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How to Know If God Is Speaking: 10 Biblical Ways to Hear and Discern His Voice
God is always speaking, but how do we recognise His voice and know it’s truly Him?
🎧 Listen to the Podcast
If you’d prefer to listen, you can click on the link below and listen for free on Podbean. Alternatively, you can listen to The Jesus 4 Generations Podcast on your favorite streaming platform, e.g. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
🌿 God Still Speaks Today
As believers, we are not left alone trying to figure life out.
God speaks.
He guides.
He comforts.
He leads us forward.“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)Through His Word and through the Holy Spirit, He has made a way for us to know Him personally.
🕊️ The Role of the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us, everything changed.
We now have direct access to God’s presence.
Not through rituals.
Not through striving.
But through relationship.
🌱 Ways God Speaks to Us
God speaks in many ways — and this is not an exhaustive list:
- Through the Bible — His living Word
- Through a still, small voice in our spirit
- Through thoughts, nudges, and inner knowing
- Through peace, love, and joy
- Through other people
- Through creation
- Through physical sensations (warmth, peace, stillness)
- Through dreams and visions
- Through songs and scripture
- While praying
⚖️ How to Discern If It’s from God
Not every thought or feeling is from God, so we are called to test what we receive.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind… that you may discern what is the will of God.”
Romans 12:2 (ESV)Here are some simple ways to discern:
- Does it align with Scripture?
- Does it draw you closer to Jesus?
- Does it gently convict rather than condemn?
- Is it consistent over time or confirmed in different ways?
- Will it produce the fruit of the Spirit?
- Does it bring clarity and peace?
- Will it glorify God rather than self?
- Have you prayed and surrendered it to God?
- Have you sought wise counsel?
🌿 The Peace of Confirmation
When something is from God, there is often a deep inner peace —
a sense of rightness that goes beyond understanding.Not pressure.
Not fear.
But peace.
💛 Final Encouragement
Learning to hear God’s voice is not about perfection.
It’s about relationship.
The more time we spend with Him, the more familiar His voice becomes.
🙏 Prayer
Lord,
Help us to recognise Your voice clearly.
Give us wisdom and discernment.
Guard our hearts from confusion and lead us in truth.
Teach us to walk closely with You each day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
🌿 Activation
This week, as you pray or read Scripture, pause and ask:
“Lord, what are You saying to me?”Write down what comes to your heart — and test it gently with His Word.
✨ Right now is always the best time to begin.
If this message encouraged you, please share the link with someone who might need it today. I’d love to hear how you have heard from God. Please share your story in the comments below.
And consider subscribing so you don’t miss what’s coming next 🌿
Christian Living, Devotional, Faith & Spiritual Growth, hearing God / discerning God’s voice, Holy Spiritbible, Biblical guidance, Christian discernment, Christian encouragement, christianity, discerning God’s voice, faith, faith and obedience, god, God speaks today, God’s will, Hearing God’s Voice, Holy Spirit Guidance, how to hear God, inner peace from God, Jesus, listening to God, relationship with God, spiritual growth, walking with God -
How to Know if God Is Speaking: 7 Biblical Ways to Hear and Discern His Voice
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-cyqti-1a987f1
How can you recognise when God is speaking to you? Discover simple, biblical ways to hear His voice and walk in peace and confidence.
God is always speaking, but how do we know it’s really Him? In this episode, we explore simple, biblical ways to recognize God’s voice and discern His leading with confidence and peace. If you’ve ever wondered whether a thought, feeling, or nudge is from God, this message will gently guide you closer to Him.
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Setting the Captives Free: How Jesus Breaks Hidden Strongholds
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-c5sxi-1a9872c
A personal story of breakthrough from a returning stronghold—and the simple step of obedience that led to freedom.
Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle you thought you’d already overcome?
In this deeply personal episode, I share my journey of facing an old stronghold that unexpectedly returned—and how God gently led me back into freedom. If you’re battling hidden struggles or recurring patterns, this message will encourage you that you are not alone, and breakthrough may be closer than you think.
Jesus still sets the captives free.
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When God Speaks: A Personal Encounter That Changed My Life
Have you ever longed to hear God’s voice… but weren’t quite sure how?
