When God speaks to you do you hear it as a direct voice or does it come through signs and more abstract means?

[gingerdodger]

I am a Christian and I would say I have experienced both of these. Occasionally a really clear voice in my head but also being surprised, perhaps by stumbling across a reading or a homily in church that spoke to me or even a part of nature bringing comfort. I think you can also hear God through others in the way they behave or treat you. Sometimes it is being guided to answers after reflection and prayer.

I have examples of all these but was thinking about it the other day as I was having a very troubled sleepless night. I stumbled across the bible study thread on here after totally missing it earlier in the week and read the comforting words of Psalm 23. I went back to bed with those in my head, it brought me peace.

It also made me think how many other times I feel I have had God 'speak' to me in many different ways.

I am just interested in whether others with faith experience these varied methods or do you find it comes more with prayer?

(I know there may be others who doubt or do not believe these are messages from God, that is fine, but that is not what I am asking here, I am trying to explore how my experience and others varies as I explore my faith.)

Hi there, I was very surprised to see your message, as IME not many Christians are prepared to speak openly about such experiences.

I have heard God speak to me directly in a loud voice, right inside my head; a voice welling up from deep in my heart; sometimes a whisper beside my right ear, which I think may be an angel, one of God's messengers rather than Himself. I have also had visions, and seen pictures, and have words jump out at me, or seen signs jump out at me.

This began happening about 25 years ago after a powerful infilling of the Holy Spirit. It was hard to find information about it. Eventually with messages that come from outside of me I learnt to reject everything (testing the message) and only accepted it as from God if it kept on coming. Many times I have been warned of dangers and have been able to keep myself and my child safe.

The voice that comes from inside me is absolutely reliable, and I know it could not possibly be from anyone other than God, and that he knows me better than I know myself, even though, at my age, (over 50) I do actually know myself quite well. I pray a lot and I use Christian meditation. The most helpful books I have read have been ones on Christian mysticism. I'm very pleased to have read your post.

Take care of yourself, and keep searching for Him, God bless you.

Thank you. I can see how people really struggle to understand this. I am a very logical and rational human being but such experiences are very real and very pointed (not always the answers I wanted though). I think there is something about having faith that means you have to start with being comfortable in your own skin, that way you can listen to and accept those messages.

I remember once, a few years ago, being very concerned and anxious that God be in charge of my life. Suddenly there was this loud voice deep inside my heart, a sort of smiling chuckle and the voice said 'titabeth, I am very much in charge of your life'. My anxiety just went. God Bless.

I wonder why 'God' chooses to speak so directly to some people and totally ignore others. 'God' never spoke to me when I was a devout and unquestioning Christian. 'God' never spoke to my Mother, who faced many trials in her life, with an undimmed faith. She practised her
Christianity with such unselfish humility, was the epitome of thoughtfulness, kindness and charity yet 'God' never uttered a word to her. Now why is that? I'm genuinely interested to know how the 'chosen' ones explain why 'God' singles them out, but effectively ignores so many others of the faithful. By the way, is this the same 'God' who speaks to those charmers of the Westboro Baptist Church?

nom I have no idea why God chooses to speak with me. I am only glad he does and I am able to listen. I was just interested in how others experience this.

I would never call myself a 'chosen one', rather the opposite, the original 'doubting Thomas'. Perhaps God spoke to me because it was the only way He could make me understand. I never said God singled me out.

I've been pondering my answer to your post. I think I've most often felt God's presence as something that's given me a change of heart eg from bitterness to forgiveness, from anxiety to peace. There are one or two times that specific words have come into my head, for example once to turn and give dh a hug when I was feeling full of anger after an argument. I did it and suddenly felt all my anger go. So far it's always been that kind of thing - God helping me out when I'm feeling cross with my family!

Thank you for your responses.

Thanks for starting this thread, gingerdodger, I would say God speaks to me in different ways. My favourite, as a music lover, is when he does it through music lyrics. Yy to checking it, testing it and see that it keeps on coming. I remember the Alpha Course example, when Nicky Gumble ended up reading words of comfort on a huge bilboard!

So far, I haven't heard the type of God voice of the Old Testament, though I would love to! Like Zulubump, I know it's God talking when the words seem to come from left field. For example, I was railing at God - much like Pinocchio, when he wanted Jiminy Cricket to leave him alone, so he could keep on acting badly with impunity - so I told him to go away in no uncertain terms. His response blew me away: "Well, I could do that, but I'd much rather give you a big hug".

When does he talk to the murdered babies, abused children and other innocent victims of this world then?

Or does 'he' just give some people a hug through mind control instead ?

People thinking these things in 2014 - unfathomable.

I consider myself a Christian, but have never had god speak to me in any way. Nor have I felt comfort from god when bad things have happened. I sometimes wonder why I still believe, but I can't help myself...

cheapskate music is a fantastic example. I can think of at least one occasion where the words of a hymn really 'spoke' to me. Coincidence? Yes possibly but it certainly didn't feel like it at the time.

it's curtains I am sorry you don't feel like you have had this experience. Obviously you have something which keeps you routed to your faith. Faith is such an individual experience it's impossible to generalise which is why I was interested in other's experiences.

That 's the point hughmurin, we're not thinking them, we're hearing them.

Perhaps some people who hear him were abused and lived in fear of their lives when they were innocent children.