Hearing from God

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How do we hear from God

  • The Bible

    Votes: 22 71.0%
  • The Holy Spirit

    Votes: 29 93.5%
  • Other People

    Votes: 23 74.2%
  • Through Dreams

    Votes: 13 41.9%
  • Through an audible Voice

    Votes: 13 41.9%
  • Other

    Votes: 11 35.5%
  • I always read the Bible

    Votes: 5 16.1%
  • I read the Bible frequently

    Votes: 10 32.3%
  • I don't read the Bible as often as I should

    Votes: 12 38.7%
  • I rarely read the Bible

    Votes: 2 6.5%
  • I never read the Bible

    Votes: 1 3.2%

  • Total voters
    31
V

violakat

Guest
#1
I want to do a poll to see what everyone on here believes how they hear the most from God. This is actually research for something that I'm going to be working on based on something I saw here recently.

I'm asking because in another forum, someone was talking about not being able to hear from God. And it struck me, that what she thought meant hearing from God, may not actually be the way God was communicating to her. So, the Poll question is:

How does God speak the most to you:
The Bible
The Holy Spirit
Through Other People
Through Dreams
God personally speaks to Me
Other
&

How often do are you reading your Bible: (Listening to it on tape also counts as a form of "reading")
All the Time
Often
Not as much as I should
Rarely
Never
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
591
113
#2
I thought the following points would be worth mentioning...

Hearing from God depends on having a relationship with Him, ie a prayer life...the more you pray the more you will hear from God...simple as that! James 4v8

If you don't pray, you won't hear from God!

For myself, if I ask a question or need guidance, He usually speaks to my spirit/mind as a thought...sometimes the thought may be a verse of Scripture or simply a constructed sentence (of words)...

On occasions He will communicate with me by a vision (a mental picture)...

If I have asked for guidance and ask Him to confirm what He has given through another person (without the person's knowledge), He does it though the gifts of the Spirit, ie prophecy or an utterance in tongues with an interpretation (which is equivalent to prophecy). 1Cor 12v7-11, 14v5.
 
C

Catlynn

Guest
#3
Honestly, the more I get to know God, the more time I spend in the word and in prayer, I find it easier to recognize Him and see Him moving. A LOT I think comes from the Holy Spirit in my thought life and through the word. ^_^ Like Jb said, the more I've practiced a relationship with God and living a holy life in Him, the easier it's been to hear Him and see Him moving in my life.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

AsifinPassing

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2010
3,608
40
48
#4
Good thread! I do want to apologize, however, for vote bombing your poll...

I've heard God through all the ways you've listed, and a few you haven't. (Thus I also chose other)

I also read the Bible frequently (in some points of my life, everyday, in others, not so much), but know that even reading it everyday, I don't read as much or as often as I should.

Wesley knew the Bible inside and out, and would chew on the entirety of what it said, as well as small details. I want to be like that, but it'll take time, a lot more discipline, a lot more growth, and a deeper relationship with God. *(at least I think those are requirements to such an end)

In any case, God can speak whenever and however He chooses. He always doing things new and differently, but there remains an element of continuity to Him as well. Where we get into to trouble is thinking He's predictable. We often expect Him to work in the same way as He did before. Nope. He's a mystery, lol.

I do have to say, though, that does keep things fun and fresh all the time.

Anyway, I've found that though He speaks in a plethora of ways, I believe his favorite is through other people. Of course, He speaks largely through scripture, but then...how did we get scripture if not by God-inspired people.

I believe He does this because God is a family man. He loves people. If he speaks to you alone, then there was a reason for doing so, but that leaves the communication only between Him and you.

If He speaks through other people in groups (the largest being the whole world) then it involves many people, and can even speak to a multitude of instances instead of a single one.

At any rate, hearing Him speak is vital to our lives I think. Not that you necessarily have to hear His audible voice (though I pray you do!), but that you listen to Him however He is guiding you. Christ is the foundation for our salvation and faith, but our relationship with Him is the only way to sanctification, which some argue are inseparable.

The problem is that sin, (be it Satan, our flesh, whatever...) separates us from God, and makes us deaf. (Not that most of us hear too well to start with...)

So it's the transformational relationship with God that gives us the ability to hear and see. It all comes back to God. We love because He loves. We hear because He hears. We are because He is. On and on, over and over, pressed down and shaken together...lol.

Sorry if this rabbit trail has seemed like a tangent, but I must say your thread inspired me to so hop it. God bless, and thank you!
 
Last edited:
May 4, 2009
1,534
6
0
#5
I'm mostly hear from him through other people and through the Holy Spirit(Though I'm not as sensitive to his voice as I want to be yet.)
 
V

violakat

Guest
#6
Good thread! I do want to apologize, however, for vote bombing your poll...

