Got Questions?
Do Feelings Take the Lead When it Comes to Hearing God’s Voice?
At New Day, we honor the place that feelings and emotions hold. We teach things like “Emotions are good signalers, but poor leaders.” However, do feelings lead when it comes to hearing God’s voice? This reasonable question stems from the observation that when we share about what we heard God say, it is common to phrase it as though our emotions decided whether we heard God’s voice or not. It might sound like, “I feel God is saying such and such.”
What an excellent question to parse out. Firstly, when God speaks to us, it would be more accurate to say, “I am sensing in my spirit that God is saying such and such,” as our spirit is the part of us that is in purest connection with God’s Spirit.
“But the person who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit with him” (1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT).
In addition to our spirit receiving God’s voice, our emotions will also be impacted by his message, as will our minds and bodies. It is important to note that our emotions are not the singular platform he speaks to. All parts of our being are impacted by his message.
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV).
When listening to God’s voice, be free to notice emotions as the signalers they are. Feelings of peace or joy may come after receiving a word from God. Fear or conviction may be the resulting emotion. Feeling confused is common if we are unsure about the meaning of what we heard. Ultimately, though, it will not be our emotions that make the call if it truly was God’s voice or not. The determining factor will be if the words we received align with the broad message of Scripture and are affirmed by other believers who are well-practiced in hearing God’s voice.
It is important to note that this is not something to become legalistic about. If someone says, “I feel God is saying such and such,” that is okay. We know their emotions have been impacted in the heavenly transaction and they are sharing from that place. Also, they may begin with “I feel” in order to frame their word tentatively as opposed to something fixed like, “thus sayeth the Lord.” Whatever the reason, it is good and helpful to understand a fuller picture of the role emotions hold in the context of hearing God’s voice.
Do Feelings Take the Lead When it Comes to Hearing God’s Voice?
At New Day, we honor the place that feelings and emotions hold. We teach things like “Emotions are good signalers, but poor leaders.” However, do feelings lead when it comes to hearing God’s voice? This reasonable question stems from the observation that when we share about what we heard God say, it is common to phrase it as though our emotions decided whether we heard God’s voice or not. It might sound like, “I feel God is saying such and such.”
What an excellent question to parse out. Firstly, when God speaks to us, it would be more accurate to say, “I am sensing in my spirit that God is saying such and such,” as our spirit is the part of us that is in purest connection with God’s Spirit.
“But the person who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit with him” (1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT).
In addition to our spirit receiving God’s voice, our emotions will also be impacted by his message, as will our minds and bodies. It is important to note that our emotions are not the singular platform he speaks to. All parts of our being are impacted by his message.
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV).
When listening to God’s voice, be free to notice emotions as the signalers they are. Feelings of peace or joy may come after receiving a word from God. Fear or conviction may be the resulting emotion. Feeling confused is common if we are unsure about the meaning of what we heard. Ultimately, though, it will not be our emotions that make the call if it truly was God’s voice or not. The determining factor will be if the words we received align with the broad message of Scripture and are affirmed by other believers who are well-practiced in hearing God’s voice.
It is important to note that this is not something to become legalistic about. If someone says, “I feel God is saying such and such,” that is okay. We know their emotions have been impacted in the heavenly transaction and they are sharing from that place. Also, they may begin with “I feel” in order to frame their word tentatively as opposed to something fixed like, “thus sayeth the Lord.” Whatever the reason, it is good and helpful to understand a fuller picture of the role emotions hold in the context of hearing God’s voice.
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