For he will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears...
John 16:13c
As I write this devotional in 2025, I am celebrating my 25th anniversary with my wife, Aida. Being married for such a long time has given me a deep understanding of her. I know her voice, tone, intonations, and even the specific words she often uses. Sometimes, I can almost hear her in my head, even if she isn't calling me. Do any husbands out there relate to this? This level of familiarity can also be applied to our relationship with God.
Have you ever wondered if you're hearing from God or just making things up? Maybe you felt a nudge to call someone, only to discover they were having a terrible day and needed encouragement. Or perhaps you felt drawn to a specific Bible verse that perfectly addressed your situation. Then again, maybe you've had thoughts you thought were from God that led nowhere or contradicted what you knew was right.
Figuring out whether a voice in your head is God's Spirit, your thoughts, or something else can be confusing. Your mind is a busy place filled with your ideas, worries, and wishes. Sometimes cultural messages sneak in disguised as spiritual insights. Other times, your desires dress up as divine direction because that's what you want to hear. How can you tell the difference?
Jesus gave you a powerful clue when He said the Holy Spirit "will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears." This is crucial to the Holy Spirit's voice—perfectly aligned with God the Father and Jesus the Son. The Spirit doesn't run a separate operation with different messages. He doesn't contradict what God has already said. Instead, He faithfully delivers what He "hears" from the Father and Son.
Think of the Holy Spirit as God's faithful messenger who never mixes up the message. Unlike people who might forget details, add their opinions, or misunderstand instructions, the Spirit delivers God's truth accurately. When you hear the Spirit's voice, you hear God's heart communicate flawlessly. This is why Jesus could promise His disciples that the Spirit would teach them "all things" and "remind you of everything I have said to you."
The Spirit's voice will never contradict what God has revealed in Scripture. This is your most reliable test when trying to discern if what you're hearing is from God. If a thought or feeling pushes you toward something the Bible identifies as wrong, that's not the Holy Spirit speaking. God will never tell you to sin. God doesn't tell you one thing in His Word and then whisper exceptions in your ear. The Spirit who inspired Scripture won't contradict it in your daily life.
Beyond consistency with the Bible, the Holy Spirit's voice always reflects God's character. When the Spirit speaks, you'll hear echoes of God's love, holiness, grace, truth, and wisdom. If what you hear promotes pride rather than humility, division rather than unity, or hatred rather than love, it's not from the Spirit who speaks only what He hears from God. Anything that contradicts Jesus's character revealed in the Gospels isn't coming from His Spirit.
Many Christians learn to recognize the Spirit's voice through a lifelong journey of trial and error. You might think of it like learning to recognize a friend's texting style. At first, you might confuse their messages with someone else's. But you realize their distinct patterns, phrases, and tone over time. Similarly, as you walk with God year after year, you get better at distinguishing His voice from the many other voices competing for your attention.
The Holy Spirit speaks in ways that bring clarity rather than confusion. Scripture tells us "God is not a God of disorder" and the Spirit's guidance reflects this reality. While you might not understand where God is leading you, the steps He's asking you to take today will be clear. If you feel overwhelmed by chaotic, conflicting thoughts that leave you paralyzed with uncertainty, that's usually not how the Spirit communicates.
Recognizing the Spirit's voice becomes easier when you spend regular time in God's Word. The more familiar you become with how God speaks in Scripture, the more quickly you'll recognize His voice in your daily life. It's like spending lots of time with a close friend—eventually, you can identify them by just a few words or even the sound of their footsteps. Your spiritual ears become tuned to God's wavelength through consistent exposure to His voice in the Bible.
Godseekers, take comfort in knowing the Holy Spirit always speaks in harmony with God's revealed truth. When uncertain whether you hear from God, compare what you hear with Scripture. Look for confirmation through wise Christian friends who know the Bible well. Pay attention to the peace or unease you feel—the Spirit often confirms His guidance with "the peace that passes understanding." God wants you to recognize His voice even more than you want to hear it, so trust that He'll make His guidance clear to your seeking heart.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, I want to recognize Your voice above all the other voices in my life. Help me learn the difference between Your guidance and my thoughts or outside influences. Teach me to test everything against Your Word and Jesus's character. Thank You for speaking only about what You hear from the Father. I can trust that Your guidance is always trustworthy. Give me wisdom to recognize when You're directing me and courage to follow where You lead. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- When did you feel confident that you heard God's voice guiding you? How did you know it was Him and not just your thoughts?
- What voices or influences in your life might sometimes drown out or be confused with the Holy Spirit's guidance?
Step of Faith
Today, I will set aside 15 minutes of quiet time to listen for the Holy Spirit's voice. I'll have my Bible open and my phone silenced, and I will ask God to speak to me about a decision or situation where I need guidance.
