God Speaks

Can You Hear Him?

Several times in my life I’ve heard God’s voice—not audibly—but as a prompting in my thoughts. Sometimes it’s very simple:

Pray for Geri.

Why, Lord?

Because she is grieving over her mom today.

Later that morning I saw Geri in church and asked how she was doing. “It’s been a hard day,” she said. “I’m missing my mom.”

I’ve also heard His voice as I’ve wrestled in prayer over an issue of speaking truth. One night as I tossed and turned in bed, praying about how to deal with a situation, I kept hearing over and over in my mind: “Truth matters.” When I woke up the next morning and turned on the television, the first thing I saw was an advertisement that blazed these words across the screen: “Truth Matters.” I randomly switched the station and landed on a Christian program. The host was quoting John 8:32: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Not only did I hear the Lord’s voice, He provided unexpected confirmations. I knew what I needed to do.

Many times I’ve immersed myself in Scripture, asking the Lord to speak to me. Words have leapt off the page at me like a billboard. I’ve read verses that seemed written just for me at that moment in time—or at least I was assured the Lord delighted in directing me to that specific passage. I suspect He’s used those same verses many times over for others who were seeking to hear His voice.

I recall one time when He spoke to me so clearly that it changed the direction of my prayer. I had been “contending” in prayer, fasting and crying out to Him over a seemingly impossible situation. Suddenly the words whispered through my mind, “It’s over. Stop contending and start worshiping Me with praise and thanksgiving.”

Stunned, I prayed again, asking if that was truly God speaking. The same words filled my mind and soul. Still not certain it was the Lord, I asked Him to confirm it in His Word. I “randomly” opened my Bible and my eyes fell immediately on this verse: “I will indeed do what you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend” (Ex. 33:17, nlt). I started worshiping and praising Him with thanksgiving! An hour later I received a phone call, informing me that, indeed, my prayer had been profoundly answered.

Pay Attention

The Lord has spoken to you, as well. Perhaps you’ve heard Him; perhaps you haven’t noticed. Or maybe, uncertain that He wants to speak to you, you haven’t thought to ask Him. Yet God is engaging with us in a variety of ways. He’s longing for us to pay attention to His voice.

In this issue, you will read about different ways God speaks to people—through examples from today as well as from the Old and New Testaments. Some may seem obvious to you. Others may cause you to wonder, Does God really speak that way today? I found myself challenged by our authors to consider new ways God speaks to us. You will also read about best practices of hearing God from writers of different denominational backgrounds. Throughout all the articles there is a consistency: every author elevates the Word of God as the primary way God speaks today. Every whisper and every clear and bold word needs to align with Scripture.

This truth is certain: God still speaks to His people today. I hope you can stop and listen.

CAROL MADISON is editor of Prayer Connect.