Almost every believer says that they hear from the Lord. That is really good because the scriptures encourage us to hear God’s voice. According to Apostle Peter “and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Peter 1:18). God indeed talk to us in so many different ways. Dreams, vision, Bible, during our praise & worship, prayer and etc.
Does every word we hear really from God? Actually not, because the voices you hear could other spirit. How can you confirm the word or voice you hear is from the Lord your inner voice, your worries, your concerns, problem, or imagination could be from the Lord? Here are some guidelines for you.
1. Must be in line with the Holy Scripture
The word you hear, if it is from the Lord will not contradict any bible principles or any truth from the Bible. Your bible should always be the main barometer for every word you hear. Example, you are dating a girl and you know that she is married. But you say “Oh I heard from the Lord that you will be my girl friend”. Really? How can the Lord put you to sin! NO, that word you heard surely not from God but from yourself, or from the devil.
2. Must be in line with God Character.
You know God is good, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love – He does not keep the records of wrong. Forgiving, Kind, faithful, merciful, just, righteous. So the words you hear must not go against the character of God!
3. Must be in line with what God is doing in your life.
The Word you hear must be analyze carefully. Example you spend so much money and time to study and become a Doctor. You love being a doctor and somebody says to you.“I heard from the Lord, you have to abandon your carrier be a missionary elsewhere”. You might be called to be a missionary but doesn’t need to abandon the carrier you love. It is God himself who place that desire in your heart at the first place.
4. Asking councils from another mature believer.
Let the supernatural words you hear be shared to other mature believers. This people surely can help discern whether the words you hear were from the Lord, since they have more knowledge in the word of God.
5. Asking God Himself to confirm his words for you.
The scriptures says “If you ask many thing in My name, I do it.” (John 14.14). God can, and will confirms His words to you in so many ways: through other believers, events or experiences, dreams, vision, through his Word (the Bible), preaching and many other things. It is always good to ask God to confirm his words for you.
As we are facing so many challenges this time it is really good for us to be sensitive to what the Lord is saying.
One very important reminder is “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory”. Colossians 3:2-4 (NASB)
