All of us, in some way or another, long to hear from God. But how does one tell whether what you are hearing is merely your own thoughts projected on God, or actually the voice of God?
I've had a number of conversations recently about discerning God's voice, and so, in light of that, I thought I would share a few "check-points" taken from an article by Laura Thiel, entitled "Hearing God's Voice" (Prayer Ministry Manual, p. 37) which I have found to be very helpful.
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1. Does what you are hearing contradict Scripture? All leadings from God are consistent with His Word, the Bible. When we listen to God, we do not expect God to say anything new doctrinally.
2. Does the voice gently lead you in a direction, or is it commanding and harsh? God’s voice gently guides and encourages, giving you hope.
3. Remember:
a. God leads, Satan drives
b. God convicts, Satan condemns and brings guilt
c. God woos, Satan tugs hard
d. God does not use fear to motivate
4. Simply write down what you hear and wait for confirmation. Joyce Huggett suggests asking God for 3 confirmations (through God’s word, through circumstances and through other people) before moving forward with what you are hearing from God.
5. Bill Hybels' “Cautions for Leadings”
a. If a leading requires you to make a major, life-changing decision in a very short period of time, question it.
b. If a leading requires you to go deeply in debt or place someone else in a position of awkwardness, compromise or danger, question it.
c. If a leading requires you to shatter family relationships or important friendships, question it.
d. If a leading creates unrest in the spirits of mature Christian friends or counselors as you share it with them, question it.
8. Be very careful when you say, God wants… God is saying… Having access through Jesus to God is a very powerful thing so with it we must exercise great caution. It is often wiser [specifically when praying for others] to say instead:
a. It’s my sense that…
b. I wonder if God…
c. Or make a question from what you are hearing
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Your post today is especially appropriate when read in conjunction with the news about the American missionaries who have been accuses of trafficking children:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/world/americas/02orphans.html
"[The missionaries said:]
'I can’t at all question where they went and what they did because I’m really convinced it was at God’s direction. They were acting in faith. That may sound trivial, but they were acting not only in faith but God’s faith.'
"But in Haiti, the group may have run into worldly issues they had not anticipated. Haiti has long been a target for trafficking organizations... Asked what he thought about the Americans’ claims to be doing God’s work, Mr. Denis shrugged. 'What is God’s I leave to God, he said. 'What’s the state’s is ours.'"
I read that and I thought a lot about how the American missionaries thought that they were following God but the government & some of the children themselves don't see it that way...
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