I've heard God through all the ways you've listed, and a few you haven't. (Thus I also chose other)

I also read the Bible frequently (in some points of my life, everyday, in others, not so much), but know that even reading it everyday, I don't read as much or as often as I should.

Wesley knew the Bible inside and out, and would chew on the entirety of what it said, as well as small details. I want to be like that, but it'll take time, a lot more discipline, a lot more growth, and a deeper relationship with God. *(at least I think those are requirements to such an end)

In any case, God can speak whenever and however He chooses. He always doing things new and differently, but there remains an element of continuity to Him as well. Where we get into to trouble is thinking He's predictable. We often expect Him to work in the same way as He did before. Nope. He's a mystery, lol.

I do have to say, though, that does keep things fun and fresh all the time.

Anyway, I've found that though He speaks in a plethora of ways, I believe his favorite is through other people. Of course, He speaks largely through scripture, but then...how did we get scripture if not by God-inspired people.

I believe He does this because God is a family man. He loves people. If he speaks to you alone, then there was a reason for doing so, but that leaves the communication only between Him and you.

If He speaks through other people in groups (the largest being the whole world) then it involves many people, and can even speak to a multitude of instances instead of a single one.

At any rate, hearing Him speak is vital to our lives I think. Not that you necessarily have to hear His audible voice (though I pray you do!), but that you listen to Him however He is guiding you. Christ is the foundation for our salvation and faith, but our relationship with Him is the only way to sanctification, which some argue are inseparable.

The problem is that sin, (be it Satan, our flesh, whatever...) separates us from God, and makes us deaf. (Not that most of us hear too well to start with...)

So it's the transformational relationship with God that gives us the ability to hear and see. It all comes back to God. We love because He loves. We hear because He hears. We are because He is. On and on, over and over, pressed down and shaken together...lol.

Sorry if this rabbit trail has seemed like a tangent, but I must say your thread inspired me to so hop it. God bless, and thank you!
rabbit away. Like I said, I'm working on something, and this is part of the research I'm doing, so any thoughts you come up with only point me to others areas to research.

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't say hop away. lol
 

AsifinPassing

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2010
3,608
40
48
#7
It's all good. Glad I to help with your *makes uncle voice* RREEESSeeaarrrcchhh!

Anyway, I'm a little more bear like than rabbit, so I probably won't be doing much hopping. Don't worry though, should I wander off into the wood, I'll be back.
 
K

kayem77

Guest
#8
I think that ultimately the HS is the one who talks to you...He is the one that confirms the truth, and the one who makes sure that whatever you are listening or reading is true and understood correctly.
 
Aug 2, 2009
24,639
4,298
113
#9
God doesn't talk to me, but He sometimes plants thoughts in my head and gets my attention with this weird thing that happens a lot. Its nothing exciting, it just has to do with me and whatever I am listening to on the radio.
 
C

CHCSurvivor

Guest
#10
God knows that I talk so excessively that He can't get through to me through speaking (is the joke in my family), so He uses dreams to confirm things in my heart or to show me things.
 
C

CHCSurvivor

Guest
#12
You're still following me
I am just posting away, never pay attention to the posts above me much - I read them but not who they are by - that's too funny - sorry! LOL
 
Aug 2, 2009
24,639
4,298
113
#13
I am just posting away, never pay attention to the posts above me much - I read them but not who they are by - that's too funny - sorry! LOL
I know, I just wanted to see if you'd notice :)
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#14
Wow, this is a great topic. Some of my friends and I have also had issues hearing God... Come to find out, we were hearing Him but didn't know what He sounded like or didn't know what He was saying. Job 33:14 says, "God does speak-- now one way, now another-- though man does not perceive it." Sobering!

I agree with the visions and dreams, being able to recognize God speaking by spending time with Him, etc. I'm starting to realize that a lot of hearing God actually has to do with recognizing when He is speaking. I think, like the above verse says, God speaks very often but that we can miss Him when we don't recognize His voice, and that we learn to recognize His voice when we spend more and more time with Him. Just yesterday, I had a dream that I don't recall. A friend also had a dream the same night which he did recall. He told it to me and said ah, that wasn't God. But I sort of recognized that it was God and told him to hold on to it to make sure. The more he looked at it, the more he realized it was God. So, I'm starting to realize that it's not about God speaking once in a while but about how often we make ourselves attentive to His voice. I think the more we 'incline our ears' to hear Him by spending time with Him, the greater variety of ways He'll speak to us (words, impressions, visions, dreams, sudden insight, etc.). This is quite a learning process!
 

AsifinPassing

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2010
3,608
40
48
#15
Wow, this is a great topic. Some of my friends and I have also had issues hearing God... Come to find out, we were hearing Him but didn't know what He sounded like or didn't know what He was saying. Job 33:14 says, "God does speak-- now one way, now another-- though man does not perceive it." Sobering!

