Inspiration

Question: How do you know the difference between something God inspired and self inspired?

Response: After all the years I’ve been a believer, I still struggle with this one from time to time, however there are several things I keep in mind.

1. Is the inspiration consistent with the written Word of God? God will never lead you to do something that is inconsistent with His word.
2. If it is something God is calling me to do, is it consistent with the spiritual gifts he has given me?
3. Very often, when God is inspiring me to do something, if I look back into the previous months, maybe years, I can see a pattern of thinking or events that has led up to the moment in question.
4. Even though I am not always sure, there are times that I am sure. Those times have to do more with how the inspiration comes. I can’t describe it. It just comes in a way that I know that I know it’s God. That’s very helpful when the inspiration might require immediate action with no time to go through the normal patterns I might employ to discern whether or not it is God’s voice or mine.
5. What does my wife think?
6. What do those whose counsel I’ve learned to trust say?
7. What do my intercessors say?
8. Last but not least, when I know that I am working hard at hearing God’s voice, I trust his ability to speak and not my ability to hear.