In Olden Tymes God spoke to people and they heard Him clearly it seems. The early prophets heard God and wrote all the predictions about Jesus centuries before they happened.
Did you know there are more than 300 prophesies about Jesus in the Old Testament that He fulfilled in His life. Some prophesies He had no personal control over - like where He would be born, the manner of His death and suffering, where He would be buried. The fact that on His Death the Romans would not break His legs as they did to the other two crucified with Him. The fact that the Roman soldiers would divide His clothes amongst themselves and gamble for His robe whilst He hung from the Cross.
God also spoke clearly to individuals like Abraham for instance. He told him to sacrifice his son.
God also spoke to Moses. He told him to get the Jews out of Egypt and take them to the promised land. He showed him how to provide food and water for the Jews. He told him how to separate the Red Sea so they could cross safely. He gave him the Ten Commandments.
Anyway ... that is not the subject of the discussion we hope we have.
What I was wondering is: Does God speak to us now? Today? To people like you and me?
Does He speak with a voice like the one heard by the prophets, Abraham, Moses, the Disciples when they went up the mountain with Jesus at the Transfiguration, or as heard in Christ's Baptism?
Or does He speak silently in our hearts?
If the latter; how do we know it is God speaking and not our wishes and desires bringing forth in our minds what we would like to happen, or what we would like to do?
I know some of my readers have heard the voice of God in their hearts which has led them to do certain things. How were these readers certain it was God speaking to them? Please share your experiences with us.
I am certain that in today's cynical world if anyone said they heard God in a clear voice they would not be taken seriously and would be considered mentally unstable in some way.
That's probably why God does not speak in the same way as Olden Tymes. That is probably why He does not send angels like He did to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds to deliver His messages. He probably wants to spare us the accusations and finger pointing by today's society if we said we heard God clearly, or saw a vision of Him, or of Christ.
He probably speaks to us in our hearts, or in dreams. But how do we know it is Him and not the devil playing tricks with us?
Share your views and experiences.
I have never heard God speak audibly. Now...that may be because I don't believe He does it that way today. I do believe God has spoken to my heart but my take on that is to allow confirmation to take place through another person or even a circumstance. I have acted quickly (like praying for someone or calling them) but for the most part I am careful to just act. My current position happened in 2005 but not until Jo read about it, prodded me several times then I finally acted upon it. but I had been praying for a move for several years and watched some fall through.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bill for such a considered response. I agree that God does not speak audibly, and at times we should try to discern what He is saying as opposed to our own thoughts, or even the devil confusing us.
DeleteIt is interesting that in your case you had confirmation on what to do from Jo. Good advice for those who have some doubts on what to do next.
God bless.
I hear Him.
ReplyDeleteThat still small voice in your heart. You recognize it because we are created by God. We know His voice already. When we hear it, we know.
He says things like:
Forgive them.
Pray for that country you have been told is your enemy.
See, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
It is a natural thing. Human beings are supposed to hear God. When we don't, it is because we are not listening. He is never silent. Never.
I don't know how to comment on this subject without sounding like a hermit in robes sitting on a mountaintop. But the thing is, you just know that you know that you know.
Thanx Sandi. No you're not a hermit. I understand what you're saying. The thing is; sometimes we need to hear the message clearly amidst the noise of modern society. Especially when we have a decision to make, or a path to choose.
DeleteGod bless you.
He speaks all the time. You can hear Him. Even those little things that are really the big things, and the big things that are big things. 😊
DeleteThank you Sandi. Really thank you.
DeleteGod bless always.
I have experienced a number of times where I could "hear" God telling me to move. Probably the most memorable and faith building experience was one morning while I was at the gym before work. My routine was not different on this day and the songlist I had on my mp3 player was the same. As the songs played, one came on that I felt God saying it is time to move home. My family had left Indiana a few months after my daughter was born. At that moment, I knew this was not a question or suggestion. I left the gym and immediately called my wife and told her what had happened. I did not get a confirmatory reply from her. We spoke about it that evening and through the weekend and the following Monday I turned in my notice.
ReplyDeleteAs I approached my desk, a voicemail had been left offering me an interview for a job that would allow me to work anywhere in the U.S. God provided.
Thank you so much, Ryan, for your story. This confirms that some people, like you, do in effect get a clear message on what to do and when. I have noticed that God may have been talking to me at the time; but this noticing by me is always a long time after the event. When I looked back, I thought, God must have guided me then. But at the time I did not feel or notice the still voice of His.
DeleteGod bless, Ryan.
