Each day you hear so many voices speaking to you – through the media, through people, through things you read, through experiences, through circumstances, etc. It is vital that you learn how to ferret out the noise to hear God speaking to you.
God has promised in Isaiah 30:21, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.” Even Jesus said, “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear….” Rev. 2:7, 17. Jesus also promised to send the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. John 16:13. So just how can you discern what is really God speaking and what is not?
First and foremost, any true message from the Lord must be biblically based. There must be Bible back-up! You really need two or three corresponding scriptures that agree with what you believe you have received. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2 Cor. 13:1; Deut. 17:6; 19:6. You will develop the ability to discern the more you read, study, gain understanding, and more importantly, apply and live by the Word of God. Your level of discernment will become almost automatic.
Second, the message must speak to you where you live. It must be personal to you. Isaiah 30:21 says your ears will hear a word behind you – it must be personal to you. That is especially so if someone comes to you saying they have a message from God for you. That message must have biblical support and it must be relevant to your life in a meaningful way.
Third, it must have the effect of improving a situation. The effect of the message should be that it changes a situation for the better. Somebody’s life should be improved, changed, saved, etc., by implementing or acting upon the message you received. I Corinthians 14:3.
Applying these guidelines should help you better discern God’s voice.
Janice Davis Steele
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