10 Ways God Speaks to us

During the times of the Bible, we saw God directly interacting with human beings. However, now it can seem more difficult to recognize the voice of God in our lives.

It is important to remind ourselves that God is still speaking to us in many ways today. Here are 10 reminders from Scripture of how He does this.

#1 He Speaks to Those That Belong to Him

John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

If you are a Christian, you should never fear that Jesus will be silent with You. Jesus reminds us that He is always able to speak to us to protect and provide, to cheer and to guide us through life’s trials and turns. When He speaks to your heart, it is unmistakable; it may not be an audible voice, and it may come in a very unexpected way, but rest assured that you will know when the voice of God calls out to you.

#2 When He Speaks, He Will Reveal His Heart to Us

Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

If we will simply call out to Him, God will answer us. He longs to share His heart with those that love Him, and if we remain faithful and cling to Him with our whole lives, He will show us the plans He has in store for us, and it will always be greater than we could have planned on our own.

#3 His Voice May Come Unexpectedly but Be Ready for It

1 Samuel 3:8-10 says, “And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears.’”

This story of Samuel as a boy is familiar to many Christians, and the lesson is to always be ready to respond to God. Samuel responded in innocence by thinking it was the high priest calling for him; he had not yet experienced the call of God directly on his heart. We too should listen to wise counsel, and be ready to ask God to speak when He calls to us.

#4 God’s Word Will Never Return Empty

Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

The Word of God is not fruitless. This verse is a demonstration that, no matter what God says, it will ultimately lead to the fulfillment of His will. We can ignore or run from His call, but in the end, God will always win out – either we will turn in faithfulness, or someone around us may hear God’s call and respond with their own obedience.

#5 God Speaks Through His Son, Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world.”

God has spoken through His divinely recorded words in Scripture, and He also spoke to the world through the ministry and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was not simply a great moral teacher or prophet; He was God in human flesh. This is absolutely critical to understanding Who He was; He never claimed to be a good man, but He did claim to be God Himself.

#6 God Speaks Through Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

The Bible itself is God’s living and breathing words to us. It is not simply a book with recorded narratives that merely accounts a nation’s history. It is that, but it is so much more – it is literally God’s voice speaking into your life and guiding you into His will. Be receptive to that as you read each page.

#7 God Speaks Through Nature

Romans 1:20 says, “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

The next time you walk outside or see pictures of an idyllic and far-off destination, ask yourself how God speaks to you through nature. He created all of it and wants to communicate His splendor and majesty through it.

#8 Not Every “Divine Word” Comes from God

1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

We may think something is a “word from the Lord,” but we should be quick to test it against the benchmarks of the Bible and His character as revealed throughout history. If something does not align with Scripture, it cannot be from God.

#9 God Guides the World Itself

Psalm 50:1 says, “The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.”

The orbit of the globe around the sun is a divine proclamation that God is in control. He created and is actively sustaining the whole world.

#10 The Word of God Is Powerful

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

His words are not benign, powerless oracles. They are awe-inspiring, earth-shattering words that should affect our deepest being. When the God of the universe speaks to your heart, be quick to respond in awe and reverence, opening yourself to His call on your heart and being responsive to obey His will.