One of the things that can frustrate a believer is the inability to discern God’s voice. Especially when you hear the testimony of other believers on different occasions, God spoke to them. This leaves you wondering why you can’t hear God yourself.
Some have come to the erroneous conclusion that God doesn’t speak out of frustration. Contrary to this belief, there is evidence in the Bible and from other believers that God speaks. So the problem is not from God but us.
If you can’t hear God, it means you are either not attentive to His voice or do not know how He speaks to you. Whichever be the case, this article, signs God is talking to you will assist you in recognizing when He speaks to you.
How does God talk to Us
God speaks to all people irrespective of their age and gender. He doesn’t speak to a selected few, like pastors and ministers. Every child of God has a right to hear from God.
The problem, however, is that some of us do not recognize His voice. John 10:4 (NIV) Says – when he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Apart from not recognizing His voice, some of us also do not know how He speaks. If you must hear God, the first step is to know how He talks to His people.
Hence, I have outlined some ways here that God talks to us.
- Through His Word.
The Bible is the written word of God. It’s the manual God has given us to guide us through life. Through the word, we are shaped and transformed.
However, many believers are ignorantly waiting for dramatic signs in Heaven to hear God. Hence, we often need to learn the fact that God speaks to us each time we study the Bible.
- Audibly
There are instances when God speaks audibly to people as one speaks to a friend. Have you ever heard a clear voice speak to you, and there was no one there? That might as well have been God. Often we assume that we imagined these voices in our head, so we ignore them.
Samuel would have ignored this voice in 1 Samuel 3:10 if he didn’t have the guidance of Eli. He might have thought he was going crazy. But thank God for Eli, who perceived God was speaking to the boy.
- Through Visions and Dreams.
There are numerous instances in the Scripture where God spoke to men through visions and dreams. He can warn and instruct us through dreams as he did to the shepherd and Joseph in Matthew 2:12-13. God also encouraged and instructed Paul through a vision in Acts 18:19.
- An Inner Witness.
The best gift God has given us is the gift of the Holy Spirit as a friend and companion. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and remind us of everything God has said to us (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit speaks to us through nudges in our spirits if we have fellowship with Him. You can test the witnessing in your spirit by God’s word. This will help you know that it’s the Holy Spirit and not your mind speaking to you.
- Through Prophesy.
Hebrews 1:1 (NIV) – In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways.
Upon reading the Bible, one may assume that God is no longer speaking to us through prophets today. But this is not the case; God still speaks to us through prophetic words. The only difference is that we have access to God, unlike in the past when people relied on prophets to hear God.
God still speaks to us through prophetic utterances and declarations. Prophesies are given for encouragement, edification, and comfort (See 1 Corinthians 14:3). However, you should know that not all prophesy is from God. Hence, every prophecy must be tested in the light of God’s word.
Also See: 13 Awesome Signs God is Transitioning You.
13 Signs God is Talking to You.
It’s possible to still not hear God even when He speaks to you through any of the ways mentioned above. Life can get busy and noisy that God’s voice gets drowned in the noise. When this happens, you may miss His voice or, worse still, ignore it.
God being so merciful, tries to reach out to us still by sending us some signs. The reason He sends these signs is to get our attention, to get us quiet enough to hear what He is saying. If you experience any of these 13 signs, it means God is trying to get your attention. Therefore, you should pause and retreat so you can hear what He is saying to you.
You know God is talking to you when:
He Sends His Word.
God’s word is the most basic way God speaks to every believer. Every other means of hearing from God are tested and judged by His word. God will never ask you to do what goes contrary to His word. He is not the author of confusion.
God often speaks through the word. But often, we miss it because we think something other than the word is for us. If you must hear God through the Scripture, you must first correct this mindset. Every Scripture is written for our edification, correction, and rebuke (1Timothy 3:16).
When a Bible Verse Keeps Coming to Mind.
Have you had instances where a particular verse of Scripture keeps ringing in your mind? This usually happens when you are not consciously meditating on the Bible.
Most times, you may not have even read that portion of the Scripture in a long time. Yet it keeps popping up in your mind. You should pay attention when you experience this; it’s a sign God is talking to you.
Again, you know God is speaking to you when a Scripture comes to mind that speaks to your current situation. For instance, may be struggling with something like depression and a Scripture just pops up that lifts your spirit. That’s God talking to you.
