Bank employees are taught to spot counterfeit money NOT by studying different fake designs, so they won't be tricked. Rather, bankers spend hours studying all the qualities of true, genuine currency. There are so many ways a criminal could attempt to pass counterfeit money, so knowing a few "common" counterfeits may not actually prepare someone for spotting the fakes. However, when a person recognizes and knows the real thing extremely well, they'll be able to see any variation from the truth and spot that which is false. This is true for finding the truth about anything in general—but especially when it comes to recognizing God’s voice.
During Bible times, God sometimes spoke audibly to individuals or through prophets who delivered God’s message to others. It's tempting to wish we lived during that time so that hearing the voice of God would be easier. However, we have two gifts that that the people in the Bible did NOT have that help us recognize God’s voice today. We have the complete Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
One of the blessings we have today is the complete Word of God. If you lived during the time of King David, you would have had the books of the Law, but not all the books of the prophets. Or if you were a prophet and heard God’s voice audibly, that would have been amazing, but you would not have lived long enough to see the fulfillment of those prophecies. If you were a Gospel writer, like Matthew, you would have recorded the words and actions of Jesus that you heard and experienced for yourself, but you would not be around to hear the words of Paul to know how to live out your new faith in Jesus.
God has given us the Bible as a means of learning about His character, His plan for humanity, the complete story of God and His people, and, of course, our instructions for life. We do not have to wait for a special word from God; He has already given it in the Bible. This gift helps us understand God’s entire rescue plan for humanity—from Genesis to Revelation.
Some may choose to sit and wait on God inactively, complaining that they haven’t heard from Him. And yet, they fail to pick up and read the Word God has already given. Whenever we have a question about a certain topic or decision in our life, God’s Word is the first place we should go for wisdom. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness to equip us for every good work.
Along with the Bible, it's also important to talk to God regularly, ask Him questions, and allow the Holy Spirit to help you discern what He is saying through His Word. This will help you get an accurate understanding and application for your life.
To truly hear God’s voice clearly, we must first have believed in Jesus as our Savior from the punishment of sin (John 1:12). When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of us (John 14:26). The Spirit helps us hear and understand the Word of God and guide us in ways that honor Him (1 Corinthians 2:12). While the Holy Spirit has always existed, His presence in the heart of believers is a special gift that was given after Jesus returned to Heaven so that those who belong to Jesus can hear and understand His voice (John 16:7, 13). So the essential step to recognizing the voice of God is to believe in Jesus as your Savior so that you can have the Holy Spirit with you to help you discern spiritual things from God.
We hear a lot of "voices" throughout life, telling us what we should do or believe. We hear "voices" from social media, our friends, teachers, parents, and even our own brains. Sometimes it is hard to discern truth from error, good advice from bad, or wisdom from foolishness. Just like bankers study real money to discern counterfeit bills, we ought to be so familiar with the truth of God’s Word that we can easily recognize His Truth and His voice and recognize anything that is false and not from God.
The more time we spend with God through prayer, Bible study, and mediating on God’s Word the easier it will be to recognize His voice and leading in our lives. So if you are wanting to hear God’s voice, first pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear God’s voice and then search God’s Word to see what He has to say (Psalm 119:105).
There are two primary keys to recognizing the voice of God: having the Holy Spirit and knowing the Word of God. God’s sons and daughters have the Holy Spirit inside of them to help them understand, discern, and remember God’s Word (John 10:27, 16:13). We do not have to wait for an audible voice from God because He has already given us His Word, which is essential reading for us to know Him, gain wisdom, and recognize His voice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 10:27). So if you want to hear from God on something, first pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear Him, then search God’s Word to see what He has to say (Psalm 119:105).
Hanna loves spending time with kids and teens. She enjoys being detectives with them to investigate God's Word to discover truths to answer any questions. She is the co-author of a newly published apologetics curriculum for children and teaches one online for highschoolers-adults. To learn more about her ministry you can visit networkerstec.com. For fun, she likes to play Ultimate Frisbee, read historical fiction, and paint.
