Do you ever have navigating what is the voice of God or your own voice?
Yeah, I can relate.
I remember in college begging God to speak to me. I wanted to hear his voice on so many different areas. Mainly, I just wanted to know what plan God had for my life. I was constantly on my knees trying to figure out if I was doing life right, and what was to come next.
And it should be mentioned, that I often prayed about whether or not my crushes liked me back, or ultimately, were my husband. I was so desperate that if I saw their name on a street sign or in a random newspaper article I would count it as a sign… only to have nothing at all happen.
Sometimes when I thought I was hearing God’s voice, it was kind and loving. At other times, I thought God’s voice was judgemental and condescending.
I thought I should have peace when hearing from God, but it turns out I was in constant confusion on what was my own voice, God’s voice, or, more frightening, the enemy’s.
Basically, I walked around enormously confident of what I thought God was saying, and then doubtful and unsure the next moment.
It wasn’t until I was reading through the new testament that a verse that I had read a million times before, and even memorized, presented itself in an entirely new way to me.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
When I read that verse it’s like a light-bulb went off in my head. The Holy Spirit is a way we can hear God’s voice, and if he always bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnees, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, then I know that when I think I am hearing God those traits should accompany that as well.
So that voice that I thought was God’s telling me he was disappointed in me wasn’t him, because it didn’t come with the fruit of the spirit, rather it came with shame, which I learned was not of God.
But what about all the times where I thought it was me speaking instead of God, but it still carried the fruit of the spirit?
I came to the conclusion that if I was hearing things that were good and life-giving, it didn’t ultimately matter if the voice was mine or God’s, because the source of all goodness came from God anyway.
Since this moment, hearing God has been a lot easier for me, more than that I’ve grown closer to Him and understood his character more.
I’ve also found that over the years sharing this tip about hearing God’s voice has helped a lot of my friends identify God’s voice, and I thought it might help you too.
What about you?
What tips and tricks have helped you hear his voice? Share below in the comments!