Question of the Day

When Kenneth and Gloria started their journey of faith they had questions too—lots of them! So, we've compiled the most frequently asked questions by people like you—people who earnestly desire to find God's answers to the practical, real-life challenges of everyday living. We have a new question every day, so check back often!

How do I know if I’m really hearing God’s voice?
How do I know if I’m really hearing God’s voice?
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Your desire to hear from God is a righteous one! God is talking to you all the time, and it is His will that you hear Him and feel confident in doing so. That’s why, in the New Testament, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” 15 different times.

When Christians are new at hearing from God, there can often be uncertainty as to whether they are hearing from God, themselves or even the devil. But it is much simpler than you may think!

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And you will seek for Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (NKJV). In other words, you are guaranteed to find God and hear His voice when you seek to hear from Him. 
Here are some of the ways you can feel confident in doing so:

1. Expect To Hear From God. Some people don’t expect to hear from God, so they don’t! He’s talking to you all the time. If you expect to hear from Him, you will open your heart to receive.

2. Use Your Inward Witness. God communicates from His Spirit to your spirit, and then your spirit communicates what you hear to your mind. That is what we call an inward witness. It is very similar to a thought or a prompting. It’s very subtle and requires a closeness with God and regular practice to hear it more quickly and clearly. That’s why the more time you spend with the Lord and the more you practice tuning in to His voice, the more it will become a voice that “thunders in marvelous ways” (Job 37:5, NIV).

3. Spend Time With Him. The best way to know if you’re hearing from God is to spend time with Him. The more time you spend with Him, the more you’ll recognize His voice (John 10:4). 

4. Line It Up With His Word. One sure way to know if you’re hearing God’s voice is to line up what you hear against the Word of God. God will never tell you to do, think or say anything contrary to His Word. If you have a thought and you don’t know if it’s God or not—you can look it up in the Bible and settle it right away.

As you practice hearing from Him, avoid the temptation to question yourself. Let the peace in your heart be your guide. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become!