Is God speaking to you, or are you simply hearing what you want to hear?
For many Christians, discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit can feel like an overwhelming mystery. According to David Diga Hernandez, the problem isn’t necessarily that God has stopped speaking. It’s that believers may be listening for His voice in all the wrong ways.
In a recent YouTube teaching, Hernandez outlined four ways the Holy Spirit communicates with believers, delivering a sobering warning about the dangers of chasing supernatural encounters without being grounded in God’s Word.
1. The Word: The foundation of hearing God
Before seeking dreams, visions or prophetic revelations, Hernandez says Christians must return to Scripture.
Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:16-17, he explains that God’s Word establishes the foundation for recognizing His voice, discerning truth from deception and understanding His character.
Without that foundation, believers risk mistaking their own thoughts for divine instruction.
2. Wisdom: Learning to think like God
Hernandez describes wisdom as divine reasoning that develops when believers consistently immerse themselves in Scripture.
Rather than expecting a supernatural revelation for every decision, Christians should allow God’s Word to transform their thinking.
From relationships to career choices and ministry decisions, biblical wisdom provides direction for everyday life.
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3. The Whisper: When the Holy Spirit gives specific direction
While wisdom guides everyday decisions, Hernandez says there are moments when the Holy Spirit provides unmistakable instruction about circumstances that Scripture does not specifically address.
However, he challenges the tendency to attribute every passing thought or personal preference to God.
“I think we cheapen the voice of the Spirit when we talk about him in that way,” Hernandez warns.
He emphasizes that genuine spiritual direction should not produce a constant cycle of impulsive decisions, confusion and instability.
4. Wonders: Dreams, visions and prophetic confirmation
Hernandez affirms that God continues to speak through dreams, visions, prophecy and supernatural manifestations.
Yet this is where he believes many Christians have dangerously reversed their spiritual priorities.
“Their foundation is wonders. That’s why they’re always seeking prophets and conferences and someone to lay hands on them,” he says.
Instead of allowing Scripture to establish discernment, some believers become dependent on someone else hearing from God on their behalf.
And the consequences can be devastating.
Hernandez warns that Christians can spend years following supposed prophetic instructions that never materialize, leaving them spiritually frustrated and confused.
Even more troubling, he says some believers make decisions based on selfish desires and then claim the Holy Spirit directed them, refusing to acknowledge their own responsibility when things fall apart.
His message isn’t that Christians should abandon prophecy or supernatural encounters. It’s that the supernatural must never replace the authority of Scripture.
The proper order, Hernandez emphasizes, begins with the Word, develops through wisdom, receives specific direction through the Spirit’s whisper and finds confirmation through wonders.
“No more wasting time. It’s time to hear the Holy Spirit for yourself with confidence and clarity,” he declares.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
