by Many people have claimed they’ve heard God’s voice or that the Lord spoke to them directly. Christian believers around the globe yearn to experience something like that. However, many are confused about the way God communicates with them. So, How does God speak to us?
There’s no doubt that your Lord works mysteriously and wisely. So, He may already be trying to speak to you in several ways that you aren’t aware of.
Continue reading this article to discover what it means if God speaks to you. Explore more about what the Bible says about His voice. Learn how you can listen to Him and what you are to do when you hear His godly voice.
Biblical Meaning: How Does God Speak to Us?
God’s voice and word are vital to all Christian believers and faith. It may be challenging to recognize and understand His ways of communication. Even if it may be mystical and confusing, it’s not impossible to listen.
Understanding His communication is essential to strengthening your bond with the Heavenly Father. Christian faith is based on your relationship with God, so maintaining it takes time and understanding. Your Lord is constantly speaking to you, and you can hear Him.
Your creative Lord is not limited to any form of communication. He’s an all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent Creator. The Bible is filled with recorded accounts of Him speaking to people, families, and nations. The first time He truly spoke to you was through your savior Jesus Christ.
Letting His words impact your thoughts, words, and actions is how you allow God to speak to you to this day. However, when Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into the truth. Yet, it’s crucial to actively nurture and maintain a good relationship with your Lord to understand how to hear Him.
He will allow you to hear Him if you’re truly sincere in His word, John 10:27.
What does the Bible say?
So, how does God speak to us?
After decades of following the Christian faith, many people have claimed to have heard God’s voice. There is certainly no denying that He has the ability to speak to you at any given moment. Recognizing the voice of God and sensing His nudge isn’t as easy as it seems.
Many people and faithful believers of God have difficulty hearing His voice. Silence from His side can indicate guilt and discouraging feelings and thoughts that you might be ignored. However, this is never the case.
This shouldn’t be the reason to stop listening. While you may be nervous and frustrated by the silence, you should still be postured by the possibility of His call. Remember that young Samuel prayed, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”, 1 Samuel 3:9.
There are many ways the Lord communicates with His followers. It may not always be a direct conversation. You cannot see Him, and He may not typically use an audible voice like you’re used to when talking to others.
Hence, to better understand His ways, and help yourself listen, here are the most primal ways God may be speaking to you:
God speaks to you through His word
The Bible is God’s message to you. As stated in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, It’s His way to prepare you and guide you to live a perfect life the Christian way.
Every word in the Bible is true, active, and still alive today because it was inspired by God but written by His creations. He speaks to you personally and with great power to this day. This is why the Bible is essential for your relationship with God, and you should not neglect His word.
If you’re willing to believe in God’s word, you’re prepared to hear His voice. However, if you reject the Bible, your unbelief will prevent you from his messages.
God will reassure you and come to your aid when you’re going through tough times. Open your Holy Bible, and God will focus your attention on particular verses through the Holy Spirit. Read, memorize, and meditate on the words of God.
These verses have a particular application to your unique situation. God “highlights” them in order to help you understand what you’re going through. As you meditate and obey God’s words, He will guide you in righteous paths for His name’s sake, Psalm 23:3.
God speaks to you through prayer
Another way God may speak to you, which some may find confusing, is through prayers. Many believers think that praying is a one-sided conversion or monologue. You may consider that prayers are a way to tell God what you need or ask Him for the things you want, and He’ll just grant them without a word.
However, this is certainly not the case. A true prayer is a dialogue, a two-way conversation between you and God. Through prayers, God takes the focus off your needs and turns them toward His love and your life’s purpose. He establishes His plan and will guide you to the righteous path.
When you pray, God hears you and answers with a “yes”, “no”, or “wait”. You may not hear those words directly, but you will understand them. As you strengthen your bond with the Lord through prayers, you will get a better sense of His answers and promptings.
Even though this takes time, patience, and a lot of practice, you will eventually hear His voice. God desires to make His will and plan known to you.
God speaks to you through circumstances
God can also speak to us through our circumstances. For example, He may turn you away from an open opportunity you’ve been seeking for some time. Whether it’s for the greater good or preventing something bad, He will guide you toward the righteous path.
It can be in the form of insufficient funds or natural obstacles that don’t allow you to proceed with your plan. His plan is perfect, and He has a purpose for all of us, Proverbs 3:3–13. This is important to remember when facing these kinds of signs and communications.
Acknowledge your Lord and rely on His love and plan rather than trying to discern your situation. God is trustworthy, and in time you will understand why He closed a door that seemed like a great opportunity.
That’s why it’s important to be diligent in seeking God’s voice and being conscious of His work around you.
God speaks to you through others
You can find many recorded accounts in the Bible where God used specific individuals to spread His message. Some of the best examples of these events are among the verses of 1 Samuel 13:13–14, 15:23, 2 Samuel 12:7–15, and Acts 9:10–18, 10:1–33.
This means that God may find alternative ways to speak to you. It may be through a parent, a friend, a pastor, or even a stranger on the street. However, if you want to seek confirmation that God has spoken to you, you may consult with godly people or the Bible.
Moreover, you would be wise to interpret what God said to you with the help of fellow Christian believers. You can look for affirmation from godly messengers and preachers of God. One of the best places to seek counsel is through the body of God, the Church.
In Hebrews 10:25, believers are encouraged to maintain a consistent and caring fellowship with other believers.
God speaks to you through dreams
God can also communicate with you through your dreams. In the Bible, there are several accounts in which this type of messaging happens.
