This Is Exactly How To Talk To God And Hear Him Speak Back To You

Summary

The speaker argues that hearing God is usually less dramatic than people expect. Rather than waiting for an audible voice or spectacular sign, people can become better at recognizing God’s guidance through a growing relationship with Him—especially by reading Scripture, praying, making room for quiet, and acting on what they already understand.

Main Ideas

• Familiarity comes from spending time with God. The speaker compares recognizing God’s voice to recognizing a close friend or family member. The more time someone spends with God, the more familiar His voice may become.
• Prayer should include listening. Prayer is presented as a relationship, not merely a one-way message. People can bring God their worries, needs, fears, and gratitude, then pause rather than immediately moving on.
• Silence can help people become receptive. Constant entertainment and digital noise can crowd out quiet reflection. Stillness does not force God to speak; it helps people pay attention.
• Scripture is the primary standard for discernment. The speaker says God’s guidance will not contradict the Bible. He encourages people to look to Scripture for guidance on matters it already addresses rather than continually seeking a new revelation.
• Not every thought is from God. The speaker describes three possible sources of thoughts:
  • The flesh: Personal desires, emotions, fears, and preferences, often focused on immediate gratification.
  • The devil: Accusation, temptation, deception, and lies, including claims that God does not love someone or that they cannot be forgiven.
  • God: Guidance consistent with Scripture. The speaker distinguishes God’s correction, which identifies a mistake, from condemnation, which attacks a person’s worth.
• God’s guidance may come in different forms. The speaker describes it as sometimes experienced through an inner conviction, a recurring idea or poem, or the counsel of a wise person. He says he has personally felt convictions that led him to turn down opportunities and later understood why.
• Sometimes the next step is to obey what is already known. The speaker cautions against asking for new direction while ignoring previous guidance. Fear of failure, judgment, or discomfort can keep people from acting.
• Faith may involve uncomfortable action. God may challenge someone to forgive, let go of something, or take a difficult step. Faith is framed not as a feeling, but as a decision to trust and act.

Suggested Practice

1. Put away the phone and reduce other distractions.
2. Open and read the Bible.
3. Pray honestly about what is on your heart.
4. After speaking, pause and spend time quietly with God instead of rushing away.
5. Try quiet activities, such as taking a walk without headphones, music, or podcasts.
6. Practice stillness regularly, even when it feels boring.
7. Compare impressions or guidance with Scripture, and seek wise counsel when appropriate.
8. Follow through on what you already believe God has asked you to do.

The speaker offers the prayer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,” as a way to express a willingness to listen.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Mike Malagies: The video’s first-person narrator and speaker.
• The Bible: Cited throughout, including the stories of Samuel and Eli and Elijah; teachings attributed to Jesus; and references to prayer, Scripture, discernment, fear, and stillness.