8 Ways God Speaks to Us Today

He conversed with Adam in the first garden. He told Noah to build an ark. He spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He promised Abraham a son. Paul heard His voice on the way to Damascus. But does od still speak to us today! "f so# how! $hen! $here! %ften when people ask this &uestion# they are talking about an audible voice. And od can do that. He can do anything He wants. He's od. $hy then# can't " hear od speak to me audibly# someone might ask! " can't answer &uestions that the Bible does not make clear. And the way od works is one of those &uestions. " do think (hearing od speak) may mean different things to different people. *o some# it may suggest# (" need answers for my life# or this particular crisis.) Another may say# ("'ve asked od for +++++++++# but He never answers me., od treats each of us as uni&ue children. None of us are cookie-cutter .hristians. Because of that# od doesn't (speak) the same way to all of us. However# here are eight ways od often uses to communicate with us. 8 Ways God Speaks to Us Today 1. Through His Word in general. / *imothy 0123 says that all 4cripture is ( od-breathed.) His $ord sometimes gives us a warning# a word of encouragement# or a lesson for life. "t's )His-story)5written with love as od's guide for life# (so that the man of od may be thoroughly e&uipped for every good work.) *hat means od is whispering# and sometimes shouting# all through His $ord# giving us instructions and principles for life. As we interpret 4cripture by other 4cripture# we avoid the false logic and misinterpretations that sneak into our world. "f someone claims# ( od told me to go kill my neighbor6) would you believe him! %f course not6 od never violates His own $ord or principles. *hat (voice) does not belong to od. " needed help for raising my children. od (told) me about that in His $ord# especially in proverbs. Marriage difficulties! od spoke about that as well. *imes when " was afraid! " (heard) 7esus' words to His disciples as they feared for their lives one stormy night1 (Peace# be still6) and it was as if od was speaking to me# too 89uke :1/0-/;<. 2. Through His Son, Jesus Christ *he New *estament was the fulfillment of od's special plan. "t's the gospel1 the good news of 7esus .hrist. ("n the past od spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways# but in these last days he has spoken to us by His 4on# whom he appointed heir of all things# and through whom he made the universe) Hebrews 212-/# N"=<.

*hrough the words of 7esus in 4cripture# we can (hear) od's heart and od's voice5and know what od is truly like. *hese words were not written for a few# select individuals who could >ump through the right spiritual hoops 8(?or od so loved the world@)<. 4omeone in Africa# in ermany# in .hina# and in Alabama can (hear) 7esus' voice by reading the same Bible. .omparing us to sheep and He as the 4hepherd# 7esus says in7ohn 2A1/B# NC7=1 (My sheep hear my voice# and " know them# and they follow me.) $hy! Because the sheep know who He is. *hey belong to Him# and they recogniDe Him by the sound of His voice. And He's the one who will always lovingly lead them on the right path5again and again. 3. Through ature and God!s Creation (?or since the creation of the world od's invisible &ualities5his eternal power and divine nature5have been clearly seen# being understood from what has been made# so that men are without eEcuse ) Fomans 21/A# N"=<. *hrough the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that od has made# we can (hear) His voice. How! By observing the ant's strength to store up food all summer long# we learn about wisdom and industriousness. By studying the heavens# we understand more of od's greatness. And through planting and growing a garden# we (hear) about miracles of death and rebirth. od designed5and spoke them all into eEistence. ". Through #ther $elie%ers od may use a friend# a teacher# a parent# or a preacher to convey His message of truth to us. *heir words may come as a warning# a blessing# or as a prophetic truth about our lives.$hether we choose to hear it or ignore it# depends on us. Do their words line up with 4cripture! $ill od confirm or affirm that truth in us! (*he wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pureG then peace-loving# considerate# submissive# full of mercy and good fruit# impartial# and sincere) 87ames 012B# N"=<. "'ve (heard) od speak to me numerous times through other people. A good friend once cautioned me about flirting with danger. $ords from a speaker or .hristian author have both challenged me and convicted me at times. And "'ve (heard) od talking to me through my own children as their pure and honest words cut clear to my heart and spirit# reminding me of od's true priorities. All these things may not sound to you like ways of )hearing od's voice#) but it's possible to reduce od to our own image if we insist on Him acting or reacting a certain way. od is bigger than that. He once spoke through a donkey 8Numbers /A1/:<. $hy then# can't He speak through anyone at anytime or in any way He wants to! Bottom line is that if we are His children# od loves us unconditionally and will spare no eEpense to show us. %ur part! Believe Him6 Hearing His (audible) voice would no doubt cinch His reality in an awesome way. But "'ve never heard od through an angel's message. " have no taped recordings to tell you what od sounds like. But " have heard od (speak) through the above ways5and in a few more. Fead on.

