Is God Speaking to Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction

by Lysa TerKeurst

Living with a deeper awareness of God’s leading isn’t just for a select few…it’s for you too! Have you ever wondered if God still speaks to us today? Or do you worry that what you’re perceiving as God’s voice is really just your own thoughts? You’re not alone. In Is God Speaking to Me?, Lysa TerKeurst shares her own wrestling with these questions and how God has taught her to more clearly discern His direction in her everyday life. Using Scripture, encouraging personal stories, and practical application, Lysa will help Stop merely going through the motions of life by learning how to recognize and respond to the Lord’s divine appointments for you.Uncomplicate the idea of listening to God as you use five key questions to help you determine if what you’re discerning is from Him or not.Discover the joy of truly walking with the Lord as you learn how to live in expectation of hearing from Him.Is God Speaking to Me? is both an invitation to a life of adventure with the Lord and the tender reminder that we serve a God who loves us deeply and longs to speak to us personally.  

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Christianity, Religion, Christian Living, Spirituality

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Lysa TerKeurst is President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is also an 8x New York Times’ bestselling author of I Want to Trust You, but I Don't, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, Uninvited and more. Her devotional Embraced won the ECPA book of the year for 2019. Lysa was also recently awarded the Champions of Faith Author Award and has appeared on the Today Show many times as one of the leading voices in the Christian community.

Each year, Lysa is a featured keynote presenter at events all across North America and online, including the Global Leadership Network. She also tours state-to-state regularly with TPR. She has a passion for equipping women to share their stories for God’s glory through Proverbs 31 Ministries’ annual She Speaks Conference and her writer training program called COMPEL Pro. Connect with Lysa on social media @lysaterkeurst or at lysaterkeurst.com.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short Christian book that provided some great encouragement for Christians. I placed her daily prayer on a card so I too may pray this prayer: "God, I want to see You. God, I want to hear You. God, I want to know You. God, I want to follow You. And even before I know what I will face today, I say yes to You."

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is God Speaking To Me was a good reminder that God does speak, but we need to be open to listen to Him and above all, obey! Discerning God’s voice is not always easy for me and this was encouraging and helpful to read. I also really liked how she included key verses on the topic so you can directly see what the Bible says. This booklet was well-written and a short, easy read. Now I’m interested in reading the full book!

*I received a copy from NetGalley and I voluntarily reviewed this book. This is my honest opinion.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though small, this is packed with a powerful message to encourage you to be obedient to Jesus in all things and say yes to Him, even when it's hard.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short. Listen deeply and you can hear God speaking to you. Author gives 5 ways to know if the thought coming to you is from God and not another source.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence: Hi friend, Have you ever wondered if God still speaks to us today? Or even more so…whether what you’re hearing is really God speaking to you, or just your own thoughts? I understand. I’ve wrestled through these very same questions. But what I’ve discovered through my own study of Scripture is that God absolutely does still speak to us through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16), through His son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2), and through the Holy Spirit that lives in us as believers (John 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16). Yes, the Lord is speaking to us and inviting us into a more satisfying relationship with Him than we’ve ever known before. And our job is to respond in obedience. But you don’t have to learn how to do this alone!

The question isn't a negligible one. It is a question with some significance. Will readers agree with Terkeurst's conclusions? Perhaps. Perhaps not. (I know Justin Peters would not.) Essentially this is what she says:

"Though I hear from God all the time, I’ve never heard His voice audibly. When God speaks to me, it is a certain impression on my heart that I’ve come to recognize as Him."
"I’ve also learned to ask five key questions to help me determine if what I’m hearing is from God or not: 1. Does what I’m hearing line up with Scripture? 2. Is it consistent with God’s character? 3. Is it being confirmed through messages I’m hearing at church or studying in my quiet time? 4. Is it beyond me? 5. Would it please God? Asking these questions helps me tell the difference between my thoughts and God’s impressions. Let’s look at each of these to unpack what they mean a little bit further."
This is a tiny little book! I consider that a plus. It is actually an excerpt from another of her (previously published) books. If you wanted to be introduced to this author--this tiny book might give you an idea of if you'd be a good match.

The book focuses almost exclusively on the author's experiences as evidence. It is what it is.

