Chapter 4

Whose Voice Are You Listening To?

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

John 10:27 (KJV)

Some voices come from people we love, people who hurt us, culture, church, social media, our past, or thoughts repeated so long they sound like our own. We need to ask who taught us to believe something and whether God agrees.

God's Voice Will Not Contradict God's Word

John 17:17 (KJV) says God's Word is truth. Hearing God is not treating every strong feeling, coincidence, dream, attraction, impression, or desire as divine direction.

Conviction and Condemnation

Conviction says: This needs to change. Come with Me. Condemnation says: This is who you are. Hide. Romans 8:1 (KJV) reminds us there is no condemnation in Christ.

Testing “God Told Me”

Christians can sincerely confuse desire, fear, intuition, attraction, coincidence, another person's words, social media, dreams, or strong emotion with God's direction. The more consequential the decision, the less afraid we should be of testing what we believe we heard through Scripture, God's character, time, fruit, wise counsel, and reality. Do not use “God told me” to close a conversation God may still be using to teach you. Another person's claim that God told them something about your life does not automatically create an obligation for you.

When You Don't Know

We do not need to manufacture certainty. Sometimes the faithful answer is: I don't know yet. Remain with Him.

Which Voice Gets the Final Word?

John 10:27 gives the progression: hear, know, follow. Becoming requires allowing God's voice to become the one we follow.