Identifying God’s voice is more of a realization of what is already familiar to you instead of learning something new. God created you. You were made to hear and experience Him. He may speak to you with words, through feelings, in your senses, by deep impressions, by nature, in dreams, in visions, through music, through other people, through scripture, and any other way that He chooses. Hearing and experiencing God is for everyone. He desires a relationship with you - Revelation 3:20.

In John 16:13, Jesus describes how the Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth. This invites us into seeking, wonder, and curiosity about how the Holy Spirit communicates. Consider also the characteristics of the Holy Spirit as described in 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 and the words in the Nicene Creed which describe the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Some people have experiences with God speaking in audible words; others have words rise up in the depths of their own spirit that literally arrive internally (which is how I can best describe when God speaks to me in literal words); some people dream, some people receive visions, some people see words written in the air, and others have experiences with angels appearing to them giving words. God speaks to me often through music as I wake up with lyrics in my inner being. As I play the song, He reveals ideas, fills me with love and revelation as I am fed through the melody and lyrics of the songs. My favorite example of this is in the lyrics and song by Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes” which has been filling me and inspiring me for a couple of years now.

The best way that I can invite you into an understanding of how God speaks is to encourage you to not limit your beliefs or imaginations to any one particular way or method, but to encourage you to seek the Lord and identify how He is communicating to you. He may speak to you one way and then speak to you in another way. He may drop deep impressions into your spirit. He may perfectly synchronize events or circumstances as a confirmation to you. He may speak to you with a prophetic word. He may send bird shapes in clouds (one of my experiences). I propose that the way He speaks to you is what most appeals to the way He created you, which is unique to your personality, traits, and design.

As you become more familiar with how God speaks, remember that God’s voice will never contradict scripture. Be mindful that understanding the context of scripture is important for interpretation and as your relationship and intimacy grows with God, so will attempts from satan to derail your relationship. Being in community is key to learn and grow with others as you discern and grow in your relationship with God.

We are very passionate here about knowing God’s voice, as intimacy with the Holy Spirit is first and foremost in all things, especially as our focus is in learning and normalizing the spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts are given, guided, and directed by the Holy Spirit. Knowing God’s voice, cues and signals are key to operating in the fullness and intent of the spiritual gifts.