I shared my thoughts on the subject as a reaction post to a Justin Peters' sermon I listened to in February this year. But essentially, here is where I stand on the subject:

1) I believe in the Sufficiency of Scripture.
2) I believe that God is not speaking to us in the same way as He spoke to the authors of Scripture. That the way God spoke to and through believers then--and by believers I mean the human authors of the 66 books of the Bible--Old and New Testament--is not normative; that we should not expect the same revelation. I don't believe in continuous revelation, new revelation. God is not going to be adding more books to the Bible.
3) I believe in the authority of Scripture. I believe the Scripture should judge us and NOT that we should judge Scripture.
4) I believe in God's Sovereignty.
5) I believe in God's Providence.
6) I believe that all believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and joined to Christ.
7) I believe that the Spirit living in us helps us spiritually see and understand the Spirit-given text in front of us. We are indwelled with the Author of the Book. I believe that the Bible takes SPIRITUAL sight to understand, to interpret, to apply.
8) I believe that we are called to store up God's Word in our hearts and minds. That we are to meditate on it, "chew the cud," to memorize it, to really let the Word saturate our hearts, minds, lives. We are to be people of the Book. We are to know the book. The Bible is our meat and drink--it is nourishment for our very souls. By it--and through it--our minds are renewed and lives are transformed. Scripture should interpret Scripture. The Scripture teaches us how to interpret it, how to make sense of it.
9) It would be impossible for the Spirit to speak contrary to the Revealed Word of God. The Holy Spirit will never tell you something that is contrary to what the Bible says. It will never disagree with Scripture. It will never be in opposition to Scripture. If you've got the Word of God in front of you and Spirit inside of you disagreeing--then it is not the Holy Spirit at work. The Spirit will never green-light sin in a believer's life, it will never make excuses or justification for why you can keep on disobeying God's Word. It won't happen. It's a false spirit, a lying spirit, a spirit perhaps masquerading as an angel of light, but it's a deception.
10) Discernment, discernment, discernment. Always. Everywhere. Never slack. Never surrender.

I can only speak from my experiences, but when I say--or when I think--of using the phrase, "God spoke to me," or the "Spirit revealed to me" what I really mean is the Spirit brought to my mind a specific text of Scripture, that a truth within Scripture is being illuminated by the Spirit, I am having a spiritual "aha" moment, a light bulb has lit up, a truth that has always been truth has been realized. I am not having a "new" or "special" revelation. I am just having my eyes opened to the Word of God--which is one of the things that the Spirit does in the life of the believer. It is perhaps lazy to think of it as "the voice of God speaking to me." But I would imagine that most believers have been guilty of using this phrase innocently enough.

I think it is also possible that what we think of as God speaking to us falls more into these categories a) God providentially working things out in our lives b) God answering our prayers. For example, when God is "putting someone into your mind" that you need to pray for that person--maybe God is using you as an answer to someone else's prayer. Maybe it is part of God's providential plan for you to speak encouragement, to build up, to give comfort to another. Or another example, a guest speaker might come into a church saying, the Spirit wanted me to preach from this text. This could very well be an answer to prayer. They've prayed for discernment and "help" on knowing what to teach/preach. They have prayed for the Spirit to work through them and their message.

I would hope that most people would recognize that the Spirit speaks to us in the words of the Word. The Spirit is teaching us--as we read the Word; the Spirit is guiding us and interpreting for us as we read, study, and meditate. The Spirit is illuminating the Word so we know how to apply it. The Word is indeed Sufficient. But the Spirit's work is ongoing. Not in giving NEW revelation, but in opening our eyes, opening and renewing our minds, working in the heart, working and transforming our lives.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a long-time fan of Lysa TerKeurst and her writing. So often it seems like she is writing from my head, knowing my thoughts, frustrations, and insecurities. My favorites of hers include MADE TO CRAVE and THE BEST YES. She writes from the heart including personal experience and insight and combines it with Godly expectations and scriptural support. She writes like you are sitting at the table together and I appreciate her insight so much.

I read her latest as an eBook, but from what I understand it is more of a booklet than a book. Harvest House calls it a Pocket Book and is just under a 4″x 6″ size. At 64 pages, you might think there isn’t much to learn, but TerKeurst packs it full of wisdom. If you’ve ever wondered if the thoughts in your head or the feelings in your heart have been put there by God, this is the book to help you discern God’s voice from yours or even someone else’s.

