Because I indie-published my last book, I used ChatGPT as an editor–and it did a good job, I must admit. It didn’t pick up subtext, and it had problems about remembering what had happened in the early part of the book, but it was really good about keeping my characters’ tone consistent and not offending anyone’s sensibilities.
But in my story, God speaks to Josh. Not in long sermons or conversations, but he says things like Feed My sheep. Not in quotes, but in bold print.
ChatGPT didn’t like that. It seemed to believe that readers would think I’d slipped a gear or something, or that God was doing–heaven forbid–something miraculous. It suggested that I have those words rise from a memory or something similar. But I kept it in the book, because I know God speaks to His children. He has spoken in just that way to me.
There’s a speech I often give about how I became a writer, and I always say that I grew up understanding that God speaks to us in (at least) three different ways: Through the voices of our spiritual authorities (parents, pastors, godly friends); through the Bible, His word; and sometimes through that still, small voice that speaks to our hearts. If I were Balaam, I could add that sometimes He speaks through a donkey.
God has spoken to me three times. Each time I stood at a crossword in life, and during two of those times, I’d been praying and fasting for direction. All three times, I froze and heard God’s voice in my head/heart–clearly, explicitly, but not audibly. And each time I knew I’d just received a clear message from the Lord.
Has God ever spoken to you? The first time, I was about eighteen and wondering what to do with my life, and after a time of prayer I heard God say, You will travel and sing. And I felt peace, because though I didn’t know where I’d sing or with whom, I knew it was going to happen.
The second time was when my hubby and I were waiting for our adoption to come through. And Scripture was involved, because the pastor read a verse: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Not if the desire comes, but when. The pastor read probably a dozen verses that morning, but God whispered those words into my ear. We had a child coming–so I could wait in confident faith.
The third time was a couple of years later. We were ministering in a large church with great opportunities for our children, and I wondered how we could ever leave. And then the pastor, who was preaching on the Abrahamic call, said something, and God reiterated those words in my ear: Don’t be afraid. I will bless you wherever you go.
We often talk about “checks” to our spirit about certain things, and I’ve certainly felt those, but I’m here to say that God does speak, if we have our ears open and our hearts ready. That’s why I wrote Josh the way I wrote him, and why I ignored chatGPT. Because I knew most of my readers would completely understand how and why and Who Josh was hearing. It wasn’t a memory, it wasn’t his own heart. It was the Lord.
Has God ever spoken to you? What did He say? I’d love to hear your story!
Always,
Angie
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I remember when I was struggling as a young mom and began to realize that much of my issue was spiritual immaturity. I so clearly heard the Lord say, “I love you too much to let you stay where you are.” I have held onto that for over 30 years now.
I LOVE THAT! Yes, He loves us to conform us to the image of His son. Beautiful lesson!
I love that artificial intelligence doesn’t get what we know to be true as believers: God speaks to us in that still, small voice. The first it happened was when I heard the gospel being preached and I considered the claims of Jesus as Messiah. I heard a very distinct message. “This is true.”
Another time at a crossroads, I’d been praying for direction and as I was rising from a nap and heard “Go in peace.”
God has also spoken to me through his word, his people. I love praying for affirmation over decisions. He’s so faithful to make our paths clear.
Love this story! Beautiful that He speaks and you listen. 🙂
God mostly speaks to me through His Word (and if I’m not hearing from Him, it’s usually because I haven’t been in His Word enough!) But I have also heard His still, small voice whispering to my spirit through His Spirit. The most memorable time was about 25 years ago when I felt the Holy Spirit compelling me to go tell our next-door neighbor that God loved her. She was kind of a scary lady who kept to herself, and there were rumors that drugs were being sold out of her house. But even as I made excuses, I knew God was asking me to go, and go quickly. So I did. I sat on the sofa with her and stumbled through sharing the Gospel and told her that God loved her (which was what I specifically felt I was to tell her), but I was very nervous, especially since there was a teenage girl sitting in her kitchen, which was open to the living room. Nothing dramatic happened. My neighbor listened politely but indifferently and I went home. A few weeks later, police raided the house, the woman went to jail, and eventually died there. To this day, I have no idea if she allowed Jesus into her life before she died. Maybe my reason for going was so that teenage girl could hear the Gospel? I may never know, but it was an important lesson for me in being obedient to God’s voice.And it can never be wrong to tell someone about Jesus, even if we mumble and bumble.
I’m so glad you obeyed, Deb. And I know lots of people go minister in jails, so perhaps she responded later, before she died. God is faithful, and I’m so glad you were, too.
I loved your post!God speaks to me through His Word, but also through song lyrics. Most mornings I wake up with a song that comes to mind, and usually it is exactly what I need to take me through the day.
I’ve had that happen, too. It’s like melodies go straight to the heart. Thanks for sharing, Stacey.
The first time God spoke to me in a dramatic way, I’d just graduated from college and moved to a rural town (pop. ~ 11,500). The region was splintered with scores of churches that had broken off from each other. Everyone was convinced they had the only “true” church. It unsettled me. Sometimes I could almost feel the town crying. I didn’t know until much later that a witch’s coven was active south of the town. In addition to my day job, I helped with a church high school church youth group and was a summer Christian camp counselor. One night I dreamed people dressed in black were jackhammering my