How do you listen to God?

[strenght81]

I pray often to the lord for guidance, in hopes that I am going by his choices and not my own. Yet, at times I''m not sure if the choice was actually guided by him. It's so easy to say that "God led me to this decision", though I wonder if the decision was guided strictly by my views.

My question is, How do I really hear the lord? How do I listen to him? How do I know for sure it's him guiding me and not my own fears or views? I made a vow this year to make the lord my all. I go to him for EVERTHING! I just want to feel that i'm making the right choices by him.

 

[Guitarhero]

Sometimes He leads by impression or even by the desires you have because He formed your personality. Finding the way takes times and it's sometimes that you find out you were in the right path years after taking it. If what you are doing is just and righteous, utilizing your talents and fulfilling your desires and it's in tune morally with God's word, then I'd say to keep on that path. Oftentimes, one road will close and lead to others but they are all His will for our life. Taking right choices involves action and a step out in faith. In other words, not all people hear directions like Moses or Noah, even Paul. But in doing, they gain understanding that they are either on the right or wrong path.

 

[shinyblackhair]

OP I want to know the same thing but, I *think* it has a lot to do with just being still and just kinda waiting on the Lord...I don't know...I want to hear from the Lord re: where I should be heading in my life...what are my gifts, etc...I want to be sure that I'm being led by Him, but how do I know He's the one leading me?

 

[loolalooh]

How do I really hear the lord? How do I listen to him? How do I know for sure it's him guiding me and not my own fears or views?

I immerse myself in the Word and sometimes that is how He "speaks" to me. Through the Word I learn His character more ... learn Him more. When a situation comes up I then know how He wants me to respond.

Now there are other situations where it is not as clear in which case I pray for guidance and then become sensitive to His direction. For example, I prayed to Him about a recent move and asked for confirmation each time. He granted it. He revealed His direction three times - once through mention of the location in a Christian song, second through mention of the location from a flight attendant, third through mention of the location from my parents. Be extra sensitive and you will hear Him, whether directly or indirectly.

 

[Poohbear]

I've been wondering the answer to this question too. This is also why I am going through this battle of faith and questioning God's existence as well...

How do you differentiate between talking to God and talking to yourself in your head?

How do you differentiate between God's advice on a decision and taking your own advice on a decision?

Is it really God making the way or good moves in my life, or is it really me or just coincidental?

 

[loolalooh]

Here's a worthwhile article on discerning God's voice: http://www.layhands.com/HearGodsVoice.htm

Found it on another forum.

 

[Poohbear]

Here's a worthwhile article on discerning God's voice: http://www.layhands.com/HearGodsVoice.htm

Found it on another forum.

I actually came across this link not too long ago in another forum on here too, and I didn't have a chance to finish reading it. I stopped reading it because I started to wonder "How did this person who wrote this article know how to hear God's voice? And where did this person come up with all of this detail information about different voices and such?"

 

[loolalooh]

I actually came across this link not too long ago in another forum on here too, and I didn't have a chance to finish reading it. I stopped reading it because I started to wonder "How did this person who wrote this article know how to hear God's voice? And where did this person come up with all of this detail information about different voices and such?"

Valid questions. Perhaps a combination of his own experiences with Him and what he's gleaned from the Bible.

Nevertheless, the article seems to have some points that I've found to be relevant in my walk so far. Hopefully they will be useful. For example:

1) "The way to begin hearing God better is to quit listening to our flesh so much. That's not an easy thing to do, but it's important to turn off our reasoning and to put our emotions into neutral when we're listening for an answer from God."

2) The devil can speak to us through other people, but so can God. It's important to discern the difference.

3) The difference between the soul, body, and spirit. It's important to be in touch with the spirit since that is where the Holy Spirit resides.

4) The importance of developing obedience. Obedience to small things leads to increased sensitivity to hearing Him.

5) Asking for outward confirmations on bigger issues.

 

[Poohbear]

Valid questions. Perhaps a combination of his own experiences and what he's gleaned from the Bible.

Nevertheless, the article seems to have some points that I've found to be relevant in my walk so far. For example:

1) "The way to begin hearing God better is to quit listening to our flesh so much. That's not an easy thing to do, but it's important to turn off our reasoning and to put our emotions into neutral when we're listening for an answer from God."

2) The devil can speak to us through other people, but so can God. It's important to discern the difference.

