God’s voice

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I never want to be one who doubts someone else’s gift or becomes resistant to God’s Holy Spirit. But Scripture also tells us that not everything we hear truly comes from Him. If this has left you wondering how we can know when a “word” comes from God or human pride and sin, you’ll gain encouragement from today’s post by guest blogger, A. C. Williams.

When “Prophets” Lie to You

by A. C. Williams

How is your sense of direction? I can’t find my way out of a paper bag without help. But every now and then, I’ll get to drive somewhere familiar. In those instances, as long as the landmarks haven’t changed, I can find my way just fine.

But I’m still monstrously insecure about it, so anyone sitting in my passenger seat can change my mind if they question the route I’m taking.  I’ve grown in confidence now, but it doesn’t take much for someone to make me question the direction I’m going.

The Bible tells us a challenging story about misdirection in 1 Kings 13. You really need the whole chapter to get the context, but for brevity’s sake, God sent a prophet to King Jeroboam to tell him to straighten up. He was the first king of the divided kingdom of Israel, leader of the ten tribes in the north (1 Kings 12:20).

This prophet, who remains unnamed, is righteous and careful to obey God’s Word in everything he does. So when multiple people invite him to stay and eat a meal, he declines. Why? Because God told him not to eat or drink anything there (1 Kings 13:8-10).

And that’s where the plot thickens. Another prophet enters the story, an older prophet. He’s also unnamed, but we know he comes from Bethel. This guy chases the first prophet down and invites him to a meal. As you would expect, the first prophet declines.

But then the old prophet throws a curveball: He claims an angel of the Lord gave the first prophet permission to eat with him.

Why would the first prophet doubt his claim? He is a prophet, after all. So he goes. He eats. And then God declares that he will die because he disobeyed. And he does.

Yup. You guessed it. The old prophet lied to him. No angel had come to him. God hadn’t changed His mind. And both prophets faced the consequences.

This is a hard story to swallow, I think, because it’s triggering. How many of us have experienced something similar? We submit to spiritual abuse in a church because a respected elder claims it’s God’s will. We hand over our authority to connect with God personally because a pastor or priest tells us we need an intermediary other than Jesus.

I wish it weren’t the case, but for all of us, someone we consider a spiritual mentor or leader in our lives will likely lie to us. Only God knows why, and that’s between Him and that leader.

But what does that mean for us? Should we question everything we are told about Scripture and how to apply it to our lives?

Honestly? Yes.

There’s nothing wrong with having a spiritual leader you respect, whose teachings speak to you. But never allow a spiritual leader’s interpretation of Scripture to contradict Scripture itself. The only way to do that is to know what the Bible says, to understand who God is, and to trust God’s Word and His Spirit more than what any man or woman tells you.

Anyone—man, woman, or even angel—who asks you to trust their word more than what is written in the Bible is lying to you. For whatever reason, some people twist God’s Truth to manipulate others. We need to be aware of this so we aren’t fooled when they try that on us.

Be confident in Scripture. Know God Himself. And don’t be fooled by the pretenders who only want to control you.

About the author: A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks won’t match. An AWSA Golden Scrolls finalist and an editor at Uncommon Universes Press, she believes that God works miracles through stories. Learn more about her coaching services at www.amycwilliams.com and subscribe to her daily devotional emails at www.alwayspeachy.com. Amy is offering a special: the first seven days free, then $5/month. https://acwilliams.substack.com/arisedaily

