Knowing God’s Voice in Your Life

John 10:4

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Knowing God’s voice in your life is critical to doing the right thing. How many times have you thought God spoke to you and later realized that it was more your desire than God’s voice? We can always justify what we want to do as God’s voice, but that does not make it His voice, and neither will it make what you are doing work out for good.

Jesus said the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. Knowing God’s voice in your life is critical to doing the right thing. Discerning the difference between God speaking to you and influences moving you is critical to your spiritual future and life. Let me share several ways you can know it is God’s voice that is speaking to you.

First, you must lay aside your desires to hear God’s voice. Your only desire should be to follow Christ if you want to know God’s voice in your life. The easiest way to know God’s voice in your life is to narrow down the voices in your life to one voice, and that one voice needs to be God. You will only narrow down the voice to one voice if you make your life about following Christ.

Second, God‘s voice never contradicts His Word. If what you think is God’s voice is causing you to go against God’s Word, you can be assured that it is not God’s voice. God’s voice will never lead you to disobey His Word.

Third, God always speaks through His Word. You will not know God’s voice if you don't read His Word daily. You must be a student of God’s Word and study it if you want to know God’s voice. The more you study God’s Word, the more you will recognize God speaking to you in your life. The more sporadic you are in reading God’s Word, the harder it becomes to know if it is truly God’s voice speaking to you.

Fourth, God speaks through the preaching of His Word. Many times God has spoken to me through the preaching of His Word. Sadly, many miss God’s voice for their lives because they miss church regularly. Don't get upset at God for not helping you in your situation when He tried to help you through the preaching of His Word, but you were not there. God speaks to you through preaching, and most preaching is not just for today, but for what you will face tomorrow. If you are faithful to all the church services, you will hear what God wants you to do.

Fifth, God speaks through our authorities. Throughout the Scriptures, God makes it clear that He speaks through authorities. If you pride yourself in doing your own thing, you will miss God speaking to you. Let the authorities God has placed in your life guide you, for you will find His voice speaking to you through their guidance.

Sixth, God speaks through prayer. Having a regular prayer time is critical to knowing the voice of God. When you walk with God in prayer, you will get to know His voice so well that even the whisper of His voice grabs your attention.

Seventh, God speaks through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth; therefore, you must yield to the Holy Spirit to hear God’s voice speaking to you. Make it a regular habit to yield to the Holy Spirit throughout your day and you will find God’s voice guiding you throughout your day.