This is part 2. In this section, I want to give the testimony of my wife and I and some of our friends.
Again, this is not an argument or debate, but just a testimony of what God has done.
10 (er…11) times God has spoken (personal testimony)
When I was in my late teens, I felt God call me to the mission field, but I didn’t know where He wanted me to go. I figured I needed some training first, so began looking at Christian colleges. While in one town looking at a college, [1] the Holy Spirit told me very clearly what school He wanted me to go to — overseas. This totally surprised me. The US has lots of great Christian schools, yet God was telling me to go overseas. It was so strong in me, that whenever someone suggested another school, something in my spirit screamed, “NO!”
I ended up at the overseas school, but still had no idea where He wanted me to serve. One day, I was walking down the street praying about my future, [2] when God asked, “Did I call you to this school?” “Yes, Sir.” “Then I will tell you where to go in My timing.” As soon as I accepted that, a peace came over me that I’d never known before (or since). It was a tangible peace, and I can still point the place out on a map where it happened.
A few months later, out of the blue, [3] a thought came to me that seemed to be from outside of me. It was in my thoughts, but it wasn’t my thought. I actually responded to it with a “Yeah, I’ll do that,” then thought, “Where did that come from?” But in obedience, I did what God said, and through it, He called me to a particular field.
Fast forward a few years. I’d been on the field, got married, had some kids, came back to America, and was preparing to go back to the field. We were expecting to go by a certain date, but that date came and went, and we didn’t have the money to travel. We were so certain that we were supposed to go at that time, that when we didn’t, I got mad at God, and stopped praying for about a month. When I started praying again, [4a] I knew that we would be back overseas by the end of the year. God didn’t say, “You’ll be back by this date.” I just knew it. When I told my wife, she said a friend of ours [4b] felt the same thing.
As the time approached, we still didn’t have the money. But we continued praying. One night, I very boldly went to God and demanded the money come that week. (Yes, I demanded. It was the culmination of months of prayer, and I needed to purchase plane tickets.) What I didn’t know was that [5] God had spoken a very specific word to our pastor to take up a collection on our behalf. We were back overseas before the end of the year.
One day we were out at a park, just having a fun day out with the kids. It was toward the end of the month, and we didn’t have any extra spending money. While walking in the park, my wife prayed that God would give us some spending money. Within 15 minutes, she got a text from a friend, saying, [6] “God told me to give this to you.” It was just enough to ride some rides and eat out.
We’re now back in the States, but every month we send money overseas. In early 2025, we had some extra expenses, and even though we had the money to send, it was going to hurt. We prayed, and some friends in that country texted us and said, [7] “For the past couple of days, God has been urging us to give you some money.” Had they waited one more day, I would have sent the money we had, but because of their gift, we didn’t even have to.
We have many such stories of both God speaking to us and of God speaking to others on our behalf. Sometimes it’s just a nudge, a feeling, or an impression. Other times, it’s a very specific word with very specific instructions or information.
And sometimes we miss it.
One morning, on my way to work, [8] I had an impression to take a certain amount of money out at the bank, but didn’t do it. To my knowledge, we didn’t need the money that day. When I got home, my wife said we needed to pay for something (this was before digital payments). I told her, “This morning, God told me to take that amount out today.” [9] And she said, “Yeah, He told me the same thing, but I didn’t tell you.” I had to go back out to withdraw the money. Had either one of us recognized that it was God speaking to us and obeyed Him, it would’ve prevented me from having to go back out.
On another occasion, [10] I had a distinct impression to take an umbrella with me. I hate carrying umbrellas, so I looked outside, and the sun was shining with no clouds in the sky. I asked my wife if it was supposed to rain. She said no, so I left the umbrella. By the time I came home, it was pouring. It’s hard to get a taxi when it’s raining, so I came home soaked. (Yes, I believe the God who created the universe told me to take an umbrella. He is our Father and our Shepherd. He cares for us.)
Some of the different ways God has spoken to us or on our behalf are:
[1] a specific word
[2] a specific word
[3] a specific word
[4a] a firm impression
[4b] an impression
[5] a specific word
[6] a word (don’t know how specific)
[7] an urgent impression with a specific word for the amount
[8] an impression
[9] an impression
[10] a strong impression
——————
So, yes, I believe God speaks to us today — by His Holy Spirit, by dreams and visions, by words of prophecy, by His angels — even His audible voice — as well as through the Scriptures. As I write this, so many stories are flooding my memory. There are so many stories of God speaking to the “great” men and women of God, as well as the average Joe Christian.
Maybe some of the stories above will cause you to think, “Something like that happened to me.” It may have been (probably was) God speaking to you, and you didn’t recognize it. That’s okay. We’re always learning and growing. Ask Him to make you more aware of when He speaks to you, then obey those prompts.