I agree with the visions and dreams, being able to recognize God speaking by spending time with Him, etc. I'm starting to realize that a lot of hearing God actually has to do with recognizing when He is speaking. I think, like the above verse says, God speaks very often but that we can miss Him when we don't recognize His voice, and that we learn to recognize His voice when we spend more and more time with Him. Just yesterday, I had a dream that I don't recall. A friend also had a dream the same night which he did recall. He told it to me and said ah, that wasn't God. But I sort of recognized that it was God and told him to hold on to it to make sure. The more he looked at it, the more he realized it was God. So, I'm starting to realize that it's not about God speaking once in a while but about how often we make ourselves attentive to His voice. I think the more we 'incline our ears' to hear Him by spending time with Him, the greater variety of ways He'll speak to us (words, impressions, visions, dreams, sudden insight, etc.). This is quite a learning process!
Well done. One of the realizations I came to a few years back is that God is ALWAYS (I mean...every second, all the time, no matter what) with us. It's not just that He's there, but He's there like your very best friend being right next to you, endlessly.

So, if you best friend is with you all day, every day...When you're not talking to him (or her if your best friend is female) or at least attentive to their presence with you (FE: Looks, gestures, thoughts, and other things we do), then you're ignoring him (or her).

The same is true with God. He's with us all the time. Speaking to us all the time. Prompting us, teaching us, playing with us, calling us, leading us, guiding us, and on and on...every second of every day in everything!

It's our job to recognize and react to this. Whenever we feel far from God, or can't hear him, it's because we moved, not Him. He's always right beside us. (and in us, and everywhere except Hell. That's part of the whole 'omnipresent' thing as well as 'what makes hell, hell.)

In any case, we just need to spend time with Him. Listen, speak (praying is more than asking for things or saying you're sorry, though these are parts to it), and just enjoying hanging out with God. (Who, btw, is a Trinity. The Holy Spirit is God present with us on Earth. The Lord Jesus and Father God are on the throne in Heaven. Don't despair though, they can still reach you from there. Also, this is my personal understanding/Theology. If you don't agree, that's cool, but that's your belief. ^_^)
 
J

Jordache

Guest
#16
I agree with JB, but I will add. It's not the more you pray the more you hear God. It's the more you listen, the more you hear God. Yes, listening is supposed to be a part of prayer, but I don't think most people consciously think prayer includes listening when you mention the word. We tend to think of what WE say, rather than having a conversation with the Father.
Good thread...
I hear from God in many ways. I believe we all do. Most frequently I hear Him through visual things including pictures, visions, and dreams. However, I hear Him also through the Bible, through the wisdom and inspiration of other people, through music, through worship, through contemplative prayer, silence, and solitude, through books (both Christian and not), and also through impressions and thoughts.
God will speak in anyway that we will listen. God will not say just anything, but He will speak THROUGH anything.
As for the second question, I read my Bible on most days. I try to read it everyday, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. I do, however, spend time with God everyday. I ponder, I worship, I listen to sermons, I pray, I read books, I read the Word, and I try to sit in silence and listen.
It's hard to quiet yourself, but it's the key to hearing God.
 
G

GreenNnice

Guest
#17
God doesn't talk to me, but He sometimes plants thoughts in my head and gets my attention with this weird thing that happens a lot. Its nothing exciting, it just has to do with me and whatever I am listening to on the radio.
_______
That is how God talks to a lot of us, zere, myself included.
Faith is what it is all about when it comes to God, the ability to believe in things unseen but.....

heard through events that can only be God.

Audible hearing of God's voice I have never heard, I know some have, and, that is great, but I have not, but I have seen His power encapsilate my life in sooooo many ways throughout my life :)
 
G

GreenNnice

Guest
#18
Wow, this is a great topic. Some of my friends and I have also had issues hearing God... Come to find out, we were hearing Him but didn't know what He sounded like or didn't know what He was saying. Job 33:14 says, "God does speak-- now one way, now another-- though man does not perceive it." Sobering!

I agree with the visions and dreams, being able to recognize God speaking by spending time with Him, etc. I'm starting to realize that a lot of hearing God actually has to do with recognizing when He is speaking. I think, like the above verse says, God speaks very often but that we can miss Him when we don't recognize His voice, and that we learn to recognize His voice when we spend more and more time with Him. Just yesterday, I had a dream that I don't recall. A friend also had a dream the same night which he did recall. He told it to me and said ah, that wasn't God. But I sort of recognized that it was God and told him to hold on to it to make sure. The more he looked at it, the more he realized it was God. So, I'm starting to realize that it's not about God speaking once in a while but about how often we make ourselves attentive to His voice. I think the more we 'incline our ears' to hear Him by spending time with Him, the greater variety of ways He'll speak to us (words, impressions, visions, dreams, sudden insight, etc.). This is quite a learning process!
Yes, imallin, we need to really tune in to know God is speaking to us, be praying about things, maybe even days on end, before God suddenly shows up with a dream that soooo hits on what we were praying about and, most importantly, THAT DREAM, puts peace in our heart for that thing in our life. Thing-= issue . Boyfriend, girlfriend, job decision, investment, etc. Whatever God has you dealing with. Well said, well put, brothuh :)

Well done. One of the realizations I came to a few years back is that God is ALWAYS (I mean...every second, all the time, no matter what) with us. It's not just that He's there, but He's there like your very best friend being right next to you, endlessly.

