"How Do I Know It’s God’s Voice?"

Have you ever said, “I think God is telling me something…” and then immediately wondered if it was actually God, your own thoughts, your emotions, or simply what you wanted to hear?

In this episode of Bible, Basically, we’re digging into one of the most confusing parts of faith: How do I know it’s God’s voice?

We’ll talk about how God speaks, how Scripture helps us test what we’re hearing, the role of prayer and the Holy Spirit, and some practical ways to discern God’s direction without treating every thought, feeling, or coincidence like a divine message.

Because the question isn’t just, “Is God speaking?” It’s “How do I know it’s Him?”

Figuring out faith, together. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 2:10

Aloha to my basic buddies out there. Yeah, yeah. Just got back from vacation, and I have to say it was beautiful. Aside from being very relaxing, Hawaii is just an amazing place to experience God's creation. I mean, you get a little bit of everything out there, and you know, it's it's just yeah, super relaxing, super beautiful. If you ever have the opportunity ever in your life, a lot of people don't, but if you ever have the opportunity, do not turn it down. Beautiful place to be. If I sound a little bit messed up today, it is because I am. I caught a cold, just like every good traveler will. Yeah. Caught a cold while I was out there. I'm on the tail end of it now, but still a little congested, still a little coughy, and not the good kind. So if I if I cough here and there or if I'm unintelligible, read the transcript. So today we're gonna talk, we're gonna go on with the the conversation that we started a couple weeks ago. Last week, you know, we we talked about, you know, am I am I waiting or am I waiting for God? Right? Am I procrastinating or am I really being patient for for God's signal? And that's important, right? But the the big part of it is how do you know it's God's voice? How do you know it's God's signal? I mean, think about it. Have you ever gotten a phone call from a number that you didn't recognize? And you answer, hello. But for just a second, you have no idea who's on the other end. And they say a few words, and maybe it's your mom calling from a different number, or your best friend, or your spouse, and almost instantly you know exactly who's talking. Why? Because you have spent enough time with that person, either audibly or in person, that you recognize their voice. And it's it's not because you studied it, it's because you've memorized it. You just know them. When they speak, you know it's them. And I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions that Christians have. It's that hearing God's voice is some secret skill that only spiritually mature people develop. Right? Because, you know, people say all the time, God told me, God told me. That's not a unique, special thing. God communicates with us. Those people always seem to know exactly what God is saying, or what he where he's leading you, or or what he's doing. But some of us are wondering, was that really God? Or was that just me in my head? Or or like, did did God close that door, or did I just mess up? Think about how many times you've asked these questions. Should I take this job? Should I move? Should I stay? Should I go? Am I supposed to wait? If you have asked these questions, you're not alone. In fact, I think everybody has. But here's what I want you to hear right at the beginning of this episode. God is not trying to hide his will from his children. And I want to repeat that because I want you to understand that God is not trying to hide his will from his children. He's not playing hide-and-seek. He's not leaving cryptic clues for you to decode like some Indiana Jones adventure. He is a loving father who desires to lead his children. But I do want to go on record that if God ever felt to leave me Indiana Jones style clues to a big fortune, like Indiana Jones, once again, I am 100% there because that would be fun. But anyway, the bigger question isn't does God still speak? The bigger question is how does he most consistently guide his people? Because if we're looking for him in the wrong places, we may miss the ways he's already speaking to us. Now, Jesus really gives us the answer to this question. Okay, and the place to begin when you're looking through the Bible at this is not obviously the Old Testament. If it's Jesus' word, it's it's it's in the New Testament, right? It isn't a book on decision making, it's not on social media, it's in the New Testament listening to Jesus. In fact, here's what he says in John chapter 10. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. First of all, wow. But second of all, this is one of those verses that's really easy to misunderstand. Some people who read it and and and they think, well, I've never literally heard God's voice, so maybe something's wrong with me. But that's not what Jesus is talking about. He's using the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep. See, in Jesus' day, shepherds didn't drive sheep from behind like cattle. They walked in front of them, and the sheep followed because they recognized the shepherd. They knew who to go to. They knew who to follow. Why? Because they spent time with him. They trusted him, they knew his character. And that changes how we should think about hearing God's voice. The goal isn't chasing spectacular experiences. I hate to break it to you. We are all not going to get a burning bush. But when you know him, when you truly know him, you begin recognizing the kinds of things that he says and the kinds of things that he values and the places that he leads you. Think about the people closest to you. If your spouse texted you, you probably wouldn't spend 20 minutes wondering who it was. Your best friend called, you'd recognize their voice almost immediately. Why? Because relationships build familiarity. The same's true with God. Sometimes we ask, why can't I recognize God's leading? But maybe a better question is: how much time am I am I actually spending with him? See, recognizing God's voice doesn't start with techniques, it starts with building a relationship with him. Jesus said something incredibly important just a few verses before that. In John 10, 14, he says, I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me. Did you notice the order? Jesus knows us. And we come to know him. Christianity has never been primarily about mastering information. It's about knowing a person. That's why eternal life isn't simply described as living forever. Listen to how Jesus defined it. John 17, 3. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Do you guys catch that? Eternal life begins with knowing God. Not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him. A relationship. That's why this episode isn't really about techniques for hearing God. It's about walking closely enough with Jesus that his voice becomes familiar. I think a lot of us unintentionally treat God's will like a treasure hunt. And we think there's one perfect answer hidden somewhere. And if we miss it, we've ruined God's plan for the rest of our lives. So we stop. We become paralyzed. We do the whole paralysis by analysis thing. We overanalyze every decision and every coincidence becomes a possible sign. And someone mentions a Bible verse. And then you go, What is that God? A song comes on the radio that says something, and you're like, was that God? The traffic light stays green when you really wanted it to. Maybe that was a sign. Now, can God use circumstances? Sure. Can he open and close doors? Absolutely. But if we're constantly chasing signs instead of pursuing the one who is sending them, we've missed the point. Christian's life is not about becoming experts at decoding coincidences. It's about becoming disciples who know the shepherd. Because here's something I've learned over the past few years. Okay. I said, I'm not a smart guy, but I've been trying to read, trying to learn, trying to understand. The people that seem to recognize God's leading most clearly usually aren't the people that are spending their time chasing extraordinary experiences.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

