How Do I Understand When God Is Directing Me?

Different people have asked me the question, "How can we know when we're hearing from God"? Well, first I want to stress that this is something I'm still learning about as well, but I thought that I'd share with you some things I've learned so far.

I've mentioned before about how I associate a sensation in my chest with a stirring of the Holy Spirit. And for anyone who's felt this for themselves, you know what I mean. For anyone who hasn't experienced this, it's a little difficult to describe it except for saying that it's a light, peaceful sensation. I've noticed that I feel the Spirit most while in praise and worship, repenting, and sometimes when I'm studying the scriptures and come across something that's really grabbed my focus and attention. I can feel it when I've messed up and let sin in, in some form. When you do sin, the Spirit will let you know. Our minds can try to deny it, and rationalize it, but the Spirit will keep bringing it to your attention, not letting you forget it for too long.

If you're a Christian and sin has entered your life and you're NOT feeling anything, then I recommend that you stop and examine yourself, because if you are a Christian and you're not feeling the grievance of the Holy Spirit, then that means you've been ignoring Him for some time. You're going to have a difficult time hearing Him at all until you repent and get back on track.

I'll also feel the Holy Spirit when I'm praying over something or receiving guidance from Him in some manner. For example, a few months back I came across a passage in scripture talking about how, once you've been saved and forgiven, then turn away from that, then there's no further sacrifice. And, that actually had me concerned for a little bit because I had backslidden for a while (some time back). When I read this, I began to wonder if I was really back on track like I thought that I was, or was it possible that I'd just been going through the motions of it just thinking I was okay, when in reality there was no way for me to get back on track? This had troubled me for a few hours actually, and I finally brought it to God in prayer. When I did that, almost immediately I could feel the Holy Spirit rising up in me as if to say, "Why are you so concerned? You know this already. You see. I'm with you." Needless to say, receiving this kind of a response quieted that concern entirely.

I've noticed the same type of response with other things as well. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as a Teacher, Comforter, Counselor. I believe that it's through being able to understand when you're receiving this guidance from the Holy Spirit that we can understand what it is that God is trying to get across to us. So, what I've been doing to grow in this area, in understanding and learning how to listen, is simply to ask God questions while I'm praying about things that have been troubling me. Like, I'll ask what He's wanting me to do, or something along those lines. You won't always be able to feel this kind of leading, but sometimes this guidance will occur at a different timing than you expect it to, or maybe He will choose another manner to answer you. Maybe it'll be through circumstances in your life. Maybe you'll find that one door closes to you and another one will be opening up, or something of that sort.

Okay, let's say you're having trouble feeling this guidance at all. Say you've been trying, praying, and paying attention, but still struggling to understand what it is that God is trying to get across to you. Maybe you have a question about something and you wonder what is the right answer, or what it is He wants, and you can't understand what it is He wants you to do in this particular situation. My suggestion is to look and see what it is that you have going on in your life. Sin will be something that makes it hard to hear Him, but it can be other things, too, such as distractions. Look and see if you have anything placed between you and God. It might be something that you don't even realize is there, something that's causing this muffling effect. It could even be something as simple as regular, daily life that can sometimes cause these distractions. But just look at what has your focus. What all has your focus, and what has your attention? And, how does this compare with the focus and attention that you give to God?

There's one illustration I came across recently that I thought really made a lot of sense...

Okay, imagine yourself in a big, spacey room. You're on one end of it, and God is on the other end of it. Now, the more stuff you have in there placed between the two of you, the more cluttered and distracting it becomes, and the harder it becomes to hear this gentle voice, gentle call that's leading you in some way. Because when God is directing you in something it's like a gentle pull. If you have something on your mind that you feel as if it's dragging you to a certain point or conclusion, as if it's screaming at you, then I'd be questioning whether that's the voice of God at all. When you have God's guidance, it's gentle, but when you have clutter and distractions between you and Him, then you're going to have a hard time understanding Him. However, when all that stuff is cleared out, suddenly you find it much easier to hear and to understand what it is that He has to share.

Now, you only have this type of guidance, though, if you have the Holy Spirit. If you've not been saved, you won't experience guidance in this manner. You're only saved if you've confessed your sins and received Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you haven't done this, I urge you - don't wait, don't put it off. I know it sounds cliche to say that you don't know how long it is that you have, but it's true. If you're not saved, and you figure you'll wait until later, sometime down the road, can you say with absolute certainty that you'll have that chance later? If not, why wait?


²⁵These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

~ John 14:25-26 (KJV)


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