How to Discern God’s Voice
Spiritual Life
Audio By Carbonatix
By Jennifer Waddle, Crosswalk.com
Have you ever convinced yourself to try something new even though you lacked God’s peace? A few years ago, I invested in a marketing program that promised to expand my platform and substantially increase my income. I’d watched others succeed and assumed it was my green light to invest in it as well. It turns out that the program was a distraction from my God-given purpose and was rooted in New Age practices.
My heart sank when I realized I hadn’t discerned the voice of God correctly. It led me to refocus on what it means to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. One passage, in particular, helped me navigate that confusing time: “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:4-5NKJV)
Discerning the voice of the Good Shepherd begins in the pasture of God’s presence. Away from competing voices and our own convincing ideas, we can receive the truth of the Holy Spirit without distraction. But it takes intentionality to pause, seek, and wait on the Lord.
If you need God’s guidance, here are a few ways to discern the voice of Jesus, your Good and Faithful Shepherd.
You Will Have True Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
There’s a difference between Godly peace and worldly bliss. The latter is a temporal feeling subject to change at any moment. Wise discernment, however, comes from God’s Spirit within, providing a “knowing” that aligns with His character, and more importantly, His Word.
Whenever doubt or fear arises, you have the authority, in Jesus’ name, to cast them away. Remember John 10:10, which says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The fullness Jesus speaks of indicates completeness. In Him, we are complete, whole, and fulfilled. Chasing after temporary pleasures will leave us feeling empty and longing for more. Living from a place of true peace allows us to discern what is good.
If you’re facing a big decision and lack God’s peace, pray against all doubt and partner with truth. Declare aloud, “My peace is in Christ alone!” Then, move forward in the perfect peace God provides. Things might not happen according to your timeline, but you can trust the Lord to work all things out according to His will.
You’ll Follow Wisdom over Knowledge
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.” (Proverbs 4:6)
Head knowledge is beneficial for practical things such as paying bills and writing coherent emails. But Godly wisdom is far greater than any form of human intelligence. It is actually woven into God’s divine character, as Proverbs 8:22-23 says, “The Lord created and possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old [were accomplished]. From everlasting I was established and ordained, from the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed].” (AMP)
Without the guidance of wisdom, we often default to our limited understanding, and in many cases, we make decisions based on these limitations. James 1:5-8 is clear: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
If you’ve been doubtful and second-guessing yourself, you know what it’s like to be “blown and tossed by the wind.” This state of mind can cause us to feel paralyzed in decision-making, unsure of our next steps.
Wisdom from above, however, is first “pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17 NKJV) What a beautiful description of Godly wisdom! Whenever our thoughts stray from these principles, we can recalibrate and partner with wisdom once again. The Good Shepherd’s voice will always align with His Word, and His way will always be led by heavenly wisdom over worldly knowledge.
You Will Remain on the Narrow Way
The example I shared at the beginning of this post exemplifies what it means to be misled on our faith journey. For me, it started as a “harmless” curiosity about a new business venture, but it turned into a disheartening waste of time, talent, and resources.
When people are misguided by earthly distractions, the enemy’s number one goal is to veer them from the narrow way. Anything that points away from God and the Bible is probably something to be avoided.
Trusted direction from the Good Shepherd always leads us to the pasture of His presence, where we are free to pray, worship, and fellowship with Him. His path is narrow but filled with light. It always points true north, towards our heavenly home. All other paths eventually dead-end, leaving us wondering where we got off track.
As the familiar Proverb says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) This passage is quoted frequently, but upon closer examination of its depth, our entire perspective shifts.
1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
This issue extends far deeper than surface-level concerns. It includes relying on God with our whole being, trusting Him to come through even when we cannot see the outcome.
2. “Lean not on your own understanding.”
Our own understanding usually includes self-centered thoughts and a “me first” mentality. God’s wisdom, however, is Christ-centered and Kingdom-oriented.
3. “In all your ways submit to Him.”
It’s easy to submit partially to God. But when we lay down every idea, plan, and longing, that’s when our ears are truly opened to God’s direction. We trust that He knows best, and we’re willing to pivot if necessary.
Discerning the voice of the Good Shepherd gets easier the more time we spend with Him. When we’re familiar with His Word and the nature of His character, we’re able to rightly divide the Word of truth and make decisions from a place of wisdom. True peace comes when we look to Jesus instead of the world, and the narrow way becomes a sure path, eventually leading us home.
More Resources for Your Journey:
Keeping My Eyes on the Good Shepherd
The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want (Lessons from Psalms 23)
My Sheep Hear My Voice
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Biegun Wschodni
Jennifer Waddle is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth.