They're not looking for a thunderclap or a lightning strike.

SPEAKER_00 14:27

They're the people consistently spending the time with him, reading his word, praying, obeying, growing, walking with him day after day? Relationships produce recognition. So if hearing God's voice begins with relationship, what's the primary way that he actually speaks to us today? And the answer is probably not as dramatic as a lot of people expect. But I think it's a whole lot more reliable. So we're going to look at the first and most important filter for every decision that we make. Because before we ask whether God is giving us a sign, we need to ask whether he's already spoken. And I bet you can guess where we would find that information if he's already said it.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Correct the Bible.

SPEAKER_00 16:03

The Bible. Excuse me. Can He use other people to encourage or challenge us? Yes. Can the Holy Spirit impress something in our hearts? Absolutely. And we're going to talk about all of those. But every one of those experiences has to be measured against the one thing God has already given us that we know is completely trustworthy. And that's his word. Here's a sentence I hope you'll remember long after this episode ends. Do not ignore the Bible while asking God for a whisper. Sometimes we're desperately seeking and asking God to tell us what to do. But our Bible sits unopened on the nightstand. Imagine if one of my friends called me every day asking for advice, but never listened to anything I said. You know it's happened to you. You know you have that one friend that's like, hey, should I do this or should I do that? And you tell them the truth. And they go, okay, and then go out and do the exact opposite of what you said. A lot of times that's us when we don't even know it. And if that happened to me, eventually I'd probably tell them, I've already answered your question. I wonder how often God says the same thing. Listen to what the Bible talks about in Hebrews 4 12. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. I want you to pay attention to the first two words. Living and active. See, everybody, not everybody, excuse me, a lot of people today talk about the Bible like it's this ancient manuscript who that's no longer really pertinent. Or that it's just a collection of moral lessons. It's not. It's living. Every time you open it, God has the ability to shape your thinking. He challenges your motives. He comforts your heart. He can correct your direction. Have you ever read a passage you've read ten times before and suddenly it hits you in a completely different way? The words on the page didn't change. You did. And that's one of the beautiful ways God works through his word. One of my favorite verses about God's guidance is Psalm 119. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. He doesn't say God's word is a stadium spotlight or a floodlight. He doesn't say it lights up the next 20 years. And in biblical times, lamps didn't illuminate miles down the road. They gave enough light for the next few steps. And I think that's how God leads us. We want him to show us every detail, every decision, every obstacle, every outcome. But instead, he usually gives us enough light for the next act of obedience. And that's why reading the Bible consistently matters so much. You don't need tomorrow's light today. You need today's light for today's step. Sometimes people ask, how do I know if this thought is from God? And that's a great question. Here's another one. Does it sound like something God has already said before? Because God's consistent. He doesn't really contradict himself. In 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17, Paul writes, All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

I love those words.