Victor, I believe God speaks to our hearts more often than we even recognize, perhaps, at the time. However, I've had two distinct moments when I know I heard God's voice. The first was when I had procrastinated long enough in embarking on writing my books - He actually said, and I repeated it out loud, "It's now or never!" Yes, I listened and obeyed! The second time was when I had just started my blog, but didn't have a sound direction. Pondering this while sitting out on our deck, God spoke again, "Write a daily devotional!" "Who, me?" Was my first reaction (like Moses). As you know, that blog is still going strong, though no longer daily. So glad you invited us to share our experiences here today, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Wonderful, wonderful post. I love that the NT confirms every prophecy in the OT. Oh the Lord is speaking....are we listening or too busy. That's what I love about the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude...gives you a change to really hear the Lord speaking to your heart and giving direction and peace. Pick up the Bible folks....read and study it...YOU WILL hear God speak..now that I've heard...Do I obey! Love your article!!
DeleteHi Martha and Wanda,
DeleteSomehow, my computer does not allow me to reply to you individually.
Martha,
Thank you for sharing your stories and I am so glad that you heard God's voice regarding writing your books and starting a Blog. Certainly your Blog has taught me a lot and I would recommend my readers to visit you there.
I sometimes wish I could hear God's voice as clearly as you did. Perhaps I'm not worthy, or perhaps I get too distracted to listen properly.
God bless.
Wanda,
It is amazing how the OT predicts so many things about Christ which happened in the NT. Obviousy, the writers of the OT must have heard/listened clearly on what to write in order to be so accurate in their prophesies.
You are right about the Bible being God's voice too. May I recommend a book entitled "I Am With You" by John Woolley. During his work as a hospital chaplain, John Woolley received many words of divine encouragement from the Lord during prayer.
https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-You-John-Woolley/dp/1903816998/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=i+am+with+you+john+woolley&qid=1584041491&s=books&sr=1-1
God bless.
What an awesome question ... and commentary by your readers! My first answer is my own conscience. But. I've no doubt I'll be pondering this for some time. That's the mark of a great teacher.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mevely. Yes, God does speak to us. Somehow He has chosen a different method to our society than He did in the OT. I guess this is because in the OT times people were more receptive, more willing to believe, and not as sceptical and secular as we are today.
DeleteGod bless you.
Back in 2009 when I left Oregon, I wrote the following piece and read it to the church I was going to. At the time it was the Friends Church which was Quaker. Sometimes when God speaks to me, it is a visual experience. I attached my writing below.
ReplyDeleteFaith and Trust – that is what it is all about. We all say we have faith and trust in God but what happens when things are not going the way we want them to go. Do we question our faith and trust in God? I know I do. I ask for signs that will tell me – ok Bill, you’re on the right path. You are doing what you were meant to do.
Earlier in the year a few weeks after giving my notice at my museum job, I was questioning myself if that was the right move. I wanted to be independent and do work that I felt called to. As I sat out front in the gift shop pondering that thought, I was looking at some greeting cards on a rack beside the chair that I was sitting in. I grabbed one randomly and read the inside of it. It read “Listen to your heart, chase after your dream and celebrate the joy of the journey”. WOW was the only response I could think of. I felt relieved and smiled knowing that God sent that message for me just at the right moment.
Two weeks ago as I sat at my computer drinking tea and reading email, I noticed that the daily inspiration email I receive everyday had a subject line “Hanging by a Thread”. That one sounded interesting and I could identify with that because that is how I felt at this time. The story relates one man’s feeling of depression. His family life is not going so well so he calls on his friend. His friend listens to his story and while he is listening he notices that the leaves are falling off the trees in his backyard. But there is one leaf that seems to be caught on something, maybe a spider web, and is suspended in mid-air. But he walked around the leaf and there was nothing there to explain why it was suspended in mid-air. He tells his friend that is his answer. Even though the leaf went through a lot of changes which is part of life, it didn’t tumble all the way down to the ground. It had a second life. Its life isn’t over like all those leaves that lay on the ground, maybe it was thankful. The view at the new height wasn’t so bad after all. Who put that invisible thread there he asked his friend. Faith, Will and God he replied. His friend came over and helped him rake his leaves then went inside to borrow his step ladder. The leaf was still suspended when he grabbed it and tied one end of the thread to the leaf and the other to a branch.
Fast forward 9 days -- I was in the process of deleting spam from my email. After clicking the delete button, the “Hanging by a Thread” email was opened on my screen. I wondered how that happened because it was buried under 9 days of emails that I saved in my inbox. I decided how ever it came about wasn’t important; I was meant to read it again so I did. Later while mowing the lawn in the back I noticed a leaf that started to fall down off the tree. I watched it and it didn’t hit the ground. Thinking to myself, no way, I sat on my bench and watched waiting for it to hit the ground. After about 15 minutes I walked around it and there wasn’t anything touching it – over or under or beside it. I was in awe and had to sit down overcome with emotion. I just stared at it and finally went in to the house and told Shari to look out the bedroom window and pointed to the leaf. I was speechless. Going back outside, I went to the leaf, grabbed it and brought it inside so I could photograph it. That day I got the message loud and clear -- No matter how desperate a situation can feel, with faith and trust in God, his hands will be there to lighten your burden.
I call this leaf “The Leaf of Faith”
Have a wonderful evening, Victor.
