Hearing the Spirit

The Spirit speaks to us. Are we listening?...

In a world that dismisses thoughts of the miraculous, the Godly, and the Power of the Spirit... We dismiss what we experience, thereby removing the Godly supernatural in our "explanation" of it. So how do we know when the Spirit is talking to us?

What happens when the Spirit speaks to us, and what do we feel? How do we know? I've come to a couple of conclusions I'd like to share—Compulsion (pressure, need, a force, undeniable) and Gut Feeling.

Compulsion

A few times in my life, I've experienced the Spirit as compulsion—a thought or need that won't leave me alone. A chanting in my head of what to do. Do NOT mistake this for temptation—in fact, temptation is Satan's lying, “twisted truth” of God's voice, giving us an alternate way to fill the gap when we are out of sync with God. There is a difference between the feeling of compulsion when we want to violate our beliefs for something we feel tempted by and the message we are getting to do something proactive for God's kingdom.

So what does this compulsion mean? It's the moment when you feel you HAVE to do something. You feel driven, and there is no logic to follow—just a driving need that you have to fill. One such time for me was helping a homeless person I saw. I saw homeless people often on the streets of Dallas, but this one was different. On compulsion, I reached into my purse, grabbed all my cash, and gave it to him. But God wasn't done with me.

The image of this man burned in my brain. I could not get him out of my thoughts. As I sat on my couch the next day (Saturday), my head kept chanting at me, "Go find him, go find him," over and over. I told myself it was insane; it was stupid for safety reasons. I argued with myself, so to speak. I reached out to see if anyone wanted to go with me (for safety). But in the end, I couldn't ignore it. Against all common sense, I went.

Long story short, against all odds, with the prayers of a friend while I was driving around, I found him again. He and I had multiple interactions because the Lord would not leave me alone about him. However, once I got him a shelter that would accept him and his pet, got someone to give his pet medical care, got him the resources he needed to turn his life around, and a way to get there—the compulsion left as profoundly as it appeared. It was almost a physical whoosh of feeling as it left me.

I tell this story as an example of what it feels like to hear the Spirit’s call. If I wanted peace, I had no choice but to follow. And if you've ever experienced it, you will never forget it. It is still awe-inspiring when I think of it. It was powerful and unbelievable at the same time. It stays with me years later. I've had a few similar experiences over the years.

How do you get this type of experience? Pray, build the relationship with God, and be open. We (I) are no saints. We live as imperfect creatures, and it’s not about piousness. It’s embracing God’s use of us, even in our imperfection and flawed state of being. It’s releasing the reins and letting fly the arrow of God through us in whatever way He sees fit.

Gut Feeling

Another way God’s Spirit leads and speaks to us is through our gut. Yes, truly...

Have you ever had a feeling that something wasn’t right and dismissed it, only to find out later that indeed that situation or person was wrong? It can be the moment when you hear or see something, and your gut (in a quiet voice) churns just a hair, and you think, “There’s something more to this,” but then you dismiss it.

The gut is easier to ignore. That’s the truth. It’s a quieter voice that we can easily dismiss if we aren’t listening—if we are distracted by the demands of our busy world.

Truth moment here—It’s also easy to dismiss if it goes contrary to our desires of the moment.

That gut feeling comes with the microsecond thought that there might be more—something else, something less, something wrong. It’s the gut feeling that has you hesitating. Whether it’s hesitating to take an action you know deep down isn’t the best one to take or the hesitation that comes when you see someone else struggling, and just for a second, you stop with the thought that you could intervene.

Sometimes, we ignore that moment. We justify that there are others there who could step in. We might justify that they got themselves into that mess. It’s too difficult to get across traffic and turn the car around to provide help.

Our gut tells us when we see an injustice or something being done to someone else. It says, “Do something,” or “Take a stand,” and many times, we brush it off. These moments are nudges from the Spirit. It’s our opportunity to live at a deeper level, to understand more, to see more, and to live a more dynamic life. It’s our opportunity to align with God’s purpose in our life in the daily activities and interactions.

These are the moments when the Spirit nudges us to a better path or to be the hands and feet of Christ—to brighten someone’s day or lighten their load. They are the moments where the Spirit is telling us to STAND when no one else will. They are the moments when we can speak up for those with little or no voice.

Yes, there are times for those who have developed and practiced their connection to God where they can hear that still, small voice in those quiet moments. But in our busy, distracted world… it is easier to dismiss it. Like most things, it can take practice.

God does not just speak when we are in our moments of prayer. He is not a convenient God. He’s not waiting for us to have a break in our day to speak with us. Perhaps the most important times to listen are when we are most distracted by the world.

A note here as we close: If someone is dictating to you what is best—perhaps judging you or your choices for your own life and walk with God—do NOT assume they speak through the Spirit.

There’s a fine but crucial line between sharing God’s truth in love and trying to force others into our own perspective out of self-righteousness. The difference lies in whether we resist truth or overlook deeper, more complex realities—what could be called the “untwisted truth”—about others, ourselves, or a situation, versus when we judge or condemn with arrogance. Discernment is often needed to recognize that difference.

“Here I am, Lord.”

Embrace the joy and grace that come with hearing the Spirit. Be open. Look deeper. It’s a never-ending journey, but also an adventure worth taking.

Are we truly listening to the Spirit, or are we letting the noise of the world—or even our own assumptions—drown Him out?