Do you have a difficult time distinguishing God’s voice from all the other voices around you? Just as sheep learn to recognize their shepherd’s voice (John 10:3-5), you can learn to hear the Father’s voice. I’ve been emphasizing this all through our Tuned In series because it’s so important! When learning to recognize God’s voice, you have to learn to recognize the real thing vs. the counterfeit. For everything God has, Satan has a counterfeit.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” (1 John 4:1, NIV). How do you know something is from God? As you spend time with Him, you’ll learn the truth so well you can spot a fake right away! You live in a confusing world, with people pulling you in different directions. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (NIV). You have to remember that even people you love can lead you astray. Don’t believe anything that doesn’t line up with the Bible. Jesus is your North Star, and He’ll point you in the right direction!
As you learn to hear God’s voice, remember that you can’t defeat the enemy without Him. If you aren’t listening for His voice, or you have a bad connection, you’re going to miss His promptings. The Holy Spirit gives you discernment in difficult situations, and God’s truth triumphs every time. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Luke 21:33, NIV).
When you have a bad connection and aren’t in relationship with God, how can you become more like Him? You can’t, and you can’t be who you were created to be without God. “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NCV). How do you do you think and act like Jesus? You start by taking authority over yourself, through His power. If you have a bad connection, the problem starts with you. But the good news is, God is ready and waiting for you to reach out to Him, talk to Him, and learn to hear His voice.