Hearing God's Voice Pt. 3
Learning to Distinguish the Voice That Leads You
In a world filled with constant noise, opinions, and conflicting messages, one of the most critical skills we can develop is the ability to hear clearly. Not just with our physical ears, but with the ears of our spirit. The question isn't whether voices are speaking—they always are—but rather, which voice are we following?
The Shepherd's Voice vs. The Stranger's Voice
Scripture tells us plainly: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). This beautiful promise reveals an intimate relationship where the Shepherd knows each of His sheep by name and leads them out. But here's the sobering reality: just because you can hear a voice doesn't mean you should follow it. Jesus made a crucial distinction when He said that sheep will "by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:5). Notice carefully—He didn't say we wouldn't hear the stranger's voice. He said we shouldn't follow it. This means multiple voices have access to our thought life, and discernment becomes essential. The stranger comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The Shepherd comes that we might have life and have it more abundantly. One voice leads to destruction; the other leads to life. The stakes couldn't be higher.
When God Speaks: The Markers of Divine Guidance
How can we recognize when God is truly leading us? There are clear indicators that mark His voice:
Peace is the first marker. Psalm 85:8 reminds us that God "will speak peace to His people and to His saints." This isn't just the absence of conflict—it's the Hebrew concept of shalom, a deep-seated goodness of life untouched by external circumstances. When God leads, there's an inner security, an exemption from fear, doubt, and anxiety. If you're upset, stressed, or apprehensive about a decision, it's worth questioning whether God is truly in it.
Rest is the second indicator. The familiar words of Psalm 23 paint this picture beautifully: "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters." Rest isn't about relaxation—it's about being positioned in Him. In Him, we have everything we need. Outside of Him is where we struggle. Until we're at rest, God cannot fully work through us.
Pleasantness marks the path. Proverbs 3:17 tells us that wisdom's "ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." When walking with God, there's a satisfying sweetness to the journey, even when obstacles appear. Your life should be marked by refreshment, not constant stress.
Divine might accompanies divine assignments. When God sends you somewhere, He equips you with the power, wisdom, grace, and anointing to complete the task. Consider Gideon's story in Judges 6. Despite his protests, God assured him: "Go in this might of yours...Have I not sent you?" If you lack the ability to fulfill what you believe God called you to do, it's worth asking whether He truly sent you there.
The Voice of the Enemy
The second voice competing for our attention is the voice of Satan, described in John 8:44 as "a liar and the father of lies." When the enemy leads, he operates through deception, misdirection, accusation, and blame. He authors confusion, brings up past sins already forgiven, and whispers discouragement. If a conversation involves blaming others rather than taking responsibility, you can be certain God isn't in it. Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden—their first response after yielding to Satan was to blame someone else. God is never the author of confusion, shame, or condemnation. Romans 8:1 declares emphatically: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
The Voice of Your Own Flesh
Perhaps the most challenging voice to distinguish is our own. Many times we blame the devil when the real culprit is our own desire. James 1:13-15 makes this clear: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'...But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." Our feelings are real, but they shouldn't run our lives. How many Ishmaels have we created by acting on our own desires instead of waiting for God's Isaac? The timing wasn't right, but we wanted it now, and the result was instability.
A double-minded person—one whose loyalty is divided between God and their own desires—is "unstable in all their ways" (James 1:8). Going against God or following our own path instead of His produces chaos in every area of life.
The Danger of Seeking Human Confirmation
One of the most common mistakes believers make is seeking confirmation from people instead of staying before God long enough to hear His answer. The Apostle Paul's testimony is instructive: "When it pleased God...to reveal His Son in me...I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:15-16). When God gives you specific instructions, remember that you heard from Him. Others didn't receive that word. If you try to confirm it with people who didn't hear what you heard, they'll bring their own opinions, doubts, and flesh-based reasoning. They might even plant seeds of disbelief in your mind. This doesn't mean we reject all counsel, but it does mean we must learn to quiet our minds and listen for the answer that rises from our spirit—where the Holy Spirit dwells.
Cultivating a Heart That Hears
The answer to hearing God clearly lies in cultivating a heart that listens. This requires:
The question before us is simple but profound: Whose voice are we following? The Shepherd who leads us to abundant life? The stranger who seeks to destroy? Or our own desires that produce instability?
Learning to distinguish these voices isn't just important—it's essential. Your entire destiny depends on it.
