Does God really speak to you? Why yes, yes He does!
I feel like this is a sensitive subject among a lot of Christians, and certainly a source of a lot of confusion in the world. Many pastors will go out of their way to say something like, “Of course, I don’t actually hear God’s voice out loud speaking to me.” or “The Holy Spirit speaks to me in my own voice inside my head.” On the other hand, it seems there are people who may abuse the miracle of an indwelling of the Holy Spirit by manipulating others with “The Lord gave me a word for you…” or pretending to be prophets or sorcerers.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:9-20 KJV
Perhaps a good analogy is that your brain is like a radio receiver that can be tuned in to different channels. And for the vast majority of people they do not literally “hear” sounds inside their own heads as if they were emanating from some internal eardrums or virtual speakers, instead it is more like hearing yourself reading text aloud. Although psychologists have been trying to untangle this web of perception and thought, and philosophers doubt the connection between our inner and outer realities, let us not become lost in a mire of contemplation but rather keep the simple model I have proposed above. For the vast majority of human beings their brain acts like a receiver that can be tuned into various thought channels which are either literally read or conceived as text or symbols, and/or heard aloud in their own voice or a neutral internal dialogue. Now I will reveal a mystery to you: one of those channels in your head is the Holy Spirit speaking to you. He speaks to everybody all the time, remember God is not finite nor is He bound by time or space. Many people recognize this voice and call it their “conscience” which is a funny pun if you think about consciousness vis a vis conscientiousness.
When I am driving my car I usually listen to Family Radio because, while not perfect, it is by far the best option on the radio dial. And an odd phenomenon occurs on a regular basis, a car will pull up beside me and my reception will begin to be interfered with, even overcome by what’s being played in the other car. It’s usually a strong station of popular music whose transmitter is presumably stronger than what I am listening to. So I am momentarily bombarded with Rap or Rock & Roll or perhaps some news talk, it’s like having a peaceful prayer interrupted by clamorous construction noises from outside. And I believe this analogy also works for the receiver inside your brain, when you come around people who are receiving a strong ungodly signal they can and will vex your peace. I am a classroom teacher and I can tell you unequivocally that in a roomful of students every single one is tuned into a different spiritual frequency, and it is difficult and stressful to not only survive in that environment but to actually pull everyone together and try to study something academic is well nigh impossible. But since the first time I stepped foot in front of a classroom I have always felt a guiding spirit coaching me and protecting me. I used to think of it as my father’s or ancestors’ spirits coming upon me, before I gave my life to Jesus, but looking back I realize now that it was Him who was helping me to help my students.
So at this point in my life, does God speak to me? The answer is a resounding YES. Most days we are in a conversation back and forth. I pray and ask for guidance and protection. He tells me what to do and say. I thank him for saving my bacon repeatedly, over and over again, so many times I’ve lost count. He sends me on another journey. The hardest thing is to keep your faith alive while undergoing trials and suffering in life, because as a flawed, sinful human I certainly cannot do a perfect job of following the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and the Lord knows I made a ton of mistakes and regrettable sins for many years before He pulled me in closer. But looking back on my younger years, I realize that Jesus was looking out for me – even when I wanted nothing to do with him. He knew I belonged to Him and that nothing could ever snatch me from his hand, so he loved me even before I knew Him. I say all this to make it clear that even though God is transmitting to believer and denier alike, that doesn’t make life simple or explainable or happy all the time. And the thought of a glorious heaven with rewards we can’t even begin to imagine can seem all too far off and distant when faced with the challenges of a single day – which is all we are ever faced with, stuck in the mire of the present and constantly reaching out and up for help, mercy and guidance.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34 KJV
On the other hand, many people actively reject and avoid listening to anyone and anything that tells them what to think or what they should do, especially the Holy Spirit. They will indulge in sin as frequently and for as long as possible to keep a righteous and holy God as far away from them as possible. They may use drugs and alcohol to numb themselves and interfere with their natural receptive ability. Eventually, if this persists long enough with little to no repentance or guilt, the Lord will give them what they ask for.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:26-32 KJV
Click this link for a nice discussion of “What does it mean to have a seared conscience?“
If you want to discern which channel you should be listening to, remember that you have access to a book that is filled with the thoughts of God, replete with language that was spoken by the Holy Spirit to the prophets of old, and contains the biography of the Lord Jesus Christ who IS the incarnate Word of God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4 KJV
The world is a loud and confusing place, filled with deception, and Satan is like a roaring lion, wandering about to find those he may consume.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Peter 5:7-9 KJV
So I have to fill my life with as much truth and goodness, peace, patience, kindness as I possibly can to help prevent my stiff-necked human sinful self from backsliding into irrational justifications for satisfying the natural man. The more Bible I get inside my head, the Bread and Water of Life, the better I am able to tune into and receive the Lord’s signal, and passages from the Bible will literally pop into my head fully formed and ready to help me or those around me by pointing unequivocally towards The Truth, The Way and The Life. We are to be as Bereans, checking the scriptures to find out if what we are told matches with what God says.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Acts 17:10-12 KJV
Last, but certainly not least, enjoy your faith, your family and your freedoms this Memorial Day. God bless the U.S.A!