When God Seems Silent: How to Trust He's Still Near – Faith Over Fear

When God seems silent, especially during painful or frightening seasons, we might wonder if He's distant, disappointed in us or simply doesn't care. And when anxiety fills our minds with worst-case scenarios, sensing His presence can feel even more difficult. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Judy Dunagan shares how God met her during a season of intense fear and reminded her of His constant presence and care. Judy and Jennifer also discuss practical ways to quiet anxious thoughts, recognize God's presence and continue seeking Him when He seems silent. Discover how Scripture, worship and honest prayer can help you remain confident in God's love, even when you can't see or hear Him at work. Want to help shape the future of the show? Join Jennifer's volunteer content planning team!  Scripture discussed: Mark 4:35–41, Mark 6:31, Psalm 91, Psalm 23, Psalm 13, Philippians 4:6–7, Hebrews 4:16, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 8:26–27, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 13:5 Resource referenced: The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ Catch Jennifer's previous conversation with Judy in the episode titled, "Living Victoriously in Seasons of Overwhelm" Find Judy Dunagan: On her website (Scroll down on her homepage to download her free prayer guide.) Instagram Facebook Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
  1. When God Seems Silent: How to Trust He's Still Near
  2. When You Fear You'll Miss God's Will: How to Hear Him with Confidence
  3. Does it Feel Like You Can't Hear God? Practical Steps to Increase Spiritual Sensitivity
  4. Why God Might Feel Distant and How to Connect With Him More Deeply
  5. How God Redeems Our Deepest Regrets (ft. Dustin Lolli, lead singer Sanctus Real)

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Sometimes it’s very hard to sit down and write. I feel like one of Job’s friends, tucked away in my nice, air conditioned house, married to a man who treats me like a princess, surrounded by special friends, and connected to a vibrant church, telling everyone “trust God and everything will be okay”. I know many of my readers are hurting, and many of them due to circumstances that are out of their control. You’ve done all the right things, said all the right things, and life smacks you upside the head anyway. And to be honest, I don’t have much to say. Oh, I could tell you that God is with you, holding you, loving you, whether you feel Him or not. And I could pop off a bunch of verses about how God will turn all things to good for those who love Him, but you know all that. In your head. But sometimes the pain is so deep, it blocks the truth from settling in our hearts.

Perhaps it is the sign of the times, or maybe I’m just becoming more aware of the pain around me, but ever since I started my weekly marriage column on Reflections, I’ve encountered numerous broken marriages. Shattered by infidelity. And to be honest, I don’t know how to respond to something like that. It broke my heart, made me sick, just to think about it. Caps left off toothpaste, socks on the floor, toilet seats left up, I can handle. Violated trust? Wow, that cuts deep. And it’s easy to blame ourselves. Maybe if I were prettier, more attentive, cooked more, cleaned more, whatever, my spouse wouldn’t have strayed. True, all of us could do a better job in some of those areas, but boundaries are boundaries and just as the bank teller isn’t responsible for the room full of injured people, neither are you responsible for your spouse’s choice.

I’m sure I’ll get lots of teeth-gritting, nasty comments hurled my way for this post, but that’s fine. My Mac will shield me from even the most rotten tomatoes. And I’m not saying throw in the towel. Nor am I saying hold on with both hands. What I am saying is I have no business saying anything, except run to Jesus and rest in His arms. He’ll tell you what to do.

About a year ago, a dear friend was dealt a devastating blow. Her husband was caught up in addiction–an addiction that was destroying him, their relationship, and her children. After much prayer, she decided to leave. It broke my heart to see my friend suffer, but what hurt me even more was all the “well-intentioned” advice thrown her way, clouding out God’s voice with human expectations and obligations. Oh, how clearly we hear the voice of God for someone else.

A few years ago Casting Crowns came out with a song called, “What If My People Prayed.” One line has stayed with me ever since. In the song, they ask, “What if families turned to Jesus and quit asking Oprah (or Melba, or Gramma, or Jennifer Slattery, grin) what to do.” This got me thinking, does God really need me to speak for Him, or would He rather speak directly to my friend Himself? Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying God doesn’t call people to speak truth. And I am not saying that God doesn’t speak to us through others. I am saying, however, that He probably calls us a lot less frequently than we think. And yet, God always, always, always, longs to speak to our family and friends Himself.

So, the next time we’re tempted to pop off some religious mumbo-jumbo, what if we pointed our friends to Jesus instead? He’s big enough, strong enough, and loving enough to speak into their lives Himself. And yeah, they may make a mistake. They may even hear Him wrong. But they’ll be one step closer to their Creator, and in the end, isn’t that what it’s all about? Learning to sift through all the garbage noise in order to hear God’s voice more clearly?

And for those of you who are barely holding on today, turn to Jesus. Seek Him out until His voice breaks through. Record His promises to never leave you nor forsake you on three by five cards and pull them out when the fears and insecurities threaten to overwhelm you. And know I’m praying for you.