10 Amazing Ways God Speaks to Us Today!

Have you ever wondered how we can hear God speak?

I’ve often read stories in the Old Testament and have been a little bit jealous that God spoke audibly to people like Moses and Elijah.

I feel like it would be so much easier if I could hear God just as easily as I can hear my husband or my kids.

Wouldn’t you agree?

And yet the truth I am discovering is that God is always speaking to us.

It’s just that I’m often too busy to listen. Or too distracted to pay attention.

But as I slow down and spend time with Him, I’m finding it becomes a lot easier to hear Him.

What are the ways God speaks to us?

Here are 10 ways that God can speak to us.

• The Bible.
• Music.
• Other Christians.
• Sermons.
• Dreams.
• Nature.
• A Sense of Peace.
• Open & Closed Doors.
• His Still, Small Voice.
• Repetition.

Let’s dig into these a little more so we can learn how God may be trying to get us to listen and pay attention to Him.

1) God Speaks to Us Through . . . The Bible.

You may wonder how does God speak to us through the Bible?

Well, have you ever read the Bible and it seemed like a verse just leaped off the page at you? Have you ever been in God’s Word and had a thought about what you just read that you know was not your own?

Then you have heard God speaking through Scripture to you!

The Bible is God’s written word to us. Every part of it is useful for teaching, correcting, training, etc. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

So, when you sit down to read Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read. While He doesn’t give us a good word every time, God does often speak to us as we read the Bible.

And when He does speak, we need to listen!

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

-Romans 10:17 NKJV

2) God Speaks to Us Through . . . Music.

There have been many times in my life when I was going through something difficult and suddenly the perfect song came on.

A song that brought me comfort. And spoke the exact words of encouragement I needed to hear.

And if you think about it, the psalms in the Bible are written songs. They were intended to be sung. And the Bible is God’s Word to us.

So, it makes sense that He still speaks to us through songs.

3) God Speaks to Us Through . . . other Christians.

Many times, God uses other people to speak to us.

He created us for community. Because we can help each other develop and grow.

By seeking the wisdom and guidance of other mature believers, we can gain insights we may otherwise miss.

It can be hard to see the truth about ourselves.

Which is why God sometimes uses other people to show us the things we don’t want to see. Or to warn us about the destructive path we are about to head down.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

-Proverbs 27:17 NLT

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted . . .”

-Proverbs 27:6 NIV

4) God Speaks to Us Through . . . Sermons.

Sometimes while sitting in church, it feels like the pastor is speaking directly to me. And it’s in these moments, that I know it’s really God speaking to me.

The pastor may be sharing something I find convicting. And I realize God is trying to point out a sin in my life I need to get rid of.

Or something I need to do.

The pastor may share an encouraging message that God uses to soothe my weary heart. And give me the strength to keep going.

No matter what it is, when what the person on stage is saying really hits home . . . I know that God is speaking.

And I need to pay attention.

5) God Speaks to Us Through . . . Dreams.

The Bible is full of examples of God showing up in dreams to guide and direct people. While it isn’t a common occurrence, God can speak to us through our subconscious.

It may be through a recurring dream. Or just a dream that you know is from God.

And how do you know if a dream is from God?

Well, there are some things you can look for.

• Does the dream contain something supernatural? That you wouldn’t have known on your own?
• Is the message in the dream a part of an ongoing conversation you are having with God? Think about what you have been learning—and praying about.
• Did the dream contain divine wisdom?
• Is the message in your dream being repeated in other areas? Like sermons you’ve listened to? Or in conversations you’ve had with other mature believers?

If you can say yes to any of these things, then you may have had a God dream.

6) God Speaks to Us Through . . . Nature.

Jesus said that if we keep quiet, even the rocks would cry out and declare his glory. (Luke 19:40)

While He didn’t mean the rocks would literally cry out, God does use nature to display His divine attributes. (Romans 1:20)

The vast array of different plants and animals show off His beauty and creativity.

The mountains declare His strength. The oceans display His power.

The playful animals reveal His joy and laughter. And a mother animal tenderly caring for her young demonstrates God’s own endearing love for us.

When we spend time in nature, we can hear God speak through His creation.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

-Romans 1:20 NIV

7) God Speaks to Us Through . . . A Sense of Peace.

Sometimes when we ask God for direction, He doesn’t tell us exactly where to go . . . but instead He gives us a sense of peace.

This sense of peace helps us, especially in a season of waiting.

And if we ever start to feel uneasy, it may be a sign that we should get on our knees . . . and ask God what to do next.

8) God Speaks to Us Through . . . Open & Closed Doors.

God can speak to us through the opportunities He opens for us. And the ones He takes away.

This is how God guides us and shows us the paths He wants us to take.

God loves us dearly. And He knows what is best for us.

While it may be hard to watch a door close, especially if it is something we really want. We can trust that if He is closing it then He has a good reason for doing so.

And He will open up another one in His perfect timing.

9) God Speaks to Us Through . . . His Still, Small Voice.

In 1 Kings 19 Elijah describes God as a “still, small voice”.

And while we don’t usually hear God audibly (although He can do anything He wants to do) God does often speak to us in our minds through ideas and thoughts that are clearly not our own.

His voice is loving and kind. And many times, it is followed by a sense of urgency.

God’s still, small voice is a way God speaks to our hearts and minds.

However, we have to keep in mind that our flesh and the devil would love to lead us astray.

So always remember:

• God’s voice will never tell you to do something that goes against Scripture.
• And God’s voice is not harsh or condemning. But rather loving and encouraging.

10) God Speaks to Us Through . . . Repetition.

One of the easiest ways for us to know God is speaking to us is when we hear the same thing in multiple places.

For example, we may hear something in a sermon. Then we read it in a devotional. Then we hear it in a song on the radio. And then a good friend calls and . . . well, you get the picture.

When you hear the same message in multiple ways, it’s a sure sign that God is trying to get your attention.

So, listen up!

How to Know When God Speaks to Us

So how do we know when God speaks to us? How can we be sure it is His voice and not someone else’s?

We can look for clues like:

• Does what we hear line up with Scripture?
• And does what we hear line up with God’s character?

But what really helps us to know when God is speaking to us is simply spending time with Him.

As you get to know someone intimately, it becomes easier to hear their voice.

I could be in a crowd of hundreds of people, and yet above all that noise I would still be able to hear if one of my children yelled, “MOM!”

Because I know my children. And they know me.

In the same way, as we get to know God more and more, it will become easier and easier to hear His voice when He speaks.

If you found this encouraging, then please share!

And be sure to check out these inspiring reads as well:

• 13 Amazing Ways the Power of the Holy Spirit Works in YOU!
• 10 Fabulous Ways to Pray to Strengthen Your Prayer Life
• 10 Powerful Ways God Heals Us