3) The difference between the soul, body, and spirit. It's important to be in touch with the spirit since that is where the Holy Spirit resides.

4) The importance of developing obedience. Obedience to small things leads to increased sensitivity to hearing Him.

5) Asking for outward confirmations on bigger issues.

I guess my question is this... how do I discern between God telling me a good thing to do from myself telling me a good thing to do? I know not everything I think and feel is sinful and fleshly or from the devil. Hope that makes sense.

For example: Let's say there is a girl who used to go to night clubs every weekend. Then, she started thinking to herself about whether or not to go to the club anymore. After thinking about it, she decided going to the club is not for her and that she was never going set foot in a club ever again for the rest of her life, which is considered something good or the right thing to do. How would she know whether or not God told her to stop going to the club versus herself telling her to stop going to the club?

 

[loolalooh]

I think the biggest key (at least for me) is obedience. The more we disobey Him, the further away we feel from Him. The harder it is to hear Him.

Disobediences don't have to be major stuff like murder, sex, or stealing. "Small" disobediences disrupt our hearing from Him as well. Fudging the timesheet at work. (A form of lying.) Letting out your frustration on the McDonald's server who's taking too long with your order. (A form of yielding to the flesh - wrath.)

If we are in the habit of disobeying Him, we grow in the habit of drowning Him out. Even when we want to hear from Him, it becomes difficult because we are so used to ignoring Him when He tells us not to do something.

P.S. About to answer your question in a sec ...

 

[nathansgirl1908]

So what should we do? Here's a general guideline which might be helpful. There are many small, everyday things which God might prompt you to do or not to do, and as you develop the habit of instantly obeying these things (whether your flesh wants to or not) then you'll find that your sensitivity and discernment will begin to increase. For example, in a clothing store you might sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to hang up some clothes that someone else had knocked to the floor. Don't go off into reasoning ("Was that really God? Why would He want me to do that? They have employees who are supposed to put those clothes back.") and don't go off into pride ("Well, I didn't knock those off and I'm certainly not putting them back!"). It's a small thing, so learn to be quickly and cheerfully obedient!

I took that quote from the article that Loolalooh posted above (thanks, girl!). That best describes how I listen to and hear from God. It really started happening more in the last two years. I have what were described in that article as flashes of discernment. It can be something like "don't go down that street." Later I might find out there was a HUGE traffic jam that would have made me extremely late for class. And because I listen and do the "small things" my discernment has been growing stronger and stronger. Many times I know someone is going to call me on the phone before they call. Or I can be sitting somewhere at school and know which classmate is about to walk into the room I'm in before they even come in. There are just so many examples I could give. And there is such a vast difference in my discernment prior to the last two years.

I think part of the reason for the increase, besides obedience in the small things, is that I am more open to listen to Him. He can tell me what he wants because I have a receiving heart. I didn't have that for several years because I was seeking Him for something I wanted, and I was so afraid of hearing Him tell me "no" that I closed my ears so to speak. My discernment was almost nonexistent at that time.

sorry for the long post. I love this thread though and love having discussions about this kind of thing.

 

[Poohbear]

Quote:
So what should we do? Here's a general guideline which might be helpful. There are many small, everyday things which God might prompt you to do or not to do, and as you develop the habit of instantly obeying these things (whether your flesh wants to or not) then you'll find that your sensitivity and discernment will begin to increase. For example, in a clothing store you might sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to hang up some clothes that someone else had knocked to the floor. Don't go off into reasoning ("Was that really God? Why would He want me to do that? They have employees who are supposed to put those clothes back.") and don't go off into pride ("Well, I didn't knock those off and I'm certainly not putting them back!"). It's a small thing, so learn to be quickly and cheerfully obedient!

I took that quote from the article that Loolalooh posted above (thanks, girl!). That best describes how I listen to and hear from God. It really started happening more in the last two years. I have what were described in that article as flashes of discernment. It can be something like "don't go down that street." Later I might find out there was a HUGE traffic jam that would have made me extremely late for class. And because I listen and do the "small things" my discernment has been growing stronger and stronger. Many times I know someone is going to call me on the phone before they call. Or I can be sitting somewhere at school and know which classmate is about to walk into the room I'm in before they even come in. There are just so many examples I could give. And there is such a vast difference in my discernment prior to the last two years.

