Knowing His Voice
Knowing the voice of God is not a privilege for a select few but a vital part of Christian life. Knowing His voice means walking the path of obedience, peace, and maturity in the Messiah. Scripture shows how God speaks to His children and leads them, while we learn to distinguish the Shepherd’s voice from many others. From the very beginning of faith we see a call that changes a person’s destiny: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1).
Abraham did not possess the Scriptures as we have them today, yet he heard and obeyed. Obedience begins where we are certain who it is that speaks to us. The Bible is God’s guide for life, but knowledge alone is not enough; we need an inner capacity to discern God’s voice and respond in faith. God never speaks against His Word. Wherever something contradicts Scripture—no matter how persuasive the “signs” or “inspirations” may seem—it is not the voice of God. As Jesus said about the enemy, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
The Gospel clearly defines the mark of belonging to Christ: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). The Shepherd’s voice is recognizable, and obedience becomes the natural fruit of this attentiveness. Jesus also promises the unity of His people on this very basis: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16). Our responsibility, then, is not to confuse God’s voice with the voices of emotion, circumstance, or cultural pressure.
The temptation in the wilderness shows that the enemy can cite Scripture while twisting its meaning. Jesus answers with what is written. The foundation of discernment is abiding in the Word and understanding it rightly. The true voice of the Lord brings life, not despair: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). When our hearts are troubled by sickness or hopelessness, we take our stand on God’s promise: “By his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5); “By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).
The way of discernment is inseparable from humility. God does not demean us; He calls us to willing submission because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6). He forms resilience in us before temptation: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7). Prayer, fasting, meditation on the Word, and living fellowship with the Church shape this inner life. When the voices blur together, fasting and prayer help “turn down the noise” so the Shepherd’s whisper can be heard more clearly.
God speaks quietly, yet with authority. He knocks and waits for the response of faith: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20). This is an invitation to closeness, a shared table of friendship with the Lord. He confirms His word, strengthening us along the way, just as He repeatedly confirmed His promise to Abraham. When we seek not the endorsement of our own plans but the will of the Father, He faithfully instructs and establishes us.
One of the most common obstacles to hearing is hurry. Hurry fragments attention and muffles the Spirit’s finest promptings. It is wise to set apart quiet hours for the Lord, to retune the “receiver” of the heart to the wavelength of heaven. Yet it is not only about time; it is about posture. Desire to hear precedes faith, and faith grows from hearing the Word. As we nurture our inner life through prayer, reflection, and faithful hearing of the gospel, our spirit is strengthened and our ear becomes more attentive to the Lord.
The Lord teaches and corrects, but always provides a way forward and a living hope. He does not say, “You are sick, you are poor, everything will collapse” because that is not His voice and not the fruit of Calvary. On the contrary, Scripture affirms: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He leads us to repentance not for condemnation but for healing and restoration. When we fail in word or deed, the path is clear: to confess, receive forgiveness, and tune our hearts again to His voice.
Obedience grows from recognition. It is hard to obey someone you do not know, but when the Shepherd’s voice is clear, our steps grow steady. God faithfully confirms what He has spoken through Scripture, inner witness, brothers and sisters, and providence. This is vital in these last days, when many voices, including religious ones, pull in different directions. The compass has not changed: the Shepherd’s voice never contradicts His Word.
To know God’s voice is to guard the heart from hurry, abide in Scripture, humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, and seek His face daily. This knowledge shapes our decisions from vocation to family and protects us from deception. The most obedient people are those who deliberately train themselves to recognize His voice. Then trials cease to be dead ends and become tasks for which God grants wisdom and grace, and life bears fruit to the glory of God.
In the end the way is simple and exalted at once: in a world of competing sounds, we choose the Shepherd. We listen and follow, and He knows us and keeps us. On this road there is the promise of closeness and life to the full, light for today’s step and assurance for tomorrow. The Lord faithfully leads those who discern His voice and answer with obedience.
Pastor Oren Lev Ari