Thank you Bill for taking the time to write about your experiences. Most sincerely, thank you.
DeleteI like how you end with, "No matter how desperate a situation can feel, with faith and trust in God, his hands will be there to lighten your burden." I find this most reassuring right now in my difficult times.
God bless you always my friend.
Oh yes, God still speaks...Oh yes. It's that Still Small Voice, but we must be quiet to hear. : ) I think we must be very close in fellowship with the Father so we obtain His character and know that Voice too.
ReplyDeleteHe also speaks through people at times...He speaks perhaps through a red cardinal, I've had a bright red cardinal warning me of my father's death in three days. The little red bird was hopping up and down in front of me flailing his wings just like a person trying to get my attention. (Long story). I've had many instances like this of cardinals and once one was coupled with a bright yellow bird the day after my daughter's wedding. After my father died in a not very good situation, very, very tragic. A printed blog title by Frederick Buechner moved back and forth at me from my computer screen, the title said something to the effect to "Please do not hold my wrong intentions against me." ...It was a message I believe about my dad, how he felt after sitting in the hospital and realized he had been duped by someone, or even more it was from my dad but God ultimately allowed it. My dad has made an appearance to my youngest daughter even in a dream to let her know he is in Heaven and watching her. It's all God the Father surely allowing these things and letting us know things? For one, God may have been giving my daughter an assurance of Heaven that it is real, and giving me the assurance where my dad was. My daughter reports he looked so wise and peaceful and so handsome standing there watching her in the kitchen, he was wearing a silver grey jacket with a light blue shirt and it was so distinct and so real it was unbelievable, nothing like here on earth. He was surrounded by a white mist.
I could blog on your blog but I will stop. Oh, but God does speak. He speaks at the grocery store when someone needs encouragement and gives me that nudge, He uses a person taking an order over the phone that read my mail one day and it was so uncanny it was unbelievable, an Encourager. He can even speak through one of my loving animals. He is infinite in what He can do, if only we listen and take notice He is there, He is truly listening and many times He speaks.
The comments here look wonderful, I will have to take my time and come read them carefully.
What would we do without Him? Great entry, God bless!
Thank you Amelia for taking the time to write in about your experiences. Please don't worry about how much you write. You're always welcome here.
DeleteYes, I do believe God speaks in dreams or through other people.
God bless you always, Amelia.
I believe that God speaks to us through the Bible.
ReplyDeleteSometimes when reading the Bible a certain verse will hit me and mean something special to me. I think that is God speaking to me.
Sometimes it seems as though the Pastor is preaching just to me, and that is God speaking to me.
I ask God to help me make even the smallest decisions and I believe if we put God first in our lives, he will direct our paths.
Thank you for your comforting words, Happyone. Yes, God speaks through the Bible and through other people. It is at those times when we are in difficulties that we need to hear Him more clearly.
DeleteGod bless you.
First, bind the evil one if you hear and have any question who it is from. If it's from The Lord, He will be glad you did, because He told us in His word to test the spirits. If it's not from Him, you will soon know, binding the evil one will likely make it stop.
ReplyDeleteSecond, if you think you are hearing anything from Him, it will never, ever, under any circumstance, go against His revealed Word.
He still speaks, it's the still, small voice of conscience, or of a thought popping into our heads that we just know we didn't come up with ourselves, or His Word, or a sermon, so many little things.
So many wise words and suggestions in your comment, Mimi. Thank you.
DeleteGod bless.
I have heard the audible Voice of God; I've heard His Voice in my heart; through His Word; and through signs, and even as I'm writing sometimes because it is inspired and I know it is Him and not me. John 10:27 says we know His Voice. For me, that has only come by acting on what I believe is God saying to me. If I'm wrong, I will know it, if I'm right (that it was Him) I'll know it. In my life it has come through experience to the point, that now when I believe it is Him, I hesitate not. I act immediately. Through experience I've come to know His Voice. The LORD led me to close up my ministries and non-profit in NY WITHIN A THREE WEEK TIME and move to NC where I knew nothing. Everyone in NY told me that it was NOT God. But, I know how He speaks to me. I challenged Him. "IF this is You, LORD, You better put Your Handwriting on the wall!" And about a ½ hour later, there was a literal wall with writing on it. He answered me exactly as I challenged Him. I could do nothing but obey. And it absolutely was Him. He has blessed my now new life immensely down here. I think - for me at least - obedience has been the key to learning to know how He speaks to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very touching and profound testimony, Diane. Thank you. You are so fortunate you can hear His voice so clearly. Please pray for those who are in some confusion in what they hear.
DeleteGod bless.
I'm not sure what happened to the comment I left the other day, so I'll try to recreate it. God speaks to me all the time. Some people might call a stroke of luck or a happy accident a coincidence, but to me that's God at worl.
ReplyDeleteNever received your previous message, Kathy. What you say here is correct. God does speak to us often through events or through other people.
DeleteGod bless you, Kathy.