Characteristics of God's Voice

[This post is part of the Hearing God's Voice series]

After high school and a little bit of community college I was doing some substitute teaching at a private school, but trying to get a more steady source of income. I received an offer to teach full time at another school almost an hour away. The pay was great. I had been praying for something just like this opportunity. I was living with my parents and my dad helped me find it on a map, and we were talking about how I would need to drive some country roads to get there. Not ideal, but it didn’t really seem to be a problem. I went to my room to pray about it and sat down on my bed with a happy heart.

I started talking to God, and asked Him very simply if it was His will for me to take this job. Immediately a resounding NO struck my ears with such force I thought it was audible. I was shocked that God responded this way to me. Timidly I started asking other questions, but…nothing. It was not important to know the “why” behind His answer, but just to obey it. (I didn’t like that. I always want to know why. But it was a good lesson to learn.)

God has only answered me one other time when His voice was so clear, and near audible. Both times I was shaken to my core in awe and fear. It would be fantastic if God spoke like this all the time, but He doesn’t. I have learned that He speaks via different means because He is God. Like I said in another post…

If you believe there is only one way to hear from God, such as His [audible] voice, you could get so puffed up thinking you’re so “spiritual” that you could be deceived by a wrong voice. God speaks to you in more than one avenue because it’s safer. You’re not in a glorified body yet. Having different ways that God speaks  to you reminds us of His power that transcends your temporal body. He is eternal. A great way to know you have heard from God on a personal (non-doctrinal) issue is when you receive multiple confirmations.

I have been deceived by a wrong voice in the past because I had a door open to the enemy. I can’t wait for you to read the post on that, even if it does freak some of you out. It’s coming a bit later in the series.

A friend on twitter said she couldn’t wait to hear how I describe God’s voice. I would describe it as indescribable. I may not be able to describe it well, but we can know the characteristics given by the Word of God:

• When God speaks to you He reminds you of His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20)
• You will be able to trust Him with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• He will speak of the lordship of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:3)
• He will never change the scriptures (Psalm 89:34)
• You will have peace (John 14:27)

One of the comments from the 5 Ways to Learn God’s Voice post was so good I wanted to share it here: “I have also found the more I obey what He has told me to do the more familiar I become with His voice.”

God will also bring confirmation to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 Corinthians 13:1b. We will be talking about confirmations and addressing how to know God’s will about things that aren’t specifically in the Bible in my next post.

Can you remember an instance of God speaking to you? What happened?

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The characteristics of God’s voice were primarily from Scripture Keys for Kingdom Living by June Newman Davis.

Photo credits: cindy47452 and gmayster01 and Randy Willis Photos (Creative Commons)

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