What Do We Mean When We Say “God Speaks”?

When some people hear statements like “The Lord told me” or “God said,” red flags pop up and theological alarms go off in their minds. We understand that whenever we talk about God speaking, this language means different things to various groups of people. Some faithful followers of Jesus believe God speaks only through the clear teaching of the Bible. In their theological framework, God stopped communicating in other ways once the Bible was completed and we had this revelation in our hands. Their understanding of the Latin term sola scriptura is that the Bible is not only the supreme authority for all matters of doctrine and practice but also the only way God speaks today.

Other committed Christians believe God still speaks in a variety of ways. Jim Samra, a pastor, teacher, and theologian, wrote a book that presents God speaking to His children in many, various ways. The title of the book says it all: God Told Me: Who to Marry, Where to Work, Which Car to Buy... and I’m Pretty Sure I’m Not Crazy. Not only is that a mouthful, but it also reflects a specific theological position that says God still speaks today in many ways.

I believe the Bible is the final and absolute authority for all we believe and do. We measure everything by God’s Word because it is absolutely true from beginning to end.

If we ever have a sense that God is speaking to us, and what we hear is contrary to the teaching of the Bible, we are not hearing from God.

The Holy Spirit will never speak, lead, or direct in a way that is contrary to the teaching of the Bible.

At the same time, I believe God speaks in a variety of ways that affirm and fit consistently with His Word. In the Old and New Testaments we see God speaking in many ways to His people, and I see no biblical evidence that God now limits Himself to only one form of communication. What we must learn is to use the Bible as our measuring rod for all other times we believe God is speaking. As Christians we do not change our beliefs based on personal experience. Instead, we shape our lives to the clear teaching of the Bible.

God Is Speaking

I discovered this truth in a new way when I learned I would need a major surgery. At the time, I was training for a 25k run and my doctor said I would have to skip the race because he needed to perform surgery on me around the same time as the race. I love to run and had been training for six months, so I was very disappointed. The race was only a few weeks away, and I would have to miss it.

My youngest son, Nate, sensed my disappointment, so he made me an offer. He was only ten years old, but he challenged me to do the race on my own the weekend before my surgery. “Mom, you can do the race, and I will ride next to you on my bike.” Somehow, one of the race organizers got wind of my “pre-race” race and my upcoming surgery and told the local paper my story. The next thing I knew, the Grand Rapids Press was interviewing my son and me and sharing my story to inspire other runners.

As I was preparing for my personal version of the “River Bank Run,” I was also preparing for my surgery, so I prayed a lot as I ran. I am not a big fan of surgery, but who is? I had been through other surgeries and always seemed to have a difficult time coming out from under the anesthetic.

During the weeks prior to learning of my need for surgery, a particular psalm had often been on my mind. I believe the Holy Spirit kept putting Psalm 27, particularly the first verse of this psalm, on my heart as I found myself reading it and meditating on it as I ran. I love the whole psalm, but the first verse stuck with me:

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? — Psalm 27:1

Through these powerful words of Scripture, God was breathing hope and confidence into my heart.

• I listened to the voice of God through His Holy Word and knew He was speaking to me.

As I continued training, now for my pre-race experience, my eyes were open to the glory of God’s creation and the greatness of His majesty in the trees, the sky, and the landscape all around me as I ran. God revealed Himself through the intricacies and expansiveness of His world. Again, I knew He was speaking and my confidence rose. It was springtime in Michigan, and as God was bringing the earth back to life after the harsh winter snows, it reminded me that He could certainly heal me and bring me back to full health after the surgery.

As I whispered my fears and frustrations to God about my upcoming surgery, I could hear the Holy Spirit whisper back, “I am with you. I have created you. I will never leave you or forsake you. You are my beloved daughter.” Over and over, the simple truths I had learned from the time I was a little girl and all through my adult life came flooding back into my heart and soul. God was speaking again, reminding me of what I knew to be true.

In addition to all of this, God began to speak through my circumstances. People who had read the article in the newspaper shared words of encouragement with me. God used that article and my upcoming surgery to inspire others who were moved to pray for me, speak words of blessing, and cheer me on. God used my surgery and suffering as a witness to people that God is near and cares about each one of us.

The night before my surgery, my subsided fears seemed to rear their ugly head again. I remember praying to God, asking Him to comfort me once again, and God spoke in a sweet and humorous way. My son Nate, who had encouraged me to run the race on my own, decided to motivate me yet again. He knew I was nervous about undergoing anesthesia and was anticipating a rough recovery time. He also knew I was worried that I would get up in the middle of the night and absentmindedly take a drink of water, which was forbidden before surgery. So, with tender care while I was sleeping, Nate tried to encourage me to finish a different kind of race.

I woke up in the middle of the night as I had expected, but as I got out of bed, I felt a piece of paper under my foot. Nate had placed it on the ground next to my bed, knowing I would find it there.

As I read the note, I was staggered by God’s goodness, speaking yet again to me through my son’s encouragement.

On the top of the sheet of paper Nate had written in large letters,

Psalm 27 Verse 1
The Lord is my light and salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Mom, Remember when you’re out of surgery I will be praying for you. God will be with you. I love you, from Nate.

I had never mentioned Psalm 27 to any of my boys. Yet here was Nate, quoting Psalm 27 to me—the very same Scripture I had felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to read and reflect upon. I believe the Spirit of the Living God was speaking through my son. Right there, in his ten-year-old handwriting, were the very same words God was speaking to me through Scripture to reassure me of His presence and power.

As I entered the bathroom, overwhelmed with God’s goodness to me, I found another note taped to the faucet: “Don’t drink!” My son had thought of everything. And when I reached to lift the cover of the toilet seat, there was one more little note: “Don’t even think about it!” I laughed. God was not only speaking to me through my son but also easing my worry through Nate’s sense of humor.

Excerpted with permission from Organic Prayer by Sherry Harney with Kevin G. Harney, copyright Sherry Harney and Kevin Harney. 

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Your Turn

God’s Word is our source of truth. Remember that the Holy Spirit will never speak, lead, or direct in a way that is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. But, God does speak in many ways! Let’s listen up! ~ Devotionals Daily