5. Through Music

Perhaps one of the ways " can sense od's presence the most and (hear) His voice the best is when " am praising Him through music. Maybe it's because in times of depression and difficult trials in the past# " would pour over David's songs in Psalms# often singing them back to od with my own tunes. Praise brings me instantly to attention# like a sergeant's command to his soldiers. *he words and the notes bring a soothing comfort# eEcitement# and passion that open my ears and heart and lift my spirits immediately. "n / .hronicles /A# Cing 7ehoshaphat faced a huge army of enemies who could have easily destroyed His people# but he did a strange thing. $ith a declaration that his eyes were on od# he sent in a choir of praise singers1 (Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever !/ .hronicles /A1/2, "#$%& od (spoke) clearly. He released His power# and 7ehoshaphat's army defeated their enemies6
6. Through Circumstances

$hen others claim to hear od through circumstances# " try to caution them to test their conclusions with other evidence. od is a Holy od# and often uses circumstances to get our attention. But He will usually confirm it in other ways. *his happened to us before my husband and " married. $e were dating in high school and were both involved in what could have been a deadly accident# when a speeding pick-up hit our car broadside. *hrough that accident# my husband felt od had a special purpose for his life. Did he (hear) od's literal (Hes!) No# but through much prayer# seeking od's $ord# and talking to others# he felt od's confirmation. 4everal months later# he committed his life to full-time .hristian service. 4omeone once told me they >ust knew od was telling them it was okay to buy a brand-new pickup. *hey'd prayed about it# and circumstances confirmed it1 the local car dealership had >ust the color and model they wanted. But there was one small problem they were neglecting. *hey couldn't afford it on their income. And they ignored other red flags as well. *hrough Moses# od used circumstances 8plagues< to convince Igypt's leader to release od's people from slavery. But Pharaoh wouldn't listen. 4ometimes od uses our circumstances to test our faith. $e don't always know how to interpret the things that happen to us. " recently took my first trip in an ambulance to the local IF5 unfortunately as a patient. My pulse# along with my blood pressure# dropped dangerously low. ?or several minutes my world looked like a spinning photo negative. 4cary# to say the least. ?our hours of testing later found no cause as to why it happened. *he doctor pronounced me healthy and sent me home# after encouraging me to get a follow-up5which " did. Nothing showed up.

" don't know if od was speaking to me about something special# but the first thing " did was tell Him " was listening6 "f nothing else# life5and loved ones5suddenly became much more precious to me. %ne of the first things " usually ask od when circumstances change is1 ( od# is there something you want to teach me through this!) Hes# " know everything is (fodder) for writers. But " want to make it personal and learn the lesson first.
7. Through His Spirit

" once heard someone teach about (minding the checks) in your spirit. 4ome may call it ( od's whispers#) while others say# ( od's still# small voice.) $e are made in the image of od# and when we confess 7esus and follow Him as our 9ord and 4avior# His 4pirit comes to live in us 87ohn 2J12B# 2 .orinthians 0123<. od's 4pirit speaks to us through our conscience# helping to make the right decision. $hen we're tempted# that same 4pirit warns and nudges us to do the right thing. As a writer# " depend on od's 4pirit to give me direction. *here are times when ideas pop into my mind totally uneEpectedly5and sometimes directly after a plea for help from od. *he good ideas " credit to od# because after all# He is the source of every good and perfect gift. *he others! *hey're in file 20. Iven the good ones need developing and rewriting# but that's a different sub>ect. $hy do you suppose ten people can (hear) a sermon# but each person will walk away with a different truth that applies to him! "n some cases# the speaker never spoke what the people say they (heard.) Many times# that may be the result of od's 4pirit speaking a personal (Fhema#) a living# breathing word of truth to our spirits. "t's when 4cripture comes alive to us5because it is truly ( od-breathed.)
8. Through Prayer

Iach way "'ve shared that od may speak to us today meshes into the other. od often speaks to us through His 4pirit# through prayer. $e may not know how to pray# but od's $ord tells us His spirit makes intercession for us 8Fomans :1/3-/B<. %ften through a combination of fasting and prayer# our minds become clearer and our hearts are more sensitive to od. Again# we may not hear od's literal voice# but His 4pirit confirms a certain direction or answer for us. As the distractions fade# we can sense His leading in a new way. 4ometimes while praying# od's 4pirit will remind us of a 4cripture or a truth in His $ord that we can directly apply to the situation. Does that happen immediately! Not always. *here have been occasions where " still had no clue what to do# but in faith " thanked od whenever and however He would answer. A day# a week# maybe even months pass. *hen one day in the shower or on a walk# a thought comes5that gentle (whisper) that could only come from Him# accompanied by His peace.

You Are Unique

Does od speak to all of us the same way! No# we are all uni&ue. Are these the only ways od speaks today! No. He's a creative od. He speaks so many ways# including through miracles. "n other countries where .hristianity is taboo# od is also revealing Himself repeatedly through dreams. Feport after report confirms that an unbeliever who has never heard of 7esus dreams of Him5but doesn't know who the (man) is5or what the dream means. *hen a messenger comes# shows a film about 7esus' death and resurrection# and the one who has dreamed recogniDes the man in his dream1 "t's 7esus# the 4on of od6
Remember One Truth

Fegardless of the way od chooses to reveal Himself or (speak) to us today# remember one truth. He will never contradict His $ord# and the message He gives will always bring glory to od. *he Bible warns about adding anything to the already written# od-breathed $ord of od# or accepting any other messenger who claims to be superior to 7esus 8Fevelation //12:-2KG/ .orinthians 221J<.