He Still Speaks to KidsSample

Hearing God in Every Generation—Tom Lane

We can apply five simple guidelines in every generation to ensure that God’s voice is the one we are listening to, not our fleshly voices or the whispering of spiritual forces intended to lead us astray.

How does the voice line up with God’s Word? When God speaks, His voice never violates the direct commands of His Word. A God-given word will not change His command if there is a specific command to do or not do something. God will never speak something contrary to His Word.

Is the voice consistent with the nature and character of God? There are many things we might ask God to speak on that are not directly addressed in the Bible. Should we buy a certain car? Should we take a certain job? Should we move to a certain city? When God speaks regarding these decisions, it will not be in a direction that is outside His nature or character. God does not manipulate or dominate us. His nature is gentle and peaceable, and His voice is kind, not harsh.

Is the voice under the covering of God’s established authority? When you think God is saying something to you and feel that you must urgently act on what He has said, with no time to discuss it with a parent, pastor, or godly friend, then I can almost promise you that God did not speak it to you. God works in and through authority. Romans 13 tells us that all authority is established by Him for our benefit. Some people live their lives with the motto, “It is better to ask forgiveness than permission.” That attitude of independence will not serve you well when you’re trying to hear and obey God’s voice.

Has the voice been confirmed by other sources? When God is speaking, His words will be confirmed by other people or by independent circumstances that give clarity and encouragement to what we sense as God’s working. When we feel God directing us to do something, there is great comfort in having the confirmation of others or of circumstances that affirm what we sense.

Have I honestly acknowledged my perspective? When we seek God’s direction for ourselves or another person, we must come with open hands and a pure heart. We must be willing to investigate our hearts to understand how we feel and be honest about the outcome we want from the situation over which we are asking God to speak. Knowing what we want or how we feel does not disqualify us from asking God to speak. Instead, it helps us to be pure in our seeking so that we do not confuse our desire with God’s voice.

I have found that there are times when my desire for a specific direction or outcome clouds my ability to hear God clearly. In those instances, God must work in me to bring me to a place of neutralizing my desires so that what I want is to truly know what God wants and is saying to me. The place to begin in our effort to hear God is to discover our perspective on a matter so that we can openly declare that perspective to God and ask Him to speak over and above what we desire. When we do this, we are able to lay down our will in favor of what He desires.