Have you ever felt you know something even though no one has told you, or sensed something about a person or place? When we know Jesus, and/or He is trying to catch our attention these impressions are one of the ways God speaks to us. He frequently speaks through impressions, but we can dismiss them as stray thoughts, feelings or merely coincidences. But when God is speaking to us, He will often “quicken” something, or whisper gently or direct our thoughts to a certain subject, person or event.
It is often quite unexpected that we can hear from God this way, letting us know details of a situation or person when no one else has told us. The Holy Spirits role is to reveal things that are to come, and to lead and direct us. God’s Spirit speaks to our spirit, and then our spirit speaks to our soul – our mind, will and emotions, which is why it often sounds like us talking.
God will influence our feelings, physical senses, and minds to communicate direct supernatural knowledge, which differs from natural intuition.
Jesus said, “I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.” (John 16:12-14)
I often say “I have it on my heart, or I’m feeling and sensing this about a person or particular situation. I’ve learnt my impressions are more often than not God speaking, and if I listened more often I would be far better off, and more effective in what I do.
Jesus knew in His spirit what the religious leaders were thinking in their hearts before they said anything. Often divine impressions are like that; we have an immediate knowing in our spirit and heart. Suddenly we just “know that we know.”
“Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this is what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?” (Mark 2:8)
God speaks to us in these ways all the time, but many people have trained themselves to ignore their impressions, and relegate them to just “feelings”. Possibly because our society gets offended, and does not esteem any knowledge that bypasses the mind. Our proud minds tell us that everything worth knowing must pass through our intellect. However God at times will bypass our intellect to get what He wants to say through to us. The key is to strengthen and tune our spirits to Holy Spirit, by spending time with Him, and reading God’s words in the bible. As we do that our mind and emotions are also strengthened and brought “into line” with what God’s word says, and we are less likely to have our own opinions, fears, prejudices and judgments rise up within us, which can cause us to “hear” incorrectly.
God created us with a spirit, feelings, a mind and a body, and if our motive is to listen and hear from Him and to always build others up, then we are far less likely to get it wrong.
The bible explains “the (Holy) Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16) As we grow more attentive and sensitive to God’s ways of communicating with us we will become more accurate and confident in what we are sensing in our heart or spirit is actually a divine impression and message from God.
I think it is best to learn and be sensitive to these impressions from God is in the little everyday areas of our life. Today practice by asking God for direction and insight into everyday things like; where to park the car, how to solve a problem at work, or home, or while talking with friends and family. Perhaps listen on who to call, visit or help with an act of kindness? Once we start to listen in all the different ways God speaks, its amazing to discover just how much He does desire to lead, guide and share with us everyday.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Jesus said, “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
Prayer: Lord please help me to listen in all the ways you are speaking to me everyday. Help me to strengthen and tune my spirit, emotions and thoughts to you today as I spend time with you and read your word. In Jesus name. Amen
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