Can someone really hear God's voice?

Question

Our preacher talks about how God has literally spoken to him. I've heard many other religious speakers talk about hearing God's voice when they confessed their faith and became a Christian. Has anyone really heard God's voice, and why can I never seem to hear God's voice? Does this mean I haven't truly become a Christian? Have you heard God's voice, and, if so, what did He sound like and what He say? No jokes, please. This is an honest question. No sarcasm in the answers.

Answer 1

The Bible is filled with people who heard God's voice. However I would add that I am a Christian of 37 years, and my general opinion is that much of what passes for "God's voice" is wishful thinking and often an inflated imagination.
We can be sure we are hearing God when we read His Word to us , the Scriptures, and especially the words of the New Testament with a humble, submissive and believing heart.
Jesus said: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
Most of God's communication to us directly is without words, through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in all true believers.
It all begins when you have been born again, according to John's Gospel, Chapter 3.

Answer 2

God speaks in many different ways and each person probably hears Him in a different way. For me, God gives me nudges in the right direction or plants ideas in my head. That voice that some might call a concience, that's God for me.

Getting to the point where you can hear God takes time and effort. The more time you spend with Him, the more familiar you get with His voice. You can probably pick out your mother's voice from 1,000 other because you have spent to much time with her. The same is true for the voice of God.

God tells me many different things, depending on what I need. Sometimes, He tells me how other people feel and why so I can help them. He gives me the desire to go over and pray with someone or pray about something even though I don't know the situation. Other times He answers my questions. An example of this is when one of my friends (A) was offended by something another friend (B) had said to her. A thought that B was implying something that she was not, but B would not say why she felt that way. While I was praying, God gave the the discernment to see that B got the wrong idea because of a comment A had made about spiritual gifts. That's just one example of how He talks to me.

You are not unsaved because you have a hard time hearing God's voice. I bet God does speak to you, but you just haven't recognized it as God yet. Spend more time with God in a quiet place, just you and Him. In prayer, don't do all the talking, allow some time for God to speak, too, and you will become more accustomed to how He speaks to you.

Email me if you want to talk more!

Answer 3

"If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." God still performs miracles, but it is not His Will to heal EVERYONE. What would that accomplish? How would that strengthen their character? My mother is currently dying of a 20-year struggle with a severe form of MS. Her body is shutting down. I have been praying for years now that if it be in God's Will to heal her, that He would do so. The end of her life is now imminent, and I have accepted that it is not God's Will to heal her at this time. But my mother's body is so far gone, if He were to heal her, He would have to give her a completely new body - make her into her youthful self again. But why do that now, when she will be resurrected back to life in that very same youthful body when Christ returns soon anyway? It would be an unnecessary healing. I have just learned to trust God, no matter what, especially since I can't see the future, and I lack His wisdom. Let His Will be done, not mine.

Answer 4

I cannot honestly say that I have "literally" heard an audible voice, but I can say that I have heard from God. He speaks directly to our heart, through His Spirit, through His Word and through other people and circumstances. I have learned over the years that we cannot hear from Him if we are too busy doing something or even too busy talking to Him, without taking time to listen. Granted you have to be very careful that it is not someone/something else to that is speaking masquerading as God. I know that God is speaking to my heart, when it does not contradict His word. There have been times that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has placed certain people on my heart to pray for without knowing why- and have found out that when I was praying they were going through a rough time. Continue to ask Him to speak, and then take the time to listen- I also think some people say that they don't hear from God because if they did, they would have to obey- so what I have learned- if I want to truly be close to God, I must listen and obey- they go together.

Answer 5

Most that say this are usually implying that they are being MOVED or INSPIRED by god with the use of emotions or signs within their lives.

Most people now a days that CLAIM they hear the literal VOICE of god, are usually dismissed as crazies or lunatics.

Though there have been some scientific research into what is called the 'god center of the brain' within the temporal lobe. Some people with 'physical damage' to this area say that they do 'hear voices' and 'see visions'.

In whatever the case, it usually depends WHAT is being SAID and what they are DOING with such information. If someone is going 'GOOD' with such information, then it is a GOOD thing, but if they are using such information to hurt others or demean others, then its usually a BAD thing.

What brings EVERYONE together in the ONEness of the SPIRIT is OF THE SPIRIT, that which SEPARATES from that ONEness to elevate some people or demean others IS NOT OF THE SPIRIT.

Answer 6

The bible states that God audibly spoke to people at various times to communicate his will - Adam, Cain, Noah and Abram were noted of hearing God's voice. Then others, Moses, prophets, etc. God had people write down what he said by the leading of His spirit and it became what we know today as the Bible.

God still speaks to people as he chooses but primarily if you want to hear from God - read the Bible and structure how you think and behave around that. This helps you to grow as a Christian. If God ever did speak to you audibly - it wouldn't contradict what the Bible says. Example: God wouldn't tell you to murder or steal from someone because his word says that's sin.

In reference to being a Christian the only real response is; do you have a convicted belief in Jesus and his redemptive work on the Cross? - if so then the Bible says your a Christian

As Christians we believe that God created the human body, soul and spirit - why would it be so hard for God to speak audibly to someone? - it's not any different than His ability to heal someone - he created cells, gravity, light, DNA, etc. He would certainly know how to communicate with you in a way you can understand

Finally, he also gave us a brain so we can function as a person instead of a robot - if he constantly had to tell us what to do, we really wouldn't be any different than a computer.

Answer 7

I used to work on a psychiatric unit, many of our ill patients would hear God speaking to them. They were very definite about this. This should tell you something.

I do not think people hear God's voice today. But it sounds very spiritual and mysterious and that's what intrigues people. I do not believe God would just pick out certain special better behaved christians to talk to. He would either speak to all or none. When He spoke to individuals in the Old Testament it was very clear , they didn't have to strain or wonder how to hear from Him, "practice" hearing from Him and so on. We seem to be under a different convenant now.

Answer 8

This is a very valid question. First, I would like to tell you that all Christians struggle with this at some point. I hear God talk to me. It isn't about how His voice sounds. He talks to us through our conscious. When your conscious tells you that you shouldn't do something, that is God talking to you. Also, I don't know if you have ever had someone tell you about quiet time with God or not but this is a very valuable tool to help you to learn how to hear from God. Another resource is to talk to your preacher about how he hears from God. There is a good book by Joyce Meyer that you can read as well, it is called How to Hear From God. I hope this helps you.

Answer 9

I have heard a voice speaking to me (once) and I am pretty old. It was male. He said "Get the house ready to sell." We were very glad that we sold the house and moved out of state. We lived in Louisiana and it was a year before hurricane Katrina. Also there are other reasons I am happy we obeyed the voice.
Was it God? I had just finished reading a chapter in the Bible when I heard the voice. I am sure it was God or one of his messengers.

I come from a large family and one of my sisters said she also had a voice (once) speak to her and tell her to "move away from the window" she was sitting in front of. She never knew why and thought there might have been someone outside with bad intentions. Her husband had just driven away.
Most Christians never hear a voice. I am sure God loves you very much.

Answer 10

Some people have really truely heard Gods voice. mostly people just feel Gods will, and they know what they should do.
You can be a good christian without hearing Him talking to you they way you can talk to your friends.
I think what your preachers mean when they say the heard Gods voice is that one day they felt a strong urge to become a christian, and felt it was right when it happened.