I think part of the reason for the increase, besides obedience in the small things, is that I am more open to listen to Him. He can tell me what he wants because I have a receiving heart. I didn't have that for several years because I was seeking Him for something I wanted, and I was so afraid of hearing Him tell me "no" that I closed my ears so to speak. My discernment was almost nonexistent at that time.

sorry for the long post. I love this thread though and love having discussions about this kind of thing.

That is a good quote, but how do you know that it's God and not you? What if you are not that type of person to reason or to have pride before making decisions? What if you genuinely want to pick up those clothes with no thought of not doing it?

And just using that example in that quote, there have been times when I have instantly picked up or straightened up clothes in a store with no thought of not doing it. And yes, there's been other times that I didn't, but I don't feel like I was disobeying God because I didn't pick of the clothes...

I don't know... maybe I think too much...

 

[loolalooh]

I guess my question is this... how do I discern between God telling me a good thing to do from myself telling me a good thing to do? I know not everything I think and feel is sinful and fleshly or from the devil. Hope that makes sense.

For example: Let's say there is a girl who used to go to night clubs every weekend. Then, she started thinking to herself about whether or not to go to the club anymore. After thinking about it, she decided going to the club is not for her and that she was never going set foot in a club ever again for the rest of her life, which is considered something good or the right thing to do. How would she know whether or not God told her to stop going to the club versus herself telling her to stop going to the club?

Sorry ...

Good question. I'll speak from personal experience because that girl used to be me.

I knew it was God because:
1) when I dusted off the Bible and started to read it daily, it began to change me. I went from going to the night clubs to drink and dance to being repulsed at what I was seeing at the night clubs. I think with daily absorption of the Word, a cleansing of the spirit occurs and you can no longer tolerate certain things.

2) Proverbs and even now Romans seemed to confirm my decision for me. I kept on seeing references to the flesh and how it is important to guard the heart and filter what we allow into our spirit, etc. For me, going to the night clubs instilled lust, a desire to be noticed, etc. It had to be stopped.



To address the main question: how do I discern between God telling me a good thing to do from myself telling me a good thing to do? I know not everything I think and feel is sinful and fleshly or from the devil.

I think it's key to develop one's sensitivity in order to discern between self and God. It's a journey and I'm still working on it, but what helps me is to remove a lot of the worldly. IMO, many Christians neglect to do this -- to develop their sensitivity. They think it's enough to go to church every Sunday and open up the Bible once a week and play Gospel music now and then.

I think it's important filter out the confusion by doing more. Through daily reading of the Scripture, even for those who know the Bible like the back of their hands. Sometimes God will reveal something new. Through daily rejection of anything counter to Him. For example, removal of music that focuses on lust or self (e.g., songs about money, a lover, etc.). Removal of tv shows that focus on things counter to Him. Through daily obedience to Him. Etc. Sounds a bit radical, but I think one should attempt to walk with Him as much as possible in order to better discern His voice.

 

[loolalooh]

That is a good quote, but how do you know that it's God and not you? What if you are not that type of person to reason or to have pride before making decisions? What if you genuinely want to pick up those clothes with no thought of not doing it?

And just using that example in that quote, there have been times when I have instantly picked up or straightened up clothes in a store with no thought of not doing it. And yes, there's been other times that I didn't, but I don't feel like I was disobeying God because I didn't pick of the clothes...

I don't know... maybe I think too much...

Lol. Maybe. Thinking = mind = soul. What does your spirit tell you?

 

[Renovating]

I guess my question is this... how do I discern between God telling me a good thing to do from myself telling me a good thing to do? I know not everything I think and feel is sinful and fleshly or from the devil. Hope that makes sense.

For example: Let's say there is a girl who used to go to night clubs every weekend. Then, she started thinking to herself about whether or not to go to the club anymore. After thinking about it, she decided going to the club is not for her and that she was never going set foot in a club ever again for the rest of her life, which is considered something good or the right thing to do. How would she know whether or not God told her to stop going to the club versus herself telling her to stop going to the club?

It's hard to explain, because I think everyone's relationship is unique and personal. I had a friend that said she literally heard an audible voice.

The main way I can usually discern the difference is when I feel God is telling me to do something, there is a certain persistence of thought regarding the action. It will seem almost inevitable for it to happen.

For example, yesterday something kept telling me I should take a coworker ( that I deal with on a hi and bye basis because she usually makes it clear she does NOT want to be bothered) aside and encourage her. The thoughts kept coming up even when I went home and it was almost like I was arguing with myself. ( weird I know)

It was something like this:

" _______ needs to know she can do this and she is not alone."

