God can and does still speak to people today. In fact, I would argue that He's always speaking. We just have to learn how to listen. So if you're like me and sometimes wish that God would just come down from Heaven with a booming voice and tell you what to do, I want to share with you a few biblical principles on how we can hear and know the voice of God in our lives.
#1 - Be Still
Psalm 46:10 KJV says: Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. I think it's important to note that scripture doesn't say "run around like a chicken with its head cut off and know that I am God."
If I'm honest, "being still" is something that I struggle with. Like many of you, my schedule is often busy and I also tend to have a bit of an ADHD brain. I'll be working on something for my job will simultaneously thinking about the bible study I'm teaching at church next week and trying to figure out what I'm going to have for dinner and when to schedule an appointment to get my oil changed.
It can be difficult to do in our fast paced world, but it's so important that we set aside quiet time to be with the Lord and to seek Him in prayer. After all, Jesus told us that if we seek God privately, He will reward us openly.
#2 - Get in His Word!
You might be looking for some sort of over the top supernatural sounding answer as to how you can hear from God but sometimes the truth is more simple than we like to make it. And frankly, there's nothing more supernatural and spiritual than the living Word of God!
2 Timothy 3:16 says: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The truth is that God's Word is alive and it's the primary way that God speaks to us today!
Sure, you might not have a direct answer for every situation you're facing. You might not open the bible and read a verse that says "Bob, I want you to sell your house and move to Michigan" or "Susie I want you to take the job offer you've been praying about." But the Word of God is filled with wonderful truth that we can apply to our day to day lives and the decisions we make. There's wisdom, guidelines and standards for what's right and wrong in the pages of scripture; and it's also the standard by which we judge every other voice, thought or influence in our lives, which brings me to my next point.
#3 - Seek Spiritual Discernment
While God's Word is certainly the primary way that He speaks to us today, that doesn't mean that He won't speak to us in other ways. God can and does speak to us in numerous ways. He might speak through a general "nudge" or "feeling." He might speak through the pastor's message on Sunday morning. He might even use another believer to speak a word directly into our lives. This raises many questions, though. Was the person who spoke something to me in a good place spiritually? Did they know for sure that it was God who was telling them this? What about this gut feeling I've got? Is that really God or is that just me?
These questions that arise are why Spiritual discernment is so important. To discern just means to differentiate between different things; and biblically and Spiritually speaking, discernment means to be able to tell what's from God and what's not. Discernment is listed as one of the Spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 which not every believer will have; but just because we don't have the "gift" of discernment doesn't mean we shouldn't seek it as a quality.
Discernment will show us supernaturally whether something we're feeling or hearing is from God, from our own desires or even from a demonic influence. Of course, discernment is first and foremost grounded in a knowledge and understanding of God's Word, which is why the Word was placed before this point on the list.
Conclusion
I could expand on all of these points and probably add many others to the list; but these are just a few biblical principles that can guide us as we try to hear and know the voice of God in our lives. I pray that this blesses you and that you would receive clarity and peace as you continue to walk more closely with the Lord. If you'd like to hear more on this subject, I'd encourage you to join me this Sunday morning (February 11th) at 9am Eastern for the Seeking Radio Show on 93.5 WMMG!