Discernment: How to Distinguish Between God's Voice, Your Thoughts, and Evil Spirits

by Kathy Degraw

How to Distinguish Between God's Voice, Your Thoughts, and Evil Spirits

In our daily lives, we are constantly bombarded with thoughts and impressions. Discerning the source of these thoughts—whether they originate from God, our own minds, or the enemy—is crucial for living a victorious Christian life. In her insightful book, How to Distinguish Between God's Voice, Your Thoughts, and Evil Spirits, author Kathy DeGraw addresses the number one question she "How do I discern the spiritual realm, hear from God, and recognize the voice of the enemy?"

Understanding the Sources of Our Thoughts

The Bible emphasizes the importance of discernment in distinguishing between different

God's Voice: Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). As believers, we are designed to recognize and follow the voice of our Shepherd.

Our Own Thoughts: Scripture acknowledges the presence of personal "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord..." (Jeremiah 29:11). It's essential to differentiate between our own ideas and divine guidance.

The Enemy's Voice: The apostle Peter warns, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy seeks to infiltrate our minds with deception and confusion.

Challenges in Discernment

One of the primary challenges in spiritual discernment is the interplay between divine guidance and our own thoughts. Our personal desires, fears, and experiences can cloud our ability to hear God clearly. Additionally, the enemy seeks to exploit these vulnerabilities by introducing doubt and falsehoods. As Paul advises, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh... bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3,5).

Insights from 'Discernment'

In Discernment, Kathy DeGraw provides practical tools and biblical insights to help believers sharpen their spiritual discernment. Drawing from her extensive ministry experience, she offers guidance

Hearing from God: Understanding the various ways God communicates with His children and how to position ourselves to receive His guidance.

Discerning Prophetically: Developing the ability to perceive and interpret divine revelations accurately.

Prayer Techniques: Employing effective prayer strategies that align our hearts with God's will and silence the voice of the enemy.

Testing the Spirits: Applying biblical principles to evaluate the origin of spiritual messages and impressions, as instructed in 1 John 4:1: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God..."

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2025

About the author

Kathy DeGraw strengthens, teaches, trains and equips believers to experience the fullness of God. She takes her direction from the Lord to disciple seriously, and focuses on discipling through mentoring, meetings and teaching. Kathy is passionate about worship and believes God is raising up a new generation of believers who will worship the Father in Spirit, freedom and truth. She has a clear and unique gift of discernment and operates in a strong prophetic, healing and deliverance anointing. Kathy passionately preaches, teaches and demonstrates how to have a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

She believes in breaking down religious and denominational barriers. She equips believers in denominational churches to live a spirit-filled life and transform their churches. Kathy leaves them challenged and wanting more biblical truths and freedom in Christ. It is her heart to see all have a church home where they can be equipped, filled and fellowship.

She believes in calling forth the glory of the Lord to heal, set free and deliver. In Kathy’s meetings people have experienced the manifest presence of the Lord, freedom in worship and have been supernaturally released from bondages.

Kathy's dynamic speaking style will be shown through compassion, authority, triumph, enthusiasm and the leading of the Holy Spirit. She is a vibrant anointed speaker leaving your audience captivated and on fire for the Lord!

Kathy hosts her own events and has been an invited speaker at Christian Women’s Clubs (an affiliation of Stonecroft International), The Walk to Emmaus (an affiliation of The Upper Room) and M.O.P.S. International. She is a Christian Speaker trained by “Speak Up with Confidence” and has attended the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. She was a Certified Lay Speaker for 3 years filling in for pastors and preaching at a variety of Sunday worship services.

She is a published author Time to Set the Captives Free-How to start your own deliverance ministry, On My Knees Again in Worship-Going from pew sitter to worshiper, and Flesh, Satan or God-Who are you hearing from? A book on discernment. She is also a 2009 Award Recipient for her book “The Sky’s The Limit,” on starting a children’s outreach ministry.

She is passionate about prayer and healing and has over 10 years experience in teaching, leading and organizing prayer and healing rooms and services. Kathy along with her husband, Ron, has also been directors of an International Healing Room.

Kathy is married to her best friend, Ron DeGraw, and is a mom to three teenage children, Dillon, Amber and Lauren. They reside in Grandville, Michigan.