🎧 Listen to the Podcast
If you would prefer to listen to this message, copy and paste the link below into your browser and listen for free on Podbean. Alternatively, you can listen to The Jesus 4 Generations Podcast on your favourite platform, e.g. Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/when-god-speaks-a-personal-encounter-that-changed-my-life/
🌿 When God Drew Near
I remember several decades ago, I was at one of the lowest and loneliest points of my life.
I didn’t really know how to pray. I didn’t have the right words. I didn’t understand the “right way” to speak to God.
But I tried.
I think all I said was something like…
“I want You.”And then… He came.
God surrounded me with such overwhelming love, peace, and joy that it stayed with me for days. I found myself crying and laughing, dancing and singing old hymns from my childhood.
It felt like the warmest, most comforting embrace — a hug that didn’t end.
🐑 He Knows His Sheep
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27 (NIV)Even before I understood how to hear Him…
He was already speaking.
He was already near.
🌱 Learning to Hear His Voice
When I first returned to God, I had such a strong desire to hear from Him again.
I imagined something dramatic —
a voice from heaven booming,
or a burning bush speaking directly to me.After all, we read these things in the Bible.
Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden.
How beautiful that must have been.Perhaps I was a little naïve… but I was hopeful.
And over time, I’ve come to realise something deeply comforting:
👉 God is always speaking — we just need to learn to recognize His voice.
💛 He Speaks in Relationship
From personal experience, I’ve learned that when we lean in with a sincere heart, we begin to recognise Him.
Not always in dramatic ways.
But in gentle, personal, deeply loving ways.
Sometimes it comes through His Word.
Sometimes through peace.
Sometimes through a quiet knowing in our spirit.And sometimes… He simply comes close again, just like He did for me all those years ago.
🌸 A Gentle Invitation
If you long to hear God’s voice…
Start simply.
Draw near.
Speak honestly.
Sit with Him.You don’t need perfect words.
You just need a willing heart.Because He already knows you.
And He is already speaking.
🙏 Prayer
Lord,
Thank You that You are near.
Thank You that You speak to Your children with love and gentleness.
Help us to quiet our hearts and recognise Your voice.
Draw us closer to You each day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
🌿 Activation
Today, take a few quiet moments and simply say:
“Lord, I want You.”Sit with Him.
No pressure. No striving.
Just presence.
✨ Right now is always the best time to begin.
If this message encouraged you, please share the link with someone who might need it today. I’d love to hear how you have heard from God. Please share your story in the comments below.
And consider subscribing so you don’t miss what’s coming next 🌿
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When God Speaks: A Personal Encounter That Changed My Life
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-emsq9-1a97803
Have you ever longed to hear God’s voice but weren’t sure how?
In this deeply personal episode, I share a moment from one of the lowest seasons of my life — when I simply cried out to God, and He met me with overwhelming love, peace, and joy.
Be encouraged that God is not distant or silent. He is near, He knows you, and He is already speaking. Discover how you can begin to recognise His voice in simple, gentle ways.
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Listening with Love: How Being Fully Present Reflects Christ
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ewvym-1a8f6e4
Are we really listening when others speak, or just waiting for our turn to respond? In this episode, I explore how listening is a powerful expression of love. Learn how being fully present with others—especially children—can build connection, confidence, and reflect the heart of Christ.
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A Living Love Letter: When God Speaks
Have you ever opened your Bible and felt like the words were written just for you—right in that very moment?
If you’d prefer to listen to this message click on the link below and listen for free on Podbean. Alternatively, you can listen to The Jesus 4 Generations Podcast on your favorite streaming platform, e.g. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/when-god-speaks-how-the-bible-becomes-a-personal-love-letter/
It never ceases to amaze me that when I read the Bible, it speaks directly into my situation.
No matter what is happening in my life, the Word of God meets me there. It comforts me, strengthens me, and gently guides me forward.
Sometimes it feels like a lightning bolt from heaven pierces my heart—sudden, powerful, undeniable.
Other times, it’s a quiet, loving peace that wraps around me and soothes my troubled soul.But one thing is certain:
I have never closed the Bible and thought, “Well, that was a waste of time.”
The Word That Comes Alive
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.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)The Bible is not just a book—it is alive.
It reaches into the deepest parts of who we are. It reveals truth, corrects us in love, and draws us closer to God.
And even more than that, the Word is not separate from Jesus—it is Jesus.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 (NIV)When we open our Bibles, we are not simply reading words on a page… we are encountering the living Christ.
When God Speaks Personally
Have you ever read a passage and suddenly it just jumps out at you?
Almost as if you’ve never seen it before, even though you’ve read it many times?
That is the Holy Spirit bringing the Word to life.
This is often called a rhema word. It’s a personal, timely message from God to your heart.
I absolutely love when this happens. It reminds me that God is not distant. He is speaking, guiding, and drawing us closer every day.
A Love Letter We Can Drift From
God has been speaking to humanity through the Bible for thousands of years.
It is His love letter, revealing His heart and His deep desire for relationship with us.And yet, like the Israelites in the Old Testament, we can be so easily distracted.
Life gets busy.
Other desires creep in.
We drift.But the truth remains:
Nothing in this world can offer lasting peace.
Only God brings true life, joy, love, and peace.
Finding a Rhythm That Works
My husband and I enjoy following the Verse of the Day on YouVersion, and it’s such a beautiful way to stay connected daily.
But if I’m honest, I’ve struggled in the past to maintain a deeper Bible reading routine.
I would start with enthusiasm… and then life would take over.
At one point, a friend suggested reading the New Testament in three months. I tried, but it felt overwhelming. I found myself rushing just to finish, without truly taking anything in. So, I stepped back.
And that’s okay.
Because this journey isn’t about pressure, it’s about connection.
The Power of Reading Together
What changed everything for me was simple, but powerful:
I invited someone to do it with me.
Using an app, we created a small group where we could share thoughts, voice messages, and reflections. Suddenly, I wasn’t just reading, I was engaging.
I listened more carefully.
I noticed more deeply.
I grew more intentionally.And something beautiful happened…
Not only did my relationship with God deepen, but my relationship with my friend grew as well.
An Invitation for You
If you’ve struggled to stay consistent, you are not alone.
Why not try this:
- Start small, just a chapter a day
- Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you before you begin
- Share the journey with a friend or family member
You may be surprised at how alive the Word becomes.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your Word, alive, powerful, and full of love.
Thank You that You speak to us personally through Scripture, guiding us, comforting us, and drawing us closer to You.
Help us to hunger for Your Word and to make space for You in our daily lives.
Open our hearts to hear Your voice clearly, and give us the discipline to stay connected to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activation
This week, take one simple step:
👉 Choose one Gospel (like John or Mark)
👉 Read just one chapter a day
👉 Ask: “Lord, what are You saying to me today?”
👉 Share one insight with a friendLet this be the beginning of something deeper.
Now is always the best time to begin.
If this message encouraged you, please share it with someone who might need it today.
I’d love to hear how you read the Bible—feel free to share your story in the comments.
And consider subscribing so you don’t miss what’s coming next 🌿
Please see links to a couple of Bible Apps I enjoy. I do not have any affiliation with either of these.
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When God Speaks: How the Bible Becomes a Personal Love Letter
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-xtyy4-1a8bcf8
Have you ever felt like the Bible was speaking directly to your situation? In this episode, we explore how God’s Word is alive, personal, and full of love. Be encouraged to build a simple, meaningful Bible reading rhythm and discover how God speaks to you through Scripture.
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Simple Ways to Share Your Faith: Practical Evangelism for Everyday Life
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s6stn-1a76e2c
Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. In this episode, we explore simple, practical ways to share the love of Jesus through everyday moments, acts of kindness, and your personal testimony. Be encouraged, you don’t need to have all the answers, just a willing heart.
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A Love Story Written by God: Celebrating 67 Years of my husband
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-gq5ng-1a6e202
In this episode of the Jesus 4 Generations Podcast, I share a powerful personal story about learning to surrender life’s pressures to God. Discover how Jesus invites us to exchange our burdens for His peace and how trusting Him can transform even the most overwhelming seasons.
Jesus 4 Generations
Revealing our loving God to generations
Jesus 4 Generations 