5 Ways to Know You’re Hearing the Lord

Sometimes when we are facing a big decision or significant life change, the enemy tries to confuse us and push us into fear. It’s important to know what God’s voice sounds like, so we can recognize which thoughts, feelings, or ideas could be from Him and which are definitely not from Him.

Whatever God says will line up with His heart and nature. He won’t say anything that doesn’t sound like who He is. He will always sound like Himself. So the more you know Him, the more you’ll be able to recognize what is not Him.

Here are five verses that describe what God is like. Think about these verses as descriptions of His voice.

He Sounds Hopeful About Your Future

“I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.” (Jer. 29:11 ICB)

The Lord has good plans for you, not plans to destroy you or condemn you. If you “hear” an internal voice that tells you, “You will never succeed,” or “God plans to hurt you,” that voice doesn’t match who God is.

He Sounds Like Life

 A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. But I came to give life—life in all its fullness. (John 10:10 ICB)

The world likes to blame God for the painful, destructive events that happen, but He is actually the One who gives life in all its fullness. When He speaks to you, His voice will be full of life. You will feel hopeful and encouraged as you listen to Him. 

He Sounds Like a Conqueror

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

The Lord’s voice sounds like a conqueror’s voice. It does not sound weak and frail and trembling. If you ever hear things like, “You might as well give up,” or “You’re never going to make it,” that voice does not match who God is.  

He Does Not Sound Like Fear 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7 NKJV)

When we are afraid of something, sometimes we find ourselves hearing ideas and thoughts that agree with our fears.  

“Everything is terrible.”

“God isn’t going to save me.” 

But God did not give us a spirit of fear, and His voice doesn’t agree with our fears. If you hear something that strengthens what you are afraid of, that is not a voice you should listen to.

He Sounds Like Peace

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil. 4:8 NIV)

Philippians 4:8 is one of the clearest descriptions of God’s voice in Scripture. This is what He sounds like: what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. If you hear something that makes you feel yucky or depressed, that voice doesn’t match who God is. 

This week, may you hear the lovely voice of God many times, and may He comfort all your fears until His courage fills you.

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Your heavenly Father loves you more than you realize! For more about His amazing, unending love, check out Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.