The Shepherd's Voice vs. The Stranger's Voice
Scripture tells us plainly: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). This beautiful promise reveals an intimate relationship where the Shepherd knows each of His sheep by name and leads them out. But here's the sobering reality: just because you can hear a voice doesn't mean you should follow it. Jesus made a crucial distinction when He said that sheep will "by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:5). Notice carefully—He didn't say we wouldn't hear the stranger's voice. He said we shouldn't follow it. This means multiple voices have access to our thought life, and discernment becomes essential. The stranger comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The Shepherd comes that we might have life and have it more abundantly. One voice leads to destruction; the other leads to life. The stakes couldn't be higher.
When God Speaks: The Markers of Divine Guidance
How can we recognize when God is truly leading us? There are clear indicators that mark His voice:
Peace is the first marker. Psalm 85:8 reminds us that God "will speak peace to His people and to His saints." This isn't just the absence of conflict—it's the Hebrew concept of shalom, a deep-seated goodness of life untouched by external circumstances. When God leads, there's an inner security, an exemption from fear, doubt, and anxiety. If you're upset, stressed, or apprehensive about a decision, it's worth questioning whether God is truly in it.
Rest is the second indicator. The familiar words of Psalm 23 paint this picture beautifully: "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters." Rest isn't about relaxation—it's about being positioned in Him. In Him, we have everything we need. Outside of Him is where we struggle. Until we're at rest, God cannot fully work through us.
Pleasantness marks the path. Proverbs 3:17 tells us that wisdom's "ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." When walking with God, there's a satisfying sweetness to the journey, even when obstacles appear. Your life should be marked by refreshment, not constant stress.
Divine might accompanies divine assignments. When God sends you somewhere, He equips you with the power, wisdom, grace, and anointing to complete the task. Consider Gideon's story in Judges 6. Despite his protests, God assured him: "Go in this might of yours...Have I not sent you?" If you lack the ability to fulfill what you believe God called you to do, it's worth asking whether He truly sent you there.
The Voice of the Enemy
The second voice competing for our attention is the voice of Satan, described in John 8:44 as "a liar and the father of lies." When the enemy leads, he operates through deception, misdirection, accusation, and blame. He authors confusion, brings up past sins already forgiven, and whispers discouragement. If a conversation involves blaming others rather than taking responsibility, you can be certain God isn't in it. Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden—their first response after yielding to Satan was to blame someone else. God is never the author of confusion, shame, or condemnation. Romans 8:1 declares emphatically: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
The Voice of Your Own Flesh
Perhaps the most challenging voice to distinguish is our own. Many times we blame the devil when the real culprit is our own desire. James 1:13-15 makes this clear: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'...But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." Our feelings are real, but they shouldn't run our lives. How many Ishmaels have we created by acting on our own desires instead of waiting for God's Isaac? The timing wasn't right, but we wanted it now, and the result was instability.
A double-minded person—one whose loyalty is divided between God and their own desires—is "unstable in all their ways" (James 1:8). Going against God or following our own path instead of His produces chaos in every area of life.
The Danger of Seeking Human Confirmation
One of the most common mistakes believers make is seeking confirmation from people instead of staying before God long enough to hear His answer. The Apostle Paul's testimony is instructive: "When it pleased God...to reveal His Son in me...I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:15-16). When God gives you specific instructions, remember that you heard from Him. Others didn't receive that word. If you try to confirm it with people who didn't hear what you heard, they'll bring their own opinions, doubts, and flesh-based reasoning. They might even plant seeds of disbelief in your mind. This doesn't mean we reject all counsel, but it does mean we must learn to quiet our minds and listen for the answer that rises from our spirit—where the Holy Spirit dwells.
Cultivating a Heart That Hears
The answer to hearing God clearly lies in cultivating a heart that listens. This requires:
- Renewing your mind with God's Word so you recognize His voice
- Putting on the helmet of salvation to protect your thought life
- Learning to quiet your mind so the Spirit's voice can rise from your spirit
- Inquiring of the Lord rather than rushing to human counsel
- Waiting for His timing, not just His will
The question before us is simple but profound: Whose voice are we following? The Shepherd who leads us to abundant life? The stranger who seeks to destroy? Or our own desires that produce instability?
Learning to distinguish these voices isn't just important—it's essential. Your entire destiny depends on it.
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