How I tell the difference between my thoughts and God speaking.

In the past I believe I was too quick to think that God was speaking to me. But it wasn't just me. I was part of a church culture that was too quick to conclude, with confidence, that a thought was from God. I hope I don't confuse you at all about this. I absolutely believe that God speaks to us individually at times and I have had some very important moments where God has spoken to me. But I have learned not to depend on that for my sense of spiritual well-being and not to be too quick to assign my own thoughts to God.

[Leslie_Crich]

As someone i know once said, God knows how to speak to each of His children so that they know it's Him.

[priscilla]

I remember praying to God, telling him I was a little dumb and a little deaf and that I needed him to speak to me a little louder and a little more clearer. I was doubting everything and was so unsure of what was from Him. A few days later, my neighbor came by and she unwittingly answered many of the questions I asked or had a response to the very things i talked about with God. I felt from the depths of my soul, that God was using her to answer my questions. It also happened on more than one occasion with the same neighbor and each time she has unknowingly had a response to something I've talked with God about.

[KF-cmwg]

He speaks through His word. If our thoughts are consistent with His word...its the Holy Spirit.

[ybwztok]

I heard God’s voice once. Even though I was asleep, it wasn’t a dream. His voice was crystal clear and direct. He said, “Give it all to Me.” That moment solidified my faith more than any other of the hundreds of blessings that God was gratuitously given me. I can’t wait to hear Him on a more permanent basis!!!

[toliveischrist]

During a time in my life when I wandered from my Savior and Lord Jesus and even turned away from him, he clearly spoke to me inside several times over a period on months. In his voice (it was not my own) he quoted scripture to me about who he is and what he did for me on the cross. I was unfaithful and deceived but he was a gentle and kind shepherd, full of love, leaving the 99 to find the 1. I repented! I believe Jesus made his voice clear to me so, I could not deny his presence and so today I can testify to his faithfulness to me and tell of his great works in my life. All glory to him forever!

[lancewallace]

I have been struggling with this too. I don't want to misinterpret what I'm hearing, and I don't want to follow the wrong voice or sign. I know that God's timing isn't mine, so I wait for God's clear message to me.

[-justin-]

This is so true. When I was newlywed and starting a family I was debating whether or not to buy a handgun for home defense. I didn’t grow up around guns and was unsure if I was making a mistake and was praying for God to tell me what to do. I had looked at several options that were in my budget and planning time to train. But I didn’t want to bring more trouble by having it around. One night I woke from a deep sleep and was sat up almost like I had been shocked and I heard “the voice of God” saying buy the gun, protect your family, I will watch over you. It was clear as day. I told my wife in the morning and she was like okay. Haven’t had to use it but I’m glad I did. I am a legal proficient and safe gun owner many years later.

[MrsKeane]

My favorite and clearest time He spoke to me was when I was in labour with my first child. I felt afraid around the transition. I was doing it med free. I prayed asking for his comfort and I heard You're Safe, I'm with you.

[alafiami]

"If I cannot tell if it is God's voice, it is not Gods voice"

[grndhgd]

God is Perfect and never contradicts Himself. If He is Speaking to us, His Word is the confirmation of one or the other.

[tamou_whanau]

When he communicates with me, its through others sometimes and most of the time, the truth is in my heart. The lord is the truth, holy, hope, faith and love.. thats how you can tell the difference. Im sure its different for everyone. I met someone who hears the lord, he said he was told to talk to me. Which gave me the answer I prayed for that morning. Now I have been able to overcome one of my unholy desires. All thanks to god.

[AlexanderosD]

Used to sleep to escape depression, and I dream most every night.
When coming to faith and beginning to read through the Scripture, my dreams started getting.... different.
Partly just from reading and thinking about Scripture verses, but there was something else at work.
Over time, I've been able to distinguish
"just a dream" and when it's Him speaking.
It's rare, but it's quite obvious when it happens.

It's very much like when a parent calls your name.
Their voice, intonation, pitch, inflection, you just sort of know it's Him naturally after a while.

And here's the litmus test that I've been able to test and know that I know it's Him:
Every dream from Him,
or when He gives an overshadowing thought that clears your thoughts away and clearly speaks over your mind's chatter,
every idea or consideration after hearing someone else say something and you know that consideration wasn't something you would have thought of,
Or reading Scripture and it oddly connecting with thoughts and considerations or situations you're in,
if it's from Him;
He always speaks Scripture or a reference to Scripture or something similar to Scripture, and it NEVER contradicts Scripture especially in full context.
This is just how I have personally experienced Him speaking, I am not saying this as a universal formula.

But KNOW the Bible. It's called God's Word for a reason and even the evil one knows bible verses.
So how much more important that His Children know His voice.

[eclipsesonic]

Another important thing to note is that we know that God is speaking to us, through His Word (the scriptures), so if we think of something that's not directly in or contrary to His written Word, we know that it's not from God.

[em]

I struggle with this a lot of as person with OCD. OCD normally affects areas of your life that are important to you and since my faith is one of those areas, it can make praying, reading my Bible and just thinking about God difficult. Sometimes it's not so bad and I'm working on making it better. I appreciate you talking about intrusive thoughts and would enjoy more videos on it. :)

[toosiyabrandt]

Hi
I remember one time when I was about to uproot my little family of myself and my two young boys from our inner suburb apartment to an outer suburb apartment in order to become part of a great outreach kind of congregation, and I was hesitating, and deeply pondering my situation, when I suddenly heard a voice in my head saying’ I am before you and behind you’ !!! I KNEW it was Jesus Yeshua because I had instant peace of mind about the big move, but could not remember having read any scripture like that! The next day I shared this with a wise friend who knew her scripture, and she immediately opened her Bible and read me the story of the Exodus, where The Lord went before Israel in a column of cloud by day, and He also protected them from the pursuing Egyptian army by a column of fire behind them! HalleluYa! Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua returning soon to reign over the world from Jerusalem.

[TroyBlack]

Wow. This is a brilliant explanation of how to know if God is speaking.

[willcole]

As someone who struggles with OCD, this helped a lot, thanks :)

[sarah-dqrl]

i asked God this same question last night and i’ve already seen two YouTube Shorts answering this question.

[marigoldmeadowsfarm]

So that hit home. One of the Sunday school teachers texts me about 3pm Saturday to let me know she had a sick family & wouldn’t be at church. My response was did you call your partner. She replied yes & I said I’d be praying for all y’all.
I went back to preparing dinner, praying that her boys would get well quickly when I felt God chastise me for not praying with her first. I had to take a walk around the yard and have a good prayer & forgiveness talk. Then I told my friend how sorry I was that I behaved like an administrator instead of a Christian. She assured me she didn’t see it like that, but God did.

[michelleschutte]

Intrusive thoughts are much different than dreaming. My mind is going non-stop, so I have difficulty having a quiet mind. Even with that, I have still had times when I knew it was God and not myself on particular thoughts. You know in you’re “knower, ” and then you act on it! Key: The more time you spend with the Lord in Word & Prayer, the bigger He becomes in your daily life. I believe that we hear Him more than we realize or give credit. ❤