Hearing God’s Voice: How God Speaks And How We Test If It’s Him

Eric Bloom   -   August 3, 2025

In John 10:27 (ESV), Jesus says,

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

For over 20 years, I’ve wrestled with this verse.
How do I know it’s You speaking—rather than my own thoughts and desires?
How can I be sure I’m not hearing Satan, disguised as You?

Can you relate?

As believers, we are called to recognize our Shepherd’s voice—to distinguish the Father’s words above all others and discern the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But let’s be honest: it’s not always as easy as it sounds, even on our best days.

We see again and again in Scripture that God speaks to people. And deep down, many of us long for more of that in our own lives. The good news? God wants us to grow in our confidence that He speaks—and that we can recognize His voice.

So the question is… How?

How can we become more aware of God speaking to us?
How can we grow in confidence that it’s really Him—and not just our own thoughts, the enemy, or last night’s dinner?

Ways God Speaks

God doesn’t limit Himself to one method of communication. Throughout Scripture—and still today—He speaks in many different ways:

How Can I Know If I’m Hearing God?

Not every voice or message is from God. That’s why discernment is critical. Scripture calls us to:

“Test all things.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19–22
“Do not believe every spirit.” – 1 John 4:1

Below are four key tests, adapted from Alan Kraft’s book More: When a Little Bit of the Spirit Is Not Enough, to help you discern whether something you’re sensing or hearing might be from God:

1. Scripture Test

Does what I’m hearing align with Scripture?
If the answer is no, then we can be confident it is not from God.
God will never speak in a way that contradicts His written Word.

2. Tone Test

Does what I’m hearing reflect God’s heart and character?

  • God’s voice is loving, hope-filled, and full of authority.
  • Satan’s voice is harsh, condemning, and forceful.

Even when God speaks hard truths, His tone is marked by grace and hope.

3. Resonance Test

Is there a pattern? Is there confirmation? Does something feel significant?

  • Does it keep coming up?
  • Are other people or sources confirming the same thing?
  • Is there a sense of peace or weight that lingers?

4. Fruit Test

What kind of fruit does it produce?
Does it bring:

  • Encouragement
  • Strength
  • Comfort
  • Clarity in an area where God wants your attention
  • Evidence of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)

If what you’re sensing passes these tests, and you feel faith rising in your heart that it’s from God, take the next step.
Move forward in faith. Do what was said—or believe what was spoken—while trusting God to continue leading and confirming.

Final Thought

Hearing God’s voice is not reserved for a select few.
It’s meant to be a normal part of our everyday relationship with Him.

Sometimes we miss His whisper because we’re expecting Him to speak in one specific way, while ignoring the rest. But God chooses the method—our role is to ask for His help to listen, learn how to tune in, and test what we hear, both in private prayer and in community.

If you’d like to go deeper in learning to hear God’s voice—for yourself and for others—I highly recommend Alan Kraft’s book, More: When a Little Bit of the Spirit Is Not Enough.