Hearing God's Voice: A Spiritual Spam Filter

by Marilynn Chadwick

Have you discovered that every voice in your head is not from God? The enemy of our soul often tries to sneak in his lies, sometimes disguised as our own voice. So how do we recognize when it's really God speaking to us? Jesus tells us, "My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me" (John 10:27). Your most important job is to train your heart to hear God's voice. Get to know him. Spend time with him. When David calls, I easily recognize his voice—because I spend a lot of time with him.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us discern truth from lies. Among other descriptions of the Holy Spirit, he is called the "Spirit of truth." It's worth repeating. Not all voices are from God and not all spirits are the Holy Spirit. That's why we need a "Spiritual Spam Filter." God has provided us with several guardrails to bring clarity to our hearing: The Word of God; the inner witness of the Holy Spirit; the character of God as revealed in Scripture; the testimonies of other believers, both now and throughout the ages.

Before Jesus went to the cross, he encouraged his disciples to eagerly anticipate the "Spirit of truth" that would soon come their way (John 16:13). "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7).

This same Helper, Jesus promised, was "the Spirit of truth" who would guide them (and us) into "all truth" (John 16:13). "The Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you" (John 14:26 AMP).

Did you catch that? Jesus said the Holy Spirit will even help us remember what he has spoken to us. Good news as we are learning to discern the voice of God!