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Hearing God or Hearing Myself? How to Discern the Difference
Have you ever had that moment where you paused and thought: ‘Wait…am I hearing God or hearing myself?’ If you’ve wrestled with this, you’re in good company. If you have, you’re in good company. This question—“am I hearing God or hearing myself” is one nearly every believer wrestles with at some point.
Sometimes hearing God feels confusing. Sometimes it feels heavy. And sometimes it feels scary to trust what we’re seeing or hearing. Maybe you’ll connect with one of these:
- Sierra dreams a lot, but she’s not sure if it’s God or just her imagination.
- Samuel has visions, but instead of feeling connected, he often feels alone—afraid he’ll be wrong or misunderstood.
- Josiah has shared prophetic words before and been rejected. That sting makes him hesitant to step out again.
Can you relate? Honestly, I can. This has been part of my journey too.
Hearing God in Many Ways: Dreams, Visions, and Whispers
The Bible makes it plain:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17 NKJV)
Dreams. Visions. Prophetic words. Impressions. Whispers. These are all simply different languages of Heaven.
Here’s something that really encouraged me once I realized it: God often speaks through whatever channel is most open in us. For some people, that’s their dream life. For others, it’s visual pictures, impressions, or hearing a phrase deep in their spirit.
And here’s the good news—just because one channel feels more open right now doesn’t mean it’s the only one. As we walk with Him and practice, God can open up more ways of communicating with us. He loves to expand our capacity to know Him.
Growing Your Spiritual Senses Through Discernment
I believe we all have spiritual senses, just like we all have physical ones. We all have eyes, ears, taste, touch, and smell—and in the spirit, we’ve been given the ability to see, hear, sense, discern, and even “taste and see” that the Lord is good.
But just like in the natural, these senses often take time to grow.
Think about a little child learning how to walk or talk. No one expects babies to be fluent on day one, right? We know it’s natural for them to grow into it. The Father sees us the same way spiritually. He expects us to practice, to wobble, to learn. He delights when we take those first steps of trying to see or hear in the spirit—because He knows that over time, with practice, these things become second nature.
This is why many of us wrestle with the question, “Am I hearing God or hearing myself?” Like children learning to speak, discernment takes practice.
Hebrews says it like this:
“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14 NKJV)
Discernment grows by reason of use—by practicing with God. And He’s such a good Father that He never shames us for trying.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Gifts: Learning to Trust What You Hear
If you’ve been given dreams, visions, or spiritual impressions, don’t be afraid of them. Don’t bury them out of fear. The best thing you can do is surrender them to the Holy Spirit.
Too often we dismiss impressions or visions, assuming it’s “just me.” But spiritual discernment grows as we learn to trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding us.
He knows how to help you understand what you’re seeing. He knows when to give you clarity and when to tell you, “Just hold this in your heart for now.” He doesn’t give you gifts to confuse you—He gives them to bring you closer to Him.
Jesus made this promise:
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11 NKJV)
And He said:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NKJV)
So if you desire to hear Him more clearly, or to see Him in visions or dreams, ask! God is not stingy with the gifts that draw us closer to Him.
Guarding Against Counterfeits and Following Jesus the Door
Now, it’s true—not everything we hear or see is from God. Jesus warned us about those who try to enter the sheepfold another way:
“He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10:1–2 NKJV)
There are counterfeits. There are voices that don’t belong to Him. But here’s the good news: when we stay surrendered to Jesus, who is the Door, we don’t have to fear deception.
Jude reassures us:
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling…” (Jude 1:24 NKJV)
This is the safeguard when you’re wondering, “Is this God or me?” His voice will always align with Scripture and carry peace.
If your walk is surrendered to His Lordship, He will keep you. His voice will always carry the frequency of love.
My Journey of Learning His Voice Through Journaling
For me, one of the first ways I began practicing discernment in my early walk with God was through something called two-way journaling, a tool I learned from Mark Virkler of Communion with God Ministries.
Here’s what it looks like: I would write out my prayers, my thoughts, my questions to God. Then I would wait—and I would write down what I sensed He was saying in response.
At first, I questioned everything. Was this really Him? Was I making this up? But over time, I started to notice the difference.
I learned to weigh what I heard against the plumb line of Scripture. I asked myself: Does this align with His character? Is there peace on this? Or am I projecting my own desires?
It took practice—lots of it—but the more I journaled, the clearer His voice became. And when I drifted, the Holy Spirit always led me back.
And over time, that foundation began to grow. Discernment for me now isn’t only in journaling—it flows in visions, whispers, impressions, and even dreams. The more I walk with Him, the more channels He opens up.
Walking with Wisdom in Hearing God’s Voice
Josiah’s question about rejection is so real. Even when you hear God clearly, not everyone will receive it. And that hurts.
But this is where Wisdom becomes our companion. This is where Wisdom helps you know not just what He’s saying, but also how to know God’s voice in timing and application.
Spiritual discernment tells you what God is saying. Wisdom helps you know what to do with it.
Proverbs says:
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV)
- Sometimes wisdom whispers, “Speak this now.”
- Sometimes it says, “Wait—hold this for later.”
- And often, it says, “Keep this between you and God for now.”
Walking with Wisdom is what keeps your discernment from being a burden. It turns hearing God into a partnership with Him, guided by His timing, understanding, and love.
Discernment Grows Through Relationship with Him
The more you practice hearing the Holy Spirit, the more natural His voice becomes—like recognizing a close friend in a crowd. At first, you might hesitate when you hear their voice over the phone. But after years of knowing them, you could recognize them in a crowd with no effort.
It’s the same with Jesus. The more you spend time with Him, the more you recognize His voice. And even when you miss it, He doesn’t stop speaking. He just keeps drawing you closer.
John reminds us:
“The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you… and the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true…” (1 John 2:27 NKJV)
The Holy Spirit Himself is your Teacher. He is patient and gentle…always willing to point you back to the Shepherd’s voice.
🟡 A Declaration for You: Confidence in His Voice
You don’t have to live in constant doubt about whether you’re hearing God clearly. Discernment is not meant to be a burden—it’s your inheritance as His sheep. And often, clarity comes when you slow down and learn to rest in Him. See 👉 Learning to Rest When You’ve Only Known Striving.
I am His sheep.
I hear His voice.
I see His visions.
I dream His dreams.
I follow Him with confidence.
Discernment is my inheritance, not my burden.
Wisdom walks with me.
The Holy Spirit teaches me all things.
I belong to Him…and because I belong, I discern clearly.
Want to Practice Living from Revelation Daily?
The Glory & Revelation cards within the Identity Declarations for Kingdom Citizens deck were created to help you recognize God’s presence and receive His wisdom without striving. Each card carries light, clarity, and fresh revelation—illuminating your path one day at a time.
Explore the Deck →