This pocket book is an excerpt from her previous book, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN SAY YES TO GOD. In these books, she asks readers to be obedient to God. Starting the day with prayer and conversation with God opens up the opportunity for communication with Him and to be ready to hear what He has to say. She also offers five key questions to ask yourself when you are wondering if this nudging or direction is coming from God. Answering those key questions help you discern whether God is asking you to step out and lead, step out in faith, try something new, or be obedient to Him.

These five questions though do require you to have that personal relationship with God, so if you aren’t sure about your faith in this area, referring to Scripture and spending time alone with Him in prayer is a great place to start. Knowing God so you can recognize His messages is the first step to hearing Him. Knowing His Word, His character, and what would please Him makes separating out the good expectations from the bad much easier.

When your parents or best friend or sister give you advice, you listen and take their advice to heart or lean on them for support. You trust them because they know you and your relationship with them is strong. The same is true when God offers advice or direction. If you already have a relationship with Him, it is easier to recognize his voice and be more willing to heed his advice.

“God will not say things that are inconsistent with who He is.”

Start by investing time each day to have a conversation with God. It doesn’t have to be proper or formal. Just talk to Him. When we spend that time with Him, He will respond and we will start to see Him speak to us in many places of our lives.

I found TerKeurst’s book to be helpful in discerning what is God’s voice and when he is nudging me. Her five-question check made so much sense to me and confirmed what I already believed about my relationship with Him and that he is hearing my voice too.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! This past year, I have read quite a few of Lysa TerKeurst's books and get so much out of them every time. Lysa has an easy writing style that flows like you are sitting next to her and listening to her talk. I loved how even though this booklet is very short and taken from one of her earlier books, it felt extremely substantial. Lysa always interweaves lessons, with personal anecdotes and Scriptures that intertwine and flow together in a way that always leaves me feeling ready to put her words and God's words into practice. I feel like you could read this booklet and go away satisfied and if you wanted more, you have a whole book that she has written that you could read.

I loved how easy she made obedience seem in this. She gave practical steps for figuring out how to get your heart right so that you want to obey God in order to make obedience a joy and not a duty. I found her words both encouraging and challenging which is exactly what I like in my Christian non-fiction. If you have never read a Lysa TerKeurst book before, this would be a great way to sample her writing and see if you want to read more from her.

This book was received from Netgalley for an honest review in return.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little booklet is taken from TerKeurst's book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. She shares her profound experience of hearing God tell her to give her personal Bible to the fellow next to her on a plane. Her obedience and the subsequent events she experienced are very encouraging.

TerKeurst shares how she has learned to hear from God, though never audibly. She gives us her morning prayer and provides several questions we can ask to distinguish our thoughts from God's impressions. She also tells us how God will confirm His messages to us.

This is a good little booklet for readers who wonder if God speaks today and want to know how to hear His voice. There are study questions to answers and Scriptures to read so this would make a fine study for a weekend. TerKeurst's writing style is a pleasure to read in this honest and encouraging booklet.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lysa TerKeurst always gets me. She just knows. So I jump at any opportunity to read her books. This one sounded so good and I hadn't heard she was coming out with it, so of course, I jumped. Then I realized it is actually a booklet using repurposed chapters of another book of hers, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways. I was a little disappointed, but the content was still on point. Beautiful stories and thought provoking nuggets. I think my favorite part though was actually the compilation of scriptures at the end for us to dig into for ourselves about the benefits of obedience and what God sees when He sees His children being obedient. Powerful stuff. Of course, now I want to read the original book.

[The Film Director's Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do think it needs pointed out this book is a condensed version of Lysa Terkeurst’s previously published book, “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God”.

That aside, it was a good read overall and I think it would be a great introduction to the Author's writing.

It is full of potential for being an inspirational and uplifting read for a woman of God.

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

[Alicia Fannin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Lysa Terkeurst never fails to delight my heart and touch my soul. A small book of the encouragement to be brave - and step into the adventure of being Radically Obedient to God. Loved it!

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I loved these little Bible study and I can't wait to read the book it's based off of! Review to come.

[Madam Book Worm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ½
I have learned a few things on what to do when you are trying to determine if God is speaking to you. Also, I love the palm size book.

[Kelly Hodgkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Radical obedience is hearing from God, feeling His nudges, participating in His activity, and experiencing His blessings in ways few people ever do.”