SPEAKER_00 21:59

All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training. God's just not giving us information. He is forming us into people who look more like Jesus. And the more scripture fills our minds, the easier it becomes to recognize thoughts that don't belong there. Not because we become smarter, but because we become more familiar with God's character. God never contradicts himself. This is one of the simplest and most freeing principles you'll ever learn. If you think God is leading you to something and it contradicts Scripture, it ain't God. God's voice will never ask you to become someone Jesus died to save you from. God won't lead you towards bitterness or dishonesty or pride or revenge or sexual immorality or hatred or unforgiveness. Why? Because he already told us clearly about those things. Some people still say, well, it just felt like God told me. Be careful. Our feelings matter. But our feelings are not infallible. God's word is infallible. And that's why scripture is always the first filter. Always. Jesus in the wilderness when Satan tempted him. Jesus could have defeated him in countless ways, but what did he choose? Scripture. Matthew 4, 1 through 4. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After lasting, or excuse me, after fasting forty days and nights, he was hungry, probably hungry, maybe even a little hangry. And the tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. And he answered with scripture, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. He had three different temptations that day, and he led with three different responses every time. Jesus answered with God's word. If the Son of God leaned on scripture, how much more should we?

SPEAKER_01 25:32

If you're facing a decision today, you're trying to make a choice.

SPEAKER_00 25:45

Ask God. Have you already talked about that in your word? Most Bibles have an index or a concordance, right? A glossary of terms that you can look up, topics that you can study.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

Look it up.

SPEAKER_00 26:08

And if he's talked about it, there's your answer. It may not be every detail, but it will certainly point you in the right direction. Because God's will is never found outside God's character. And God's character is revealed in his word. So if the scripture is the first filter, what about everything else? What about the Holy Spirit, wise counsel? What about those moments when you feel prompted to do something? How do you know whether that is God or your own emotions or just yesterday's pizza? So we're going to move into talking about the role of the Holy Spirit, the importance of wise counsel, and why one of the most misunderstood ideas in Christianity is the phrase, I just don't have peace about it. So far we have established something really important. If you want to recognize God's voice, you have to know God's word. That's the foundation. But that doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit is quiet or silent. Far from it. Jesus actually promised his followers that after he returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit would guide them. In John 16, 13 through 15, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. Therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Do you notice something? Jesus said the Holy Spirit will glorify him, and that's an important filter. The Holy Spirit's ministry is always pointing people towards Jesus. Not towards himself, not towards confusion, not towards self-glorification, but towards Christ. So if something you're sensing draws you closer to Jesus and aligns with scripture and produces Christ-like character, then that's a very different thing than something pulling you away from him. Let's talk a little bit about conviction versus condemnation, because this is where a lot of Christians get confused. Sometimes we think every guilty feeling is from God. It's not. The Holy Spirit convicts you. Satan condemns you. Those are not the same thing. Conviction says you sinned. Come back to the Father. Condemnation says you sinned. God isn't going to love you anymore. One leads to repentance, the other leads to despair. In Romans 8, one, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Think about that. No condemnation, not less condemnation, not occasional condemnation, not, oh, you know what? He did something really bad. We condemn him. No, no condemnation. Now does God lovingly correct his children? Absolutely. Because he loves us. But conviction always has an invitation attached to it. You messed up. Come home. I got your back. Repent. Receive forgiveness. Keep walking. Condemnation whispers, you're too far gone. And Jesus will never say that to his children. Here's another mistake we make. Sometimes we ask God for direction while ignoring the wise people he's already placed in our lives. Bible has a lot to say about seeking counsel. Proverbs 15, 22. Without counsel, plans fail. But with many advisors, they succeed. Notice the humility in that verse. Sometimes we assume spiritual maturity means making every decision alone. Bible says the opposite often. God uses mature believers, like pastors, parents, trusted friends, mentors, to help us see that we can't see ourselves. It doesn't mean they replace God. It means that God works through them. So before you make a major decision, run it by someone who's working closely with Jesus. Someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth. Not simply when you want to hear it. Now I mentioned a phrase earlier that I have heard about a billion times. I just don't have peace about it. You probably heard somebody say that. Maybe you've even said it. Now look, don't misunderstand me. God absolutely gives people peace. Paul writes Philippians 4, 6 through 7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heads and your hearts in Christ Jesus. And that's a beautiful promise. But here's where we get a little confused. We begin treating peace like it's the same thing as comfort. And they're not the same. Sometimes obedience is incredibly uncomfortable. Think about Moses standing before Pharaoh. You think he felt peaceful? Think about Esther risking her life before the king, or Paul walking into cities where he knew persecution was coming. Think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is what Jesus prayed. Luke twenty-two, forty-two. Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Jesus wasn't comfortable. He wasn't looking forward to the cross, but he perfectly obeyed the Father's will. Sometimes the deepest peace becomes, or sometimes it comes because we've obeyed, not prior to. So don't mistake being nervous for God's absence. Sometimes courage and trembling walk side by side. So a better question is instead of asking, do I feel comfortable? Maybe ask, does this decision move me closer to becoming the person Jesus is calling me to be? Because God's primary concern is not simply helping us make the right decision. His primary concern is making us more like Christ. So let's start heading down into the final inning here. Okay? Let's bring it all together. If God's word is our foundation, if the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus, if wise counsel matters, and peace is not the same as comfort, then how do we actually make decisions without living in constant fear of getting them wrong? And in the final part, we're going to build a simple biblical framework that you can use for almost every major decision in life. And then I'm going to end with what I think might be the most freeing truth of the entire episode. Because I don't believe God is waiting for you to fail. I believe he's inviting you to follow the shepherd one faithful step at a time. We've covered a lot. We've talked about knowing the shepherd. We've talked about God's word, the Holy Spirit, wise counsel, peace and comfort. So let's make it practical. The next time that you are facing a major decision, here is a simple framework that I use. Does it agree with Scripture? If the answer is no, it's an easy conversation that was just had, it's over. Done. God will never lead you to do something that contradicts what he already revealed in his word. If the Bible clearly says something is sinful, you don't need another sign or another confirmation or some sort of lightning bolt from heaven. You don't need to wait for a feeling God's already spoken. So does it follow scripture? Second, have I genuinely prayed about it? Not, God bless the decision I've already made. No. Lord, if my heart is wrong, change it. Prayer is not about convincing God. It's about allowing God to shape us. In James, we get an incredible promise. James 1, 5 says, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Think about that. God's not irritated when his children ask for wisdom. He delights in giving it. So pray about things honestly. Third, have I sought wise counsel? Now look, let us be very clear about this point. Not everyone who gives advice is wise. Choose people who love Jesus, who walk with them, who know Scripture, and care more about your spiritual growth than simply making you happy. Sometimes they see blind spots that we can't. And sometimes they confirm what God already has been stirring in your heart. And sometimes they will lovingly challenge you when you're headed in the wrong direction. And guys, that is a gift. Seek wise counsel. Fourth, what's my motivation? And this one, depending on what it is, can be uncomfortable. Am I motivated by faith or fear? Am I saying no because God's leading me, or because I'm protecting my comfort? Or am I saying yes because God is leading me, or because I'm chasing something that He never promised? Sometimes asking the right question reveals the answer that we've been avoiding. The other thing we have to do on top of all that is stop looking for the perfect decision. Can I tell you something that has brought a lot of unnecessary anxiety into the Christian life? We've convinced ourselves that God has one hidden, perfect choice. And if we accidentally choose door number two instead of door number one, we've somehow ruined his plan forever. I don't think that's how God works. Think about a good parent teaching a child to walk. The goal is not don't ever stumble. The goal is stay close to me. Why do you want that child to stay close to you? Why do you walk behind him as they start to take their first steps?

