How Do You Recognize God's Voice?

His Word - Our Relationship

 I've been asked twice over the past week - how do you know it's God speaking to you?  Well, let's think about that from a practical experience to which everyone can relate.  Think about the people you know.  When you call them, do you recognize their voice?  When you were a child, did you recognize the voice of a parent or guardian?  Of course you did!  Why?  Because you knew them.  You had a relationship with them.

It's the same with Jesus.  When we spend time with him (reading his Word #1, prayer and worship), we, too, will recognize his voice.  The more we obey that voice, the more he will trust us and we him.

Folks, it's a relationship!

John 10:27-30
New King James Version (NKJV)
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

Know the Word, Know God, Control your Thought Life

2 Cor 10:3-5 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

"At this point of maturity, those practiced at knowing God's voice need not pretend or merely hope. They can speak with authority, conviction, and results (Rom. 12:2). They need not be double-minded or resort to psychological gymnastics (James 1:5-8). They can pray in real faith (James 5:15). For "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17)." ~ Acts 17:11 Bible Study:  Hearing God

He will guide you and direct you, Trust in Him

Isa 30:20-21 (NIV) Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

John 10:2-5 (NIV) "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

The Works of the Lord are not necessarily earth-shaking

1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Spend time with Him and eventually you will know his voice for yourself!