From “Is God Speaking to Me?” by Lysa TerKeurst
This short book packs a powerful message! Lysa TerKeurst, in her familiar, down-to-earth, relatable style, shares her insight to unpack and answer a big question, “Is God Speaking to Me?”

With Scripture as her starting point, Lysa enlightens the reader on how to hear God’s voice, every day. She encourages one with prayers and explains through anecdotes what it looks like to live this out.

“Each day when I wake up I pray a very simple prayer even before my feet hit the floor. God, I want to see You. God, I want to hear You. God, I want to know You. God, I want to follow hard after You. And even before I know what I will face today, I say yes to You. This simple act of surrender each morning will prepare your eyes to see Him, your ears to hear Him, your mind to perceive Him, and your heart to receive Him.”

From “Is God Speaking to Me?” by Lysa TerKeurst
Through committing time to God, in prayer, worship and Bible study, His voice becomes clearer and one’s whole perspective shifts. Lysa breaks down this process into manageable bite-size pieces.

“When you look at your everyday circumstances through the lens of God’s perspective, you come to see each situation, each person who crosses your path, each encounter with Him as a divine appointment.”

From “Is God Speaking to Me?” by Lysa TerKeurst
I’ve read several of Lysa’s books and enjoy Bible study with her ministry, Proverbs 31 Ministries, so the principles of this book we’re familiar. However, I love the way Lysa distills complex topics into easy-to-remember and live concepts. She creates 5 simple questions to ponder if it is God speaking and her joy for time with God is inspiring!

“No longer is your day just one task after another, but rather a string of divine appointments and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.”

From “Is God Speaking to Me?” by Lysa TerKeurst
This is one to park in, come back to and enjoy. I found it refreshing, a great reminder to be still with God and savour the gift His presence is as well as a call to seek His input in my day more frequently. I highly recommend it, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!

[Natalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lysa TerKeurst is definitely one of the top women Christian writers of this generation. She is honest and real, which makes her voice feel reliable. TerKeurst really gives off that friend vibe that you want in a christian book.

"Is God Talking to Me?" was quick and practical. I love that TerKeurst gives real questions to help discern what God is calling you to do. I think that sometimes hearing the voice of God can be overwhelming. We don't always hear it, we don't always see it, we don't always perceive it. TerKeurst even addresses this saying, maybe we should filter all our urges through her list of questions.

Honestly, I don't think I listen for God's voice enough. This book was a big reminder to be rooted in the scriptures to be more fully attuned to what God is saying to me and through others. It also reminded me that I can miss it, if I'm not listening.

I gave this booklet 4 stars. I love the practicality of it and the clear need it answers. TerKeurst fills a void and worry that a lot of people have, myself included. I would love to do the whole study this book pairs with. Thanks to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the ARC!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This pocket book pulls from a previous work of Lysa’s. The topic is interesting and one that many women wonder about. I think this book offered some good stories and guidelines for trying to understanding if one is hearing from God. My only concern is that it felt very centered around the authors experiences and life stories instead of what scripture says about hearing from God. Yes, there is scripture in some parts of the book but I hesitate when a book is focused on hearing from God apart from his word. I would say the focus should be more on being led by the Holy Spirit than hearing from God. I would say that most of her stories would be better described in that manner than hearing from God. I am just cautious in using that language.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for my review.

[Ayla Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many Christians (myself included) want to hear God's voice. We want to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are following Him, hearing His voice. We want to follow His plans for us, not our own selfish desires masked as God's plans. But that can be hard to do. How do we really know God is speaking to us?

In "Is God Speaking to Me?" Lysa TerKeust spends a few short chapters sharing stories of times she has heard God's voice, as well as ways to know when God is speaking to each of us. I really appreciated the list of questions she asks whenever she is listening for God's voice. This booklet was short and sweet, but still Biblical and helpful.

*I received a complimentary copy of Is God Speaking to Me? through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

[Barbara Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Lysa Teurkeurst books because they speak in everyday Language and not in a preach way. This one does not disappoint. It felt very fresh but also very relatable in that way that only she can. Some books like this tend to be overly formal. Maybe for al isn’t the right word, but this wasn’t. It was an easy way to provide information on working in your prayer life and your relationship with God. Definitely recommend.