So, if you best friend is with you all day, every day...When you're not talking to him (or her if your best friend is female) or at least attentive to their presence with you (FE: Looks, gestures, thoughts, and other things we do), then you're ignoring him (or her).

The same is true with God. He's with us all the time. Speaking to us all the time. Prompting us, teaching us, playing with us, calling us, leading us, guiding us, and on and on...every second of every day in everything!

It's our job to recognize and react to this. Whenever we feel far from God, or can't hear him, it's because we moved, not Him. He's always right beside us. (and in us, and everywhere except Hell. That's part of the whole 'omnipresent' thing as well as 'what makes hell, hell.)

In any case, we just need to spend time with Him. Listen, speak (praying is more than asking for things or saying you're sorry, though these are parts to it), and just enjoying hanging out with God. (Who, btw, is a Trinity. The Holy Spirit is God present with us on Earth. The Lord Jesus and Father God are on the throne in Heaven. Don't despair though, they can still reach you from there. Also, this is my personal understanding/Theology. If you don't agree, that's cool, but that's your belief. ^_^)
Amen. AsIF. Reece, AWESOMELY said christ Bro. Bellieve it 100%, scripture says that the Holy Spirit is our friend and helper. Amen ? Amen ! :)

Honestly, the more I get to know God, the more time I spend in the word and in prayer, I find it easier to recognize Him and see Him moving. A LOT I think comes from the Holy Spirit in my thought life and through the word. ^_^ Like Jb said, the more I've practiced a relationship with God and living a holy life in Him, the easier it's been to hear Him and see Him moving in my life.
Excellent, catty, there is something to this getting to know God more thing, in the bible, through prayer, in correlation with Him speaking to us more and more and showing us more and more of what He wants to do in our lives . Well said, milady :)


kayM - talking to you, too, chica :) (that means 'girl' in Spanish I think, my sister's other half says that often to their 2 young'uns, he is Mexico born) . Indeed, the Holy Spirit ministers to us, that will undoubtably help us understand correctly, just be careful to listen to make sure what is going on is from God and not that other guy that was able to take on Job. Course, like Job winning that war, so will you, milady :)
 
C

CC_Bride

Guest
#19
Ive had God speak audibly in dreams Ive had. In one dream God convicted of sin that I had been ignoring for years. Its only happened 3 times to me in my life. Normal dreams are just the falling/flying/experience warped creative environments ina blurry way. Those dreams from God were clear cut in their meaning, VERY audible, brutally honest, and always accompanied with bible verses. And when I wake it remains on my mind like a painful fresh tattoo, unlike normal dreams that you forget the minute you try and remember them. If you've read the tone and language in any of the major or minor books of prophets in the bible, you'll get what I mean. Lol.

On the other hand, I've also heard God speak to me in less audible ways, like witnessing prayers being answered before my eyes. Or being in a stressful situation and having a piece of scripture instantly pop into my head (I know its the Holy Spirit because Im awful at memorising scripture). Or Id be witnessing to someone or just talking to a brother or sister in Christ and again verses will just pop into my head, and Id quickly find out where in the bible it is and say it to the person or use it in my conversation (if bible is too uncomfortable for them). I also know God can speak to us though other believers esp if we're sinning and turning away from the Lord, and need some godly rebuking. We can get encouragement from God through other believers as well.

But I think theres a very good reason why we call the bible "Gods Word", its literally him speaking to us with words on a page. Which is why is so important to read the bible everyday and discern what it says and make sure you've got a decent pastor teaching the material. BUT in saying that people need to understand what parts of the bible are prescriptive (God tell us to do or not do something) and descriptive (the author is just truthfully stating what events occurred and when)
 
C

CBM82

Guest
#20
I don't know that I have ever heard the audible voice of God before but I believe he speaks to my spirit and through my conscious. Sometimes I might second guess if its really God speaking to me so one sure fire way I can know that its God speaking is by reading his word. So, I would say reading the bible is my favorite way to hear from God, cause I don't have to ever second guess it. I believe God may speak to me through dreams but sometimes they can be so ambiguous and cryptic that I dont know what he is trying to say. I think some people go overboard though and they think every dream has a meaning and I dont know that I believe that.