Okay maybe I'll pull her aside and talk to her. Then again, no I won't because she always seems to have an attitude. I am not getting in her business.

Similar thoughts went back and forth through my mind last night and this morning, so finally I said if it's meant for me to talk to her I will not have take her aside.

As I was faxing a document, guess who appeared in the work room. Something within me said, "Well, there she is. Go ahead." Things went well and she really appreciated the encourage.

I know it's easy to dismiss that series of events as a coincidence but it happens all of the time. Aren't coincidences supposed to be rare? This happens constantly.

For ME all three voices sound like my own voice as an inner thought, but the voice that I perceive to be God always is calmer, more stable, and seems to look at the "big picture".
"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
My own inner thoughts are often focused on ME. I genuinely care about other people, but this is usually the voice that is more self-centered. (ie; thoughts like: I don't mind lifting someone up, but today is not the day)

I agree with Loolaloo. The best way to hear from God is by meditating on his word.

*** I'm sorry if this was all over the place, but it really is hard to explain.

 

[nathansgirl1908]

That is a good quote, but how do you know that it's God and not you? What if you are not that type of person to reason or to have pride before making decisions? What if you genuinely want to pick up those clothes with no thought of not doing it?

And just using that example in that quote, there have been times when I have instantly picked up or straightened up clothes in a store with no thought of not doing it. And yes, there's been other times that I didn't, but I don't feel like I was disobeying God because I didn't pick of the clothes...

I don't know... maybe I think too much...

I was referring more to the part about hearing Him about small things. I know it is God because of my discernment. But I really don't know about that clothes thing.

 

[strenght81]

Thank you ladies for the replies. I'm learning so much through reading the discusions.

 

[Do_Si_Dos]

I guess my question is this... how do I discern between God telling me a good thing to do from myself telling me a good thing to do? I know not everything I think and feel is sinful and fleshly or from the devil. Hope that makes sense.

For example: Let's say there is a girl who used to go to night clubs every weekend. Then, she started thinking to herself about whether or not to go to the club anymore. After thinking about it, she decided going to the club is not for her and that she was never going set foot in a club ever again for the rest of her life, which is considered something good or the right thing to do. How would she know whether or not God told her to stop going to the club versus herself telling her to stop going to the club?

As you grow closer to him and learn more about him. You began to take on the fruit of the spirit, so some things will not be appealing to you anymore.
He speaks in a lot of different ways, I think when he speaks through books, people, music, and the Bible. That's why it is so important to seek his face daily and develop your own relationship with him. He speaks to everyone differently.

 

[Poohbear]

As you grow closer to him and learn more about him. You began to take on the fruit of the spirit, so some things will not be appealing to you anymore.
He speaks in a lot of different ways, I think when he speaks through books, people, music, and the Bible. That's why it is so important to seek his face daily and develop your own relationship with him. He speaks to everyone differently.

I'm not asking about knowing right from wrong. I'm asking about knowing right from right. In other words, how do I know it's not me saying "do good" versus God saying "do good"? What if those bad things weren't ever appealing to you to begin with before even knowing it was against God? (Hope that makes sense)

 

[Poohbear]

I was referring more to the part about hearing Him about small things. I know it is God because of my discernment. But I really don't know about that clothes thing.

I see that you said you know it's God because of your discernment. How do you discern between God telling you to do something good and yourself telling you to do something good? Sorry for all the questions, but I would really like to know how to discern myself from God with the good decisions. I can discern bad decisions and things not of God.

 

[Nonie]

Joyce Meyer has written a book How to Hear from God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make the Right Decisions that gets mostly good reviews, and a few not so good, although one of the bad ones was just about the audio book being rather dull to hear, but not the content.

 

[nathansgirl1908]

I see that you said you know it's God because of your discernment. How do you discern between God telling you to do something good and yourself telling you to do something good? Sorry for all the questions, but I would really like to know how to discern myself from God with the good decisions. I can discern bad decisions and things not of God.

That's a tough question to answer. I was in your shoes at one point questioning how I would actually know. But then I just FELT it. And it is a difficult feeling to describe. For me it usually comes in having Him tell me something to prepare me for something that is about to happen or to protect me, or even something as simple as where I left my keys.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help though. I only know that I had to spend time in prayer and just having more quiet time before it really started happening.

