HOW GOD SPEAKS TO YOU

God speaks to your mind via word thoughts and words. He communicates directly to your heart by depositing things there. He also communicates with your emotions.

But understand this: Satan also communicates in the form of thoughts. Satan imposes his thoughts on unsuspecting minds, suggesting things he wants you to do or at least consider doing. He is constantly trying to mold you into who he wants you to be, and to transform your life according to his plan. He also deposits things into your heart and emotions. Basic thoughts Satan will impose are often in the form of “I.” “I want…” “I need…” “I would like…” I think…” He puts these suggestions inside your mind so you’ll assume it’s your own thought, but he isn’t limited to just this tactic; far from it. He often directly tells people what to do.

From the moment you meet Jesus, you become engaged in a spiritual battle to discern whether the communications you receive are from God and His compatriots or from the devil and his minions. Although God is working directly in your heart and spirit (as does Satan) to mold them from outside the mental process, your mind is still a key player, so it’s useful to learn to discern and distinguish the voice of God from the voice of the devils (all spirits not submitted to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

I don’t know of any better way to learn how to hear the voice of God other than to listen and discern the author of whatever enters your heart and mind. But listening to what the spirits say should NEVER supplant reading the Bible. The Bible is God’s written word. It is error-free and explains who he is and how to know Him. My experience is that when God wants to communicate with me directly, He most often “points out” portions of the Bible as I’m reading it, or gives new or specific meaning to verses or portions of passages as my eyes and spirit encounter them. Much of this book was written through this process.

- from Defeat Your Saboteurs