The way I hear God speak to me is, by promptings of the Holy Spirit to approach someone or do something. Another is as described above, where when reading God's word, sometimes when questioning something, He directs my hand to open His Word right to the "Book" in it to read from and the Scripture(s) will like jump out at me when hit the ones He directs me to.
Other times, the Holy Spirit out right speaks to me, when about to do something thats not right or good at the time, I hear "NO", sometimes the Holy Spirit says the words- "speak to them", plus other ones.
Usaully its short and to the point. How do I know if of God or not? Having Ministered for nearly 30 years, I've read His Word over and over so much, knowing It as much as I do, I test each responce felt or heard by Scriptures I recallto know if confirmed or not.
I mostly hear His voice through the Word. What I struggle with sometimes, though, is when I think that He is using His Word in a figurative way to speak to me. For example, there are times when I'm reading an OT story and I hear Him say, "this is where you are right now." Like the story about the Isrealites wandering in the wilderness. I heard recently that my "40 years" had been the last 12 months and I was about to enter into my "promised land." Sometimes it is difficult for me to force my literal-thinking mind to accept this kind of allegorical application of Scripture, but I really felt strongly that God was using this story to tell me where I was at, and where I was headed to give me comfort and instruction. My wife's reaction when I shared this with her was confirmation that God was indeed speaking to us. I know that people can and do get carried away with this kind of thing, so I am wondering what you guys think about it.
Through his Word and that small voice. I know the small voice thing has become a cliche today but let me explain it this way. When my children were growing up and would misbehave, although I did not yell, my voice does carry well if you know what I mean, as I would say something to them they learned the tone of my voice and got to the point where they paid me no attention. One day I decided to try something different. I lowered the volumne of my voice almost to a whisper and I looked them directly in the eyes as I spoke. This worked. From that time on they knew if dad was kinda loud it meant nothing, but if they had to strain to hear what I said they knew I would say it only once. God gives me his way for me through many different means, but when He speaks to me directly through my thoughts I have to do as my children did, pay attention and listen. It is very simular to a whisper and I have no doubt from where it comes. Like the love thing Joyce wrote.
I believe that if God spoke in a voice any louder or larger we would be unable to disobey ... and that means we wouldn't really have free will. We'd be puppets. When God speaks to me, He is insistent. He tells me and tells me and tells me ... unless I foolishly say "NO!" ... then He simply doesn't speak again. Asking how you know it's God talking is kind of like asking, "How do you know when you're in love?" You can't explain it, you just have to EXPERIENCE it to know. Jesus promised that His sheep would hear and know His voice. That's all.
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
I'm just curious to know the various ways that others hear the voice of God and how they can be SURE that it is Him. He's a "still, small voice." Why does He have to be so still and so small? :)
