We all want to avoid mistakes because no one wants to be haunted by failures and others’ disappointments. However, humans as we are, it is impossible never to commit a mistake. Even the most intelligent people on earth have their shares of mistakes too.
For this reason, devoted Christians draw closer to God. They earnestly ask Him for wisdom in their situations. They desire to make the right decisions according to His will. However, even the godliest individuals still commit mistakes. Again, we are just all humans.
When God Doesn’t Speak
It is not true that God does not care nor guide His people. Some believers blame God for their circumstances, saying He should have stopped them from making the wrong decisions. The question is, did they ask God for wisdom?
One of the reasons why Christians make mistakes is the failure to listen to what God tells them. Sometimes, people are bombarded by problems or clouded by emotions that they cannot hear God anymore.
If we are busy or our heart is hardened towards God-He may not speak. But, we must always keep the lines of communication open because He wants to talk to us all the time!
A great way to stay in touch is by reading His Word every day and talking with Him through prayer.
If we do this, then God will be right beside us throughout every step of the day! Therefore, we should always be listening for His guidance; it can change our lives forever.
God loves you! It’s exciting to see how much He cares for us and to know that He wants the best for His children. Remember that God will speak to you in different ways at different times. You have to be listening!
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20, ESV)
Why does God speaking to you?
God has a plan for us all. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, so He chooses to speak to us in different ways. For some people, God speaks through the Bible even if they do not read it. Others hear Him as they quietly pray or meditate on His Word.
He can communicate with you in so many ways, and everyone has a different way God speaks to them.
It’s exciting because when we hear from Him in any way, it means He loves us and is thinking about us!
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27, NIV)
Why should I take what God says seriously?
God will never tell you to do something that goes against His Word (the Bible). Although the Lord often tells people to do things that cause fear or doubt-He would never ask us to commit sin. We must always follow what we know deep inside is right and consistent with His standards of behavior.
It can be scary when we feel like someone other than God is speaking to us, but there is no reason for fear. We understand how much God loves us and that He will never tell us to do wrong.
I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:3, NIV)
How can we tell if someone is really hearing from God and not just imagining it?
We must always compare the prompting to what is written in the Bible. That is because God will not lie or contradict Himself. The Lord always tells us the truth because He loves us too much to deceive us. If our actions go against His Word, then we are not hearing from God.
If our action is consistent with what the Bible says to do, it must be from God! We can always trust Him to lead us because He will never lead us astray. We may not know why we were prompted or how He planned for it to work out-but God WILL take care of everything in his timing!
God works in mysterious ways. We do not always know what He is doing or why, but we can trust that He has a plan, and it will be for our good.
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. (1 Samuel 3:1, NIV)
9 Signs God is Speaking to You
If you are afraid that you might be missing God’s messages for you, you can check out these signs that He is speaking to you:
1. He speaks through the Bible.
The moment you are reading the Scripture, God is already speaking to you. The Bible is not just a self-help book. It is a compilation of the Lord’s love letters for you. So whenever you study God’s Word, you are listening to His instructions on how you should live your life in a way that you will experience His blessings.
Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
2. A particular Bible verse keeps coming back to you.
Have you ever experienced being reminded of the same verse again and again? If a certain Bible verse keeps appearing in front of you wherever you go, consider it as a sign. The Lord may be using that verse as a reminder or warning about your current situation.
If you keep getting the same verse, pray and ask God to open your eyes to what He wants to show you. Meditate on the verse and find out how it applies to your circumstance. You can also ask a spiritual leader to explain the verse to you.
3. You feel like a sermon or specific scripture is intended for you.
Have you ever attended a church service, and the preaching made you uncomfortable? If you ever feel like the preacher is talking directly to you, it is actually God speaking through that person. If the sermon or a highlighted passage makes you guilty of your sin and gives you that desire to change, it means that the Holy Spirit is at work in you.
That is why, whenever you are in church, it is important to listen attentively to the sermon. Then, own the message you hear and figure out how you can apply it in your life.
4. You feel uneasy about something, leading you to prayer.
If you have the Holy Spirit inside you, expect supernatural convictions at times. It is one way God can communicate with you. For example, he can warn you about an impending danger by making you feel uneasy about something.
The sudden uneasiness you feel should lead you to ask God for wisdom. You must resort to fervent prayer, asking the Lord to reveal His will in that situation. Or, if you suddenly feel afraid or worried about a particular person, maybe God wants you to pray for them.
