God. Or when you’re angry and disappointed, he’ll attempt to convince you to do or say things you’ll later regret. And he may do this all by twisting the word of God.
Satan is a crafty and ancient enemy. God’s children are his targets. But, our God is greater and has given us the weapon of his word as part of our spiritual armor.
This is why it’s important to spend time in the word of God and know it for yourself. As you do this God will continue to reveal Himself to you.
God’s voice aligns with His character
In ancient times, names were considered symbolic. A person’s name could communicate to someone their character and identity or a transformation they’ve experienced in life.
For example, Abram, who was childless at 99 years old, was given the name change of Abraham by God. Abraham means father of a multitude and signified God’s promise and covenant with him.
So not only do we have the Bible to tell us who God is, we can also look at His names. This is important because once we understand God’s character, we will be able to easily identify God’s voice versus the voice of the enemy.
Here are a few of God’s names from the Bible.
Abba: Father
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15
God is the perfect parent to us. He loves us as a good earthly father would love, protect, guide, and provide for his child. He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that he could have a relationship with us. He makes no mistakes and knows us better than we know ourselves.
He is an ever-present help molding us in His likeness and preparing a home for us so that we may be with Him in his glory for eternity.
Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will provide.
So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Genesis 22:14
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Psalms 23:1
Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is my Banner
Exodus 17
In this chapter we see Israel fighting the Amalekites as they journeyed to the Promised Land. They might have seemed like a weak nation to their enemies, but it was God Almighty who was fighting with and for them.
He’s doing the same for you.
Jehovah Rapha: The Lord our healer
He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
Exodus 15:26
Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is peace
So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Judges 6:24
God goes by many names and the above are just a few. But as we learn his name and character we learn to identify Him.
There have been plenty of times I’m driving down the road contemplating things in my head and I will hear what I think is God. However, when I compare the suggestion to God’s character, it doesn’t align. Thus, I know that thought didn’t come from the voice of Jesus.
So I quickly rebuke it and am learning to exercise the practice of guarding my heart.
His voice is never threatening, always encouraging
Have you ever messed up and then had a mind full of shaming and defeating thoughts? Or maybe thoughts that tell you, if you don’t do this, God won’t love you.
These thoughts go against God’s word and character. He gives everyone free will to choose Him. There aren’t enough deeds that you can do to earn your salvation and seat in God’s kingdom.
Jesus already earned it for you. So if what you’re hearing is criticizing or shaming you. It’s not of God.
God as your loving Father will convict your heart when necessary, but He will do so in His goodness, grace, and mercy.
God never speaks a lie, always truth
This goes back to the character of God. If there is one thing that’s impossible for Him, it’s to tell a lie.
Our holy and almighty God literally can’t and won’t do it because it’s not in His nature. He hates lies and scandals. But you know who the father of lies is and who loves a scandal? Satan.
Final thoughts on learning how to hear God’s voice
The theme here is to know God’s voice is to know Him. When you spend time with God getting to know his character, thoughts, and desires just like we do in other important relationships, his voice becomes more distinct and identifiable.
Like when your child, parent, or spouse calls you and you instantly identify them.
This is a muscle that all Christians must exercise daily by spending time with God, praying, and worshipping Him.
He’s always ready and willing to reveal Himself to us.
Until next time,
-Dr. Jay
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