For example, in the New Testament, among the verses of Matthew 2:13-23, an angel appeared to Joseph in his dream. In this dream, God told Joseph to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt.
Furthermore, another example lies between the verses of Genesis 41:1-57, where Pharaoh dreamt of seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows. This dream was a warning from God that famine was about to grip the Middle East.
As you can see, God used dreams to contact humans in biblical times. This may indicate that He still uses such ways nowadays. When preparing to fall asleep, pray, “Lord, speak to me in my Night Visions”, and you may get your answer.
Is there anything that might keep you from hearing His voice?
Recognizing and sensing God’s voice can be extremely difficult. Many faithful believers and even godly people have trouble hearing the Heavenly Father. However, it may get a lot more challenging as various hindrances can come the way between God and you.
This is why identifying and addressing the hindrances may help you better discern His word. Here are some of the most common things that may prevent you from His guidance:
Your pride
One of the most common hindrances that permit you from listening to your God is pride. Sometimes called vanity or hubris, believers consider pride to be the mother of all vices. The first ever sin committed as an act of pride was when Lucifer rebelled and refused to recognize the Lord as his God. That’s why God hates pride and evil, arrogant behavior, Proverbs 8:13.
So, pride is something you must deal with when trying to reconnect with God and seek his guidance. Unfortunately, you all get caught up in your magenta that you forget to take time and listen to what He has to say.
When this feeling takes over, it permits any input from the Holy Spirit and strays away from any messages God directed our way.
Your fears
Your fears often come in the way, acting as a block from God’s voice. With fear comes doubt that may prevent you from making the right decisions based on God’s will.
This may also lead you astray and away from the righteous path God has planned for us. That’s why you need to cast out negative thinking and have your unquestionable faith and reliance on your one and true Lord.
There is a popular saying, ‘Let Go and Let God’. You can explore what Let Go and Let God means to get better at dealing with your fears.
Daily distractions
Daily distractions are another major hindrance blocking your connection with God. Mobile devices, computers, and noisy surroundings may draw your attention from Christ and overpower the voice of God.
While it may be hard to avoid daily distractions when living in the city, having a time of the day to focus your complete devotion to God may help clear your path. This way, you can fully embrace your faith, listen to what He has planned, and let Him guide you to spiritual enlightenment.
Carnal mind state
You often have a habit of forming your own ideas and futures and not letting anyone affect them. Carnal thinking is what may leave you with a silent conversation from the other side.
With this, you can become resistant and conservative, which enables you to hear His voice. In order to conquer this bad habit, you must remember that God’s plan is perfect and good for everyone.
So, next time when something doesn’t go the way you planned it, maybe it’s for the best.
What Are the Most Used Bible Verses Referencing God Speaking?
The Bible contains recordings and verses referencing God, speaking to many individuals. According to Psalm 29:4, the scripture describes God’s voice as full of majesty.
However, the Bible also gives you other ideas of what it’s like hearing the powerful voice of God the Father and the mighty voice of Jesus Christ:
- Some describe it as a very loud thunder – Job 40:9; Psalm 29:3; 77:18; 104:7; Revelation 14:2
- Others describe it as the sound of harps – Isaiah 30:31-32; Revelation 14:2
- The remaining describe it as the sound of trumpets – Exodus 19:16; Hebrews 12:19; Revelation 1:10; 4:1.
Some of the most well-known events when God spoke to humans were when He spoke to:
- Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:8
- Cain – Genesis 4:6
- Abraham – Genesis 12:1-3; 17:1-2
- Jacob – Genesis 28:13-15; 32:26-29
- Moses – Exodus 3:4; 19:19
- Elijah – 1 Kings 19:9
God Speaking to You: Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism
When you begin to explore God’s ways of communicating with you, it won’t take long before understanding that He speaks through symbolism. He uses tangible symbols to convey messages He desires you to know.
Some of those symbols include:
- God’s rainbow is a covenant between Him and the Earth, Genesis 9:13. By this, He said that He would never again destroy the Earth by a flood.
- In Joshua 4:3-7, God ordered 12 stones to be placed in the River Jordan. This served as a reminder to the Israelites of the crossing God had provided for them, a “memorial” and “as a sign”.
- God’s star of Bethlehem was a symbol or message of the birth of Christ, Matthew 2:2.
- God’s dove signified the Spirit’s presence at Jesus’ baptism, John 1:32.
- God’s water signifies believers’ commitment to Christ at baptism, Romans 6:4.
- God’s bread and wine that signifies Jesus’ body and blood, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
- The symbol of a lamb represents Jesus Christ, John 1:29.
Symbols are excellent ways of conveying, communicating, or remembering significant moments. As God uses these symbols to message you, you also use symbols such as wedding rings, red roses, and birthday cakes as natural communicators.
FAQs
What language does God speak to us?
God can speak all human languages to the people who are open to receiving God’s word. However, many believers suggest that the languages written on the cross (Syriac, Greek, and Latin) are God’s languages.
Does God speak to unbelievers?
According to Romans 8:9, the Holy Spirit doesn’t dwell in the unbeliever. However, the Holy Spirit does and can make contact with or influence and affect non-biblical people.
Conclusion
So, how does God speak to us? Understanding it is a challenging task, but not impossible. Even though He communicates with you in mysterious ways, He may speak to you through the Bible, prayers, unique circumstances, other individuals, and dreams.
Furthermore, there are also some hindrances that may prevent you from hearing the voice of God. Your pride, fears, distractions, and carnal mind state may block you from understanding His messages.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the mysterious ways God speaks to us. Remember to continue praying since God speaks to you every day through symbolic events.
