Learning to recognize God’s voice can feel intimidating. Was that quiet prompting from the Holy Spirit, or was it simply another thought passing through our minds?
Responding to a viewer’s question on “The 700 Club,” Gordon Robertson offered practical guidance for Christians seeking clarity.
“When the Lord first began speaking to me, guiding me, one of my tests was, did I disagree with it?” Robertson said. “If I was initially like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ well, then I knew it was God.”
That will sound familiar to many believers. God’s direction does not always line up with our comfort, preferences or carefully arranged plans. Sometimes His voice leads us toward the very thing we would never have chosen on our own.
Robertson then pointed to Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.”
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He explained that the original Greek conveys the image of an umpire making a ruling.
“Let the peace be the umpire, the decision caller,” Robertson said. “If you have peace about it, if you’re settled, then let that be the call: Yes, this is of the Lord.”
That peace is not the same as avoiding every difficult or uncomfortable situation. It is the settled assurance that remains when we bring a decision before God and surrender our preferred outcome.
Robertson also shared a simple test taught to him by evangelist T.L. Osborn. When facing a decision, we can ask:
- Is this good for God?
- Is it good for people?
- Is it good for you?
“The most spiritual thing you can ever do is help somebody else,” Robertson said.
However, he cautioned against treating constant exhaustion and unhealthy self-denial as marks of spirituality.
“If you’re constantly on this self-sacrifice mission and denial, then you’re not going to be good for anybody,” he said.
Discerning God’s voice is not meant to trap us in fear that one wrong step will ruin His plans. We can test what we are sensing against Scripture, examine its fruit and allow the peace of God to make the call.
When all three questions line up, Robertson’s advice is refreshingly straightforward: “By all means, do it.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