5. He speaks through His church.
The church serves as Christ’s body (as He is the head). Therefore, you should not take for granted the fellowship with other believers. Being surrounded by mature Christians will not only help you in your spiritual growth. It can also help you be more discerning about God’s will in your life to avoid sinning or mistakes.
For this reason, it is vital to have accountability partners in church. They can be your spiritual leaders, ministry colleagues, or small group siblings. Whenever you have a problem or are confused about some things, you can tell them. Then, as they pray with you, you have no idea how God gives them the wisdom to counsel you in your situation.
6. There is an unexplainable conviction about something.
Most spiritually mature individuals have the gift of discernment. It is the ability to judge a situation wisely, even beyond what can be perceived by the senses. For instance, you can discern if a person is sincere in expressing their feelings for you or not. Or you can discern if a friend is struggling with a problem, even if they try to appear happy before you.
God can convey His message to you through discernment. Through it, He can give you the wisdom you need to decide on a matter correctly. Therefore, whenever you discern something, you have to ask God to help you understand His will completely.
7. The same problem happens again and again.
Are you tired of experiencing the same problem over and over again? Have you ever felt like God is teaching you something through a recurrent situation? Well, it could be true indeed.
Sometimes, God allows you to go through the same situation several times to help you learn a lesson. It is possible that you have been committing the same mistakes, and you are not changing your response to a similar situation. When this happens again, be more sensitive to God’s leading. Ask Him wisdom on how you can improve your approach to such recurring concerns.
8. He may speak through strange dreams or visions.
Some may not believe it, but there are Christians who claim that they have received prophetic visions from the Lord. It could be through dreams while asleep or sudden flashes of images while awake.
Not everyone is gifted with this. Plus, one must be careful in interpreting what they have seen as messages from God. If you think you have this kind of gift, you have to be more prayerful. It is also important to be guided by the Word of God to know if what you have seen is really from the Lord or just ordinary dreams and hallucinations. Prophecies from God will never contradict the Scripture, so be more discerning.
9. He gives you confirmations through circumstances.
God can also speak through your circumstances. Remember that God is in control. He can orchestrate things around you to meet His purposes. So, if you are waiting for God’s “yes” or “no”, you should open your eyes to how He lets things happen. If the situation does not go according to your plan, it could be a “no”.
So, how should you respond to God’s “no”? Would you rebel against Him? Nah. If you truly trust God and revere His sovereignty, you would not doubt His will. You know that the Lord knows what He is doing, and He knows better than you.
How do I know if God has answered my prayer or not?
How do I know if God is speaking to me?
There are so many signs that show me how much God loves us, and there are so many ways He is trying to tell us something.
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)
The Holy Spirit is an active guide in our daily lives. The Lord speaks to us through many means: the Bible, prayer, and nature (the things we see and feel). However, we must be sensitive enough to hear His voice.
We should always ask ourselves what we know deep inside is correct or incorrect before acting on a prompting. God will not strike us down with a lightning bolt or whisper an answer in our ear. Instead, when the Lord speaks, He will prompt us to do something that feels right.
How to Get an Answer from God?
1. Seek confirmation through the Bible.
2. Make sure what you are asking for is God’s will.
3. Pray for wisdom.
4. Consult with spiritually mature people.
5. Prepare your heart to receive His answer.
6. Search your heart for whatever hinders you from hearing God.
7. Do not insist on what you want.
8. Go for prayer and fasting.
9. Patiently wait for God’s timetable.
Please visit Ways to Get an Answer from God for the details.
Be Sensitive to God’s Voice
You may not hear Him with your ears, but God can indeed speak to you. In fact, He talks to you every day. Whenever you have to decide between right and wrong, He speaks. Whenever you need guidance and wisdom, He also speaks. God also speaks whenever you need strength and comfort.
To hear God, you must keep your heart pure. Repent and ask forgiveness for your sins. Do your best to live a life according to His Word. Moreover, you have to draw close to Him daily intentionally.
Online courses recommended for you:
- Prophetic School And Hearing The Voice of God
This course is for any believer who is hungry for God’s power to flow through them, bless, and minister to people. - 15 Essential Biblical Texts
15 key Biblical texts you can use to bring deeper meaning to your life for anyone interested in creating a more meaningful life through Biblical wisdom. - The Resurrection of the Son of God
Study of the afterlife and the idea of resurrection.
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Great inspiration from God. I am blessed. God bless you in Jesus name