Reset

Bonnie Sala: May 21, 2011. That's the date one man said the world was going to come to an end. God had told him, or so he claimed. I'm Bonnie Sala, with Reset. Our world is a noisy place, and clearly, not every voice we hear is God's. The Bible itself describes competing voices. In the time of a prophet named Isaiah, there was the voice of the city: chaos, busyness, constant noise.

There was the voice of the temple: the religious voice, which should have carried truth but was sometimes corrupted. And then there was the voice of God: quiet but steady, speaking comfort and direction. Those same voices surround us today. So how do you recognize God's voice? Here are several ways.

First, know that God speaks quietly. Psalm 46 says, "Be still and know that I am God." Stillness—setting down the phone, stepping away from the noise—helps us hear Him. Second, God's voice never contradicts His Word, the Bible. What He says will always align with Scripture. Scripture advises, "Consult God's instruction. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn."

Third, God's voice points back to Him, not you. His direction will bring Him glory, not elevate your ego. And finally, God speaks to deepen relationship. He speaks to guide, comfort, and draw us closer to Himself. Scripture assures us, "Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left."

God still speaks today. The question is, are we quiet enough to listen? I'm Bonnie Sala. Ready to grow your faith? Discover practical tools and more at guidelines.org.