[Amy Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short little pocket book is packed with so much truth. The question is, Is God Speaking to Me? The answer is YES! We only have to learn His voice and obey His direction. This was a quick read but also a re-centering book that I recommend! This book points to another book she wrote called What Happens When Women Say Yes to God which is supposed to expound on the things covered in this short book.
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book for my honest opinion.

[Rosemond Cates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Lisa TerKeurst is amazing. I feel like every word I’ve ever read from her is steeped in the word of God. This book was well laid out and easy to understand. I also felt like the basic applications and touch points she gives are biblical and easy to incorporate into your thought life. Definitely would recommend this book!

[Elizabeth Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this equally as much as all of Lysa’s previous books I’ve read. Looking forward to completing the whole study and great exercises when this book is released. Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy!

[MightySSStrawberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few good takeaways, but I’ve read about this author’s listening methods before, so nothing new.

I also felt like she was kinda over-the-top, declaring that every day there are divine appointments everywhere. While I do not say she’s wrong, per se, I don’t think it’s accurate to declare that they are everywhere, all the time, every day, and I am missing out on so many of them. I also struggle with guilt trips and feeling like I don’t do enough for God (which is definitely not God’s voice saying that) so to have someone tell me I’m missing out on tons of divine appointments every day and therefore I’m breaking God’s heart when I miss them or don’t act on them, does NOT help me. I’m sure there ARE divine appointments going on every day, but not necessarily in MY every day.

This book probably resonates with some people, and that’s good! I understood what she was getting at, but for me it was not the best execution. Getting better at hearing God’s voice is definitely something I want to do, but how this author put it just didn’t resonate with me.

[Kaylee (Curiously Kaylee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review**

5 stars- I picked this book up at the perfect time! I have been feeling discouraged about college, work, and just life in general. This book has inspired me to refocus on Christ and to spend daily time in the Word. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn how to hear from God.

[Julia Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a short little read, but OH! It is amazing. I have never read something that describes how to discern the voice of the Lord the way that Lysa explains it. Now I feel like I’m able to hear Him so much clearer and my relationship with the Lord feels all the stronger because of it! Such a good little book!

[Eli Dhios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es corto, conciso y un lindo recordatorio de que Dios nos habla a todos!

[Book Boyfriend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is directed towards women but men can learn from this as well.

[Diamond Jones-Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this devotional booklet. She has a lot of great points and motivational topics. I honestly felt as if she was speaking directly to me.

[Arianna Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t read it being a pocketbook until it arrived in the mail! But honestly, just read Uninvited! Because this “book” is in the start of that book!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really spoke to me and I love how it was so easy to read.

[Mechthild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you willing to hear and follow?
President of the Proverbs 31 Ministries, speaker and New York Times best-selling author, Lysa TerKeurst presents the booklet "Is God Speaking to Me? How to Discern His Voice and Direction", published by Harvest House Publishers, which is an excerpt of her book "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God". The booklet contains three chapters: 1) A Soul That Longs for More, 2) Hearing God's Voice, and 3) Radically Blessed.
In her letter to the readers Lysa states: "I pray that this will be the starting place and inspiration for you to live a radically obedient life that honors God. What happens when women say yes to God? We are changed in the most beautiful of ways. I’ve often said people may not care to meet our Jesus until they meet the reality of Jesus working in us and through us. There’s no better sermon for the world to encounter than a soul who lives saying yes to God (p. 6)." Furthermore she encourages her readers: "You don’t need perfect circumstances to be a woman who says yes to God. You don’t need the perfect Christlike attitude or all the answers to big theological questions. You simply have to surrender all that’s clamoring for attention with the answer God is longing to hear spill from your lips: “Yes, God.” (p.12/23)." I highly also appreciate her five key question that can help to determine if one hears God's voice: 1) Does what I’m hearing line up with Scripture?, 2) Is it consistent with God’s character?, 3) Is it being confirmed through messages I’m hearing at church or studying in my quiet time?, 4) Is it beyond me?, and 5) Would it please God? (p. 29).
Lysa presents many personal experiences as well as some of others in this booklet. She is honest, open, and real. Every chapter ends with a section entitled "Living Out Your “Yes”" where readers can apply what they learned. There are brief notes at the end of the booklet for reference and further study. I cannot wait to read the whole book and other books by Lysa. I highly recommend this booklet to those who have not yet read any of Lysa's writings to get to know her style, to those who have little time to read the whole book, and to beginners on the journey with God.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#IsGodSpeakingToMe #NetGalley