When You Feel Uneasiness in Your Spirit.
God can warn you about the danger ahead by making you feel uneasy and restless. When you suddenly feel uneasy and anxious for no obvious reason, this may be God passing a message.
So the wise thing to do is to turn to Him in prayer to know the cause of the uneasiness. Again, if you feel worried and anxious about someone, instead of being anxious, you should pray for them (Philippians 4:6).
When You Have a Burden to Pray.
There are times the Lord fills our hearts with the burden to pray. This can be during the day or at night. You suddenly become restless in your spirit and feel an urgency to pray.
If you ever have this feeling, do not ignore it. God may be prompting you to pray about something important or for someone in danger. You may need to find out who or what you may be saving.
When you have such burdens, you usually don’t know what to pray for. Hence, it’s best you pray in the spirit. When you do this, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray for you (Romans 8:26).
When You Feel a Particular Sermon or Scripture is for You.
Are there times when a sermon hit you hard in church? Do you sometimes feel like the minister is speaking to you directly during a sermon? Have you ever felt like someone told the Pastor about your current situation?
If the answer to any of these is yes, it means God was speaking to you through that minister. You should listen attentively and apply those words to your life and situation.
When You Get Confirmation from People.
Often, God speaks to us about something, but we either doubt or ignore it. So God goes ahead and speaks those exact things through a friend or someone you respect. This can come in the form of godly counsel, to correct, rebuke, warn or instruct.
When God speaks and confirms it through other people around you, then it’s a sign that He is talking to you. Remember that the Bible says there is safety in the multitude of counsels (Proverbs 11:14). It also says that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, a testimony is established (2 Corinthians 13:1).
When You Have a Strong Conviction, You Can’t Explain.
You know God is speaking to you when you have a firm conviction about something. You often can’t even explain why you believe something so strongly.
This is the gift of discernment. It’s the ability to judge and discern situations correctly (Isaiah 11:2).
When You Have Peace/Assurance.
Sometimes when we pray about situations, God answers with peace. Peace is the first sign you have from God that He has heard your prayers (See Philippians 4:4-7).
When God is talking to you, have peace. God’s word doesn’t instill fear; it comes with peace and unexplainable joy, assurance, and faith.
When There is a Reoccurring Problem.
When you have the same problem coming over and again, it may be an indication that God is talking to you. Maybe there is something He wants you to learn from that situation.
Until you learn it, the problem may keep reoccurring. Therefore, when a problem comes up repeatedly, you should ask God what lesson He wants you to learn from it.
When You Have a Dream or Vision.
God can speak to you through dreams at night or even when you nap during the day. He can also speak to you through prophetic visions that come like a sudden flash or image.
However, you must be careful not to interpret every dream or flash as revelations from God. Every dream and vision should be interpreted by the Scripture. So, if a vision or dream goes contrary to God’s word, it is certainly not of God.
When You Fully Surrender to God’s Will.
You know God is speaking to you when you have an open heart. When you set up idols in your heart, you are not having an open heart. The implication is that what you hear or perceive is not of God. However, if you surrender your will and open your heart to God, He speaks to your heart.
When You Need to Depend on Him to Carry Out What He is Saying.
Most times, God doesn’t call us to do things within our comfort zone. He likes to stretch us and our faith to the point where we will begin to trust Him completely.
He brings us to points where His glory is made manifest through obedience. God’s instructions are big and sometimes ridiculous. So, you will need more than your strength and understanding to carry them out.
When You Have a Clear or Blocked Path.
One sign that God is trying to talk to you is that you experience closed or open paths. If your plan to do something receives favor and opens doors; it could be an indication you are on the right path.
If God wants you to go in a certain direction, He makes way for you to get there. However, if you keep meeting roadblocks on your path, it could also be God speaking to you. You should pause and inquire from Him to know why you are experiencing roadblocks.
Conclusion
The Bible says, “my people perish for lack of knowledge.” Knowledge is power. This is especially true even in our walk with God. So, if you don’t know how God talks to you, you may not hear Him. This doesn’t mean He is not speaking; you are just not listening.
Thankfully, you can get in tune with God as you study these signs God is talking to you. As you go through them, please take note of the ones that resonate with you and hold unto them. They are likely how God speaks to you.
