Day 5 - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2026

Day 5: Who speaks for God?

And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

One of the questions that I have often asked myself is, “How do I know if God has spoken to me?” Maybe you are asking yourself a similar question. Maybe you are getting mixed signals and you don’t know which way to go. You would like clarity but you have several voices speaking into your life, each one speaking a conflicting opinion. Perhaps all of these voices are well respected and maybe even spiritual mentors who you trust! What should you do?

Let me submit a couple of thoughts about this that may help you know if it is God speaking through someone or if it is just a person with an opinion. 

First, God can speak through anyone, at any time, in any way he sees fit. But he will never contradict himself! If someone says, “God told me… to move in with my girlfriend.” I have news for you! They are not speaking for God! God will never invite us to sin or live lives in contradiction with his inspired word!

Secondly, God is interested in us being more like him! Don’t believe someone who tells you that there is only blessing in your future! God will use pain and suffering to make you more holy. Jesus himself promised that if we followed him we would face trials and tribulations!

Some years ago my wife was going through chemotherapy to treat cancer. I remember attending a birthday party during this time and listening to a conversation between several individuals who were sitting near me. The young lady was bemoaning the fact that her boyfriend had broken up with her… the other person made the comment that good things were coming her way “because God wanted her to be happy!” Because I knew this young lady and her situation and because I myself was going through some rather unhappy times I recognized that this was not a God inspired word that she was hearing. I spoke up and explained to her that she should not expect to just “be happy” but that she should look for how God was trying to make her holy. What areas of her life needed to be changed so that relationships could thrive? What areas of her life were not fully surrendered to God? Was she seeking God’s plan for her life?

Unfortunately this young lady followed the path of the “false prophet.” She has spent the last years seeking to be happy. She hasn’t learned from her many relationship mistakes and has even pursued a relationship with at least one married man. Why? Because she keeps justifying her actions through ideas like, “God wants me to be happy.” 

Lastly, not all false prophets are lying intentionally. I don’t believe the aforementioned person meant this lady any harm. I am sure they were just trying to encourage her. And what they said sounded good! But they were not speaking for God!

My prayer for today is that God would give us discernment to hear his voice and to also know when a false prophet is speaking into our lives. Father, Help us to know your voice and respond to it. Guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen!