The other day I released a TikTok video that got over 1,ooo views. It was called DID GOD REALLY SAY THAT? In the comments, someone asked me, “How do you know when God’s telling you something?” My heart went out to this individual because I know what a struggle it can be to figure out what God is saying. Yes, we have his word in the Bible, but we also need to hear him up close and personal. Are you supposed to take that job, marry that person, or let your child take that step on their own? Should you attend that church, start that ministry, or give to that cause? And God knows your heart: you really want to do things His way.
So, I decided to publish a five-part TikTok series on how to hear from God called WAS THAT GOD TALKING TO ME? Specifically, I talked about how to hear God in our thought-life. Here are the points I talked about.
- KNOW JESUS
People try to communicate with God all the time without having a personal relationship with Jesus. The trouble is, there are many voices out there, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:10, and none are without significance. Our thought life can swirl like a bubbling cauldron of fears, inhibitions, and selfish ambitions. It also contains our hopes, loves, and joys. A vast sea of words and imaginations runs through our heads daily, so how do we sift through all these to hear what God is saying? Until we know God, we can’t tell the difference. Surrendering our lives to Jesus opens the door to hearing God speak.
My husband has a distinct voice. I can immediately recognize it’s him talking, even without seeing him. We all are familiar with the voices of those we listen to every day. Jesus said in John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Followers of Jesus learn to hear his voice by spending time with him in Bible reading and prayer.
2. KNOW THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF GOD
Was your dad patient with you, or did he fly off the handle if you made a mistake? We often picture Father God as a grumpy old man who is disappointed in his children or angry with them when they fail. Nothing is further from the truth. Even before Jesus died on the cross, God demonstrated his mercy to us. In Exodus 34:6, as Moses received the Ten Commandments from God for the second time, God revealed his character and nature.
“And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…’”
God is much more patient with us than we are with ourselves. He knows that growth takes time, and he doesn’t expect us to understand his voice perfectly from day one.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT’S VOICE DWELLS WITHIN YOU
The Spirit of God came to dwell within us when Jesus left the earth. Jesus told his disciples the Holy Spirit would come, and he described how they could recognize the Spirit in John 16:7. In the amplified version it says, “ But I tell you the truth: It’s to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].”
Ponder those descriptions for a minute. The Holy Spirit’s voice comforts and never condemns. He fights for you when the enemy accuses you. When you can’t pray for yourself, He prays for you. He gives you wise counsel, strengthens you when you feel weak, and stands by you in every difficult situation.
- RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT’S VOICE
If it feels like an inner voice is pounding you into the ground, that’s not Holy Spirit. He will tell you the truth, but that truth will have hope attached to it. If it cuts you to the core, you may feel convicted, but you won’t feel condemned. Conviction carries the expectation of positive change. Condemnation feels like a heavy weight on your shoulders that you can’t shake off.
Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
- GOD DELIGHTS IN WHAT HE MADE
“Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness] …” Genesis 1:26 Amplified
If God made mankind in his image, I believe he is delighted in what he made. He could have breathed his spirit into any creature he created, but no. He fashioned humans to be like him. He extended to these special ones the honor of being part of God’s family. Adam and Eve may have messed things up, but God didn’t throw them away. He made coverings for them and began his strategy—Jesus would pay the price of sin for us all. He still is delighted with his plans for us.
DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIP IS THE BOTTOM LINE
So, what do all these points have in common? They all show that developing an intimate relationship with God teaches us to hear his voice. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not there yet. Just like flowers, relationships need time to grow. Pretty soon you’ll have an aha moment and say, “That was God talking to me!”
