The Voice of God

God gives every human being the ability to believe, but it takes an act of faith to engage this belief and become spiritually obedient to God’s principles. Two of the most common questions in the world of the Spirit are how do you hear the voice of God, and how do you know it’s the voice of God you hear? There are competing voices in our minds battling for control. There is the ego (SELF), the Lower Power, or if you wish, the Dark Side or Satan and his principalities and powers at work, and then there is the voice of God. How do you discern which is which?

Reading God’s Word is the number one way we hear God’s voice. The problem is most people who claim to believe in God and state that they want to put their faith in God, rarely if at all, read the word of God. Why? Because most people live by extreme individualism and want to be the captain of their own life.

The Bible is not a book you read; it’s a book that reads you! That is why it’s tough to pick up God’s word and read it, much less apply it to your life.

“Most Americans don’t know first-hand the overall story of the Bible—because they rarely pick it up,” McConnell said. “Even among worship attendees, less than half read the Bible daily. The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.” ~ Scott McConnell (Lifeway Research)

When your life is driven by extreme individualism, the most dominant voice you hear is your own (SELF-EGO). It’s also important to remember that the principalities and powers stem from the Evil One and cannot create anything independently. Still, they can take what’s already in your mind and spin a web of lies and deception, creating a twisted perception. The voice of God will align with the Word of God. Thoughts experienced that don’t match up with God’s Word are either ego (self-talk) or from the enemy.

If you were to go into a department store to steal an item, let’s pretend you stole a DVD and got away with it. When you get back to the car, you will hear two dominant voices in your head. The first voice will say to you something like this, “you rotten low-life piece of ^*&$; you are a no-good thief.” The second voice will say something to the sound of, ” Hey you, I don’t like stealing.” One voice is that of the great tempter/accuser, and the other is the voice of God; which one sounds like God’s voice?

Be committed to “BEING” in God’s Word every day of your life. There are many approaches to spending time in God’s Word; find one that works for your schedule and become committed to the discipline. The YouVersion App is a “FREE” download and an excellent tool for reading God’s Word and hearing the voice of God. Where to start? Pastor Zach (author of The Red Letter Challenge) suggests John’s Gospel; that’s a perfect choice. The book of Romans is another excellent place to start. The key is to not merely begin but make it a daily discipline to be in God’s Word.

God, please grant me the willingness and discipline to be committed to abiding in Your Word every day of my life. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May I do Your will and not mine now and forever. Amen.