 

[PinkPebbles]

For ME all three voices sound like my own voice as an inner thought, but the voice that I perceive to be God always is calmer, more stable, and seems to look at the "big picture".

I agree with Loolaloo. The best way to hear from God is by meditating on his word.

.

I'm enjoying this discussion! I agree with a lot that has been said.

At the bolded is true for me too! And yes, when God tells me to do something He always looks at the big picture!

As proverbs 3:5 states: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding....

When I obey it ends up working out for my good; even when I don't fully understand the situation at that particular time.

Not only has this help me to discern God's voice but also helped me to develop my faith in the Lord.

 

[PrissyMiss]

Poohbear, I was recently where you were and here is my honest to God advice... ask God. One night I had a honest one on one talk with God. I asked him very difficult questions that I felt no one on earth would be able to answer. And you know what he did... he answered me! He provided me with biblical studies and began to talk to me during my alone time with him.

God loves you so much that he wants you to have an understanding of who he is and how he operates. A relationship with God is a lot like our earthly relationships. If you want to know something about a friend you spend time with them and you ask them questions. That's the only way you will ever know.

I encourage you to go back and study some of the men in the bible in a different way. Some of the men that you should look at are Moses, Gideon, and Jacob. Look at their candid conversations with God and how God responded to them. These men all asked to God to give them signs that it was him speaking, and in turn God did.

 

[Guitarhero]

One way recently that God has helped me has been by sheer accident. I was supposed to have written the address down to business no. 2 but I didn't. As a result, I couldn't remember the name of the establishment nor the address but I saw another similar business and stopped in to inquire. They could not help me but directed me to someone else, no.3. Then I remembered part of the name of the one I was intending to go to (no. 2) another day because of the distance and mentioned it. No. 3 was so I could make comparisons. What I found out was it was a disreputable business!!!!! There was another mentioned by this man, no.4, that I had also stopped by the other day but the owner wasn't in. They are the ones I need to do business with!!! Since that owner wasn't in, I couldn't make comparisons and went looking for another. I would have gotten ripped off badly. God's providence saved me and I was worried about going to the one that was disreputable - just something inside me urging me to keep researching.

So, I was definitely being led but through my own fears or concerns. The outcome wasn't expected but it is surely welcomed. How it will all turn out, I don't know, but what I do know is that I was spared some difficulties and for that, I'm very grateful. God leads in a variety of ways.

 

[Reminiscing]

I see that you said you know it's God because of your discernment. How do you discern between God telling you to do something good and yourself telling you to do something good? Sorry for all the questions, but I would really like to know how to discern myself from God with the good decisions. I can discern bad decisions and things not of God.

Hi Poohbear,

At your statement in bold, why do you want to separate the two? God is good so when we seek God, we are also seeking for more good to enter into our lives. God changes our thoughts to be more in line with his. Therefore, your good decisions are from God.

The fact that you can discern good from bad is already evidence that you do hear God's voice. I think you're taking your skill of being able to make good decisions for granted. You would be amazed at the number of people who struggle daily to choose between good and bad. You'd also be amazed at the number of people who KNOW the difference between right and wrong but do not have the will power to do right. Those people are self-destructive and consciously choose to make bad decisions for their lives. Those people hear the enemy's voice louder than they hear God's.

Poohbear, your desire and curiosity to understand how God works shows that you do have faith. IMO, the part that you're struggling with is where's the tangible evidence that He speaks to you? But, in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) the Bible says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." There will never be tangible evidence of his actual speaking to you because that in a nutshell is our faith - the unseen part of our relationship with God. However, his reward for your faith and obedience to His voice is manifested in his blessings to you and that is your tangible evidence.

So, going back to your example of the girl in the club... there is no tangible evidence of the actual words that God spoke to her to help her make the decision to stop going to the club. However, if you go a step further with this hypothetical, we could guess that she found more positive things to do with the time that she was no longer spending going to and prepping for the club. Stuff that is possibly more enlightening and fulfilling to her life. Not to mention the money she may have saved from buying outfits, makeup, etc. Who knows, she may have been struggling to pay her rent? This small part in God's big plan is now going to help her pay her it. This one decision could lead to a domino affect of blessings. One could say that she made that decision all on her own but to me the fact that she saw the need to make a change AND had the strength do it is direct evidence that God had a hand in that decision.

God is good, Poohbear. Please don't separate your good decisions from Him.