Have you ever paused and asked yourself, “Was that really God speaking to me?” If so, you’re not alone. In one of his powerful teachings, the late Bible teacher Derek Prince tackled this exact question with both clarity and care, offering believers practical ways to confirm when they’ve truly heard from God.
Prince didn’t sugarcoat the importance of this topic. “How can we be sure that it really was God’s voice we heard?” he asked at the start. It’s a question that can shape our decisions, direction, and even our destiny. Thankfully, he laid out four biblical ways to know when the voice we hear is truly from the Lord—and each one is grounded in Scripture and the reality of the Christian walk.
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1. Agreement with Scripture
This is the first and most foundational test. Prince reminded us, “The Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture… He will never say something to us individually that disagrees with what he’s already saying in Scripture.”
No matter how compelling or emotional a word might seem, if it contradicts the Bible, it’s not from God. Period.
2. Confirmation Through Circumstances
Sometimes, what God asks us to do can seem unusual—even risky. But Derek pointed out that God often confirms His word through how things unfold.
He shared, “Then the situation works out in such a way that we know. We know that God foresaw it and had it all prepared.”
When the pieces fall into place in ways we couldn’t orchestrate, it’s often a divine signature.
3. Inner Peace
Prince described this as “the umpire” of our hearts: “When we’ve heard God’s voice correct and are acting in accordance with God’s will, we have God’s peace.”
But if that peace vanishes and we start to feel restless, pressured, or frantic—it’s time to stop and pray again. God’s voice brings peace, not panic.
4. Confirmation from Fellow Believers
This final test is often overlooked in our hyper-individualistic culture, but it’s deeply biblical. Derek took us to Acts 13, where Paul and Barnabas were called to ministry:
“The Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”
Paul already knew his calling—he makes that clear in Galatians 1:1. But it was in the company of trusted believers, while worshipping and fasting, that this call was confirmed publicly. Prince explained, “This was public confirmation, through their brothers in the assembly, that their call was from God.”
He went on to say this kind of confirmation served three purposes:
- It strengthened Paul’s own faith.
- It validated Paul’s call to his fellow believers.
- It emphasized the interdependence of Christ’s Body.
Derek ended with a sobering reminder: “None of us can just act on his own and say, ‘It doesn’t matter what the others do. I know I’m right.’ That’s an attitude which is almost invariably wrong.”
In a world full of noise and personal opinions, Prince’s message is refreshingly grounded in biblical truth. If you believe you’ve heard God’s voice, test it. Lean into Scripture. Watch your circumstances. Listen to your inner peace. And don’t go it alone—invite your spiritual community into the journey.
Because when God speaks, it’s worth making absolutely sure we’re listening.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