SPEAKER_01 40:57

Because they're gonna fall.

SPEAKER_00 41:19

Proverbs 3, 5 through 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Notice what he promises. He doesn't promise that you'll understand everything. He promises to direct your path as you trust him. And I think one of the biggest fears Christians carry is this. What if I miss it? What if I miss God's will? First of all, let me give you a little encouragement. If you are genuinely seeking Jesus, submitting yourself to his word, praying for wisdom, listening to godly counsel and walking in obedience, then you don't need to live terrified that one wrong turn will somehow take you beyond God's reach. Our God is a shepherd, not a game show host. He's not waiting for you to accidentally choose the wrong door so that he could say, Ooh, sorry. You missed my perfect plan. He's leading, correcting, redirecting, teaching, growing, loving. Even when we stumble. Listen to what David writes in Psalm thirty-seven, twenty-three and twenty-four. The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. What a beautiful picture that is. Even when we stumble, God does not abandon us. He holds us up. So this week, instead of spending all your energy saying, God give me a sign, try praying something different. Try saying, Lord, help me know you more. Help me recognize your character. Help me love your word. Help me become the kind of person who naturally follows the Good Shepherd. Because here's what I discovered: the closer you walk with Jesus, the less you'll obsess over hearing his voice, and the more naturally you'll recognize it. Not because you've mastered some weird technique, but because you have deepened your relationship with him. So in closing, let's go back to where we started. Think about that phone call from someone you love. You don't recognize their voice because you studied the sound waves. You recognize it because you've spent time together. And the same is true with Jesus. The more time you spend in his word, the more time you spend in prayer, the more you obey what he's already revealed, the more familiar his voice becomes. It's not because he's finally speaking, but it's because you're learning to recognize the shepherd that you've been walking with all along. Jesus never promised his sheep a life without uncertainty, but he did promise them his presence. And in the end, that's better than having every answer. Because the goal of Christian life isn't simply making the right decisions. It's becoming more like Christ, one faithful step at a time. Guys, thank you for listening to another episode of Bible basically. As usual, if this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who's going to make you trying to make a big decision or wondering if they're hearing God properly. And remember, you don't have to know everything about the road ahead. You just have to stay close to the shepherd who's already walking it. Until next time, keep figuring out faith together.