i was pondering the concept of hearing God’s voice today. how exactly do you explain the experience of “hearing” God’s voice to someone who doesn’t know God? after all, it’s not really audible (at least for me). how can we claim to “hear” something that doesn’t actually make a sound?
i cringe every time i feel myself about tell someone, “God told me… xyz”. in fact, rarely do i say it. i just fumble clumsily for a short introductory sentence to explain by what authority can i account for the eminent information. it’s not that i don’t think i actually heard from God. it’s just that i’m keenly aware that saying, “God said…” sounds like total whacko, fruit-loop, voices in your head wierdness… not to mention a little pretentious… “oooo… carolyn, thinks she hears God.” it evokes a reaction of, i really don’t want to hear this.
so, i began to think through my experiences of hearing God’s voice. how do i know when it’s God? how can i explain this to someone who is really trying to understand without freaking them out or sounding like i really don’t know what the fool i’m talking about. this is what i’ve got so far…
there are times when in an instant, i have an answer that i understand as thoroughly as if someone stood right in front of me and spelled it out. i didn’t hear any voices, but none the less, i inexplicably have the information… and i get it. sometimes it happens when i’m searching for it. sometimes it comes completely out of left field. it can come as a result of something i see, read, dream, hear…. or, it can come as a result of seemingly nothing at all.
i think sometimes these moments are just epiphanies. other times i think it is God’s “voice”. and i’m certain many times they are epiphanies imparted by God just to help me get along.
for me, the difference in the two is this…
- an epiphany i understand clearly in my head. it’s good practical information i can use to get things done. some of these i think are from God. some i think are just ideas i cooked up all by my creative self… because God made humans creative that way.
- God’s “voice” resonates as truth in my soul. it’s a deep and comprehensive understanding dropped in an instant into my heart. i draw from it confidence, wisdom and the tools i need to walk out my destiny. and because it’s truth to me and not mere information, it becomes a part of who i am. typically, these truths keep “coming up”… like in one week i’ll read something in my bible, see something on tv, hear a story, or witness some other practical application of a truth that started stirring in my heart during prayer one day.
so, there you go. that’s my current explanation on the subject of hearing God. seems easy enough. it’s still too long to replace, “God told me…” i guess i’ll work on the short version now. i think there are a lot more explanations i need to rework in my career christian mind before i can more effectively communicate them to someone else. when i don’t, it just comes out… weird.
am i alone?
does anyone else have to hash this stuff out in their brains?
I think it’s like any other God thing. You don’t want to sound like I know all (because I certainly do not) but there are instances when what we have heard makes sense. It has a clarity in your mind that can not be mistaken. As for voices one time during praise and worship when holy spirit was moving throughout the sanctuary I believe I Heard God. I was praising and singing and asking for help in an area of my life I was having trouble and GOD SAID out loud, like he was standing behind me,”SEEK ME” I opened my eyes and turned around expecting to see him standing there and I in disbelief said “WHAT?” God stated again “SEEK ME” and that was the first time I heard from the Lord. I think he speaks to us as individuals in whatever way he deems fit. I also know that when he does you will know that you know it was from GOD.Hey that is one of those christian answers:) Love ya.
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