God loves to speak to us and is speaking to us all the time if we listen carefully. But because God is God He can and does speak to us all in an individual way. God created us all to be unique and different and this is reflected in our relationship with Him. So, that means He will speak to each of us in a way that is part of our unique relationship with Him.
Through His Holy Spirit God speaks to us to encourage others. You may be at the beginning of your journey in hearing God for yourself or maybe not, but I would like to share 5 ways in which God can communicate with us.
These are all linked to senses, which make them nice and easy to remember.
Eyes
We hear Him as we see what He says in scripture. This is one of the main ways God speaks to us. We might also see visions, pictures and images. These can be just a fleeting image that flash across our mind, but it’s Gods way of showing us things. It can equally be like a short film playing in front of our eyes. Or even looking at someone and seeing words ‘written’ above them.
Acts 2:17-21 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
Ears
We hear His voice through what we hear, with our physical ears and our ‘spiritual senses’. This just means within us we feel like we are hearing God as it resonates within us when someone is speaking. Often His words come as flashing thoughts, sentences or even single words.
John 10:27-30 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Mouth
We hear Him through the words we speak, inspired by the Holy Spirit in the moment as we speak them and from other people as they speak to us. God can at any moment inspire the words someone says to us and communicate with us through them.
Matt 10:19-20 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Nose
God speaks through our ‘gut feelings’ and intuition. We sense and feel that He is present in situations and places.
1 Cor 2:11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Mind
We hear Him as we remember with our minds what He has done and as He inspires our thoughts, dreams and imaginations.
1 Cor 2:9-10 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Once you realise you are hearing from God life gets very exciting!
So, start listening and find out next time in our Walking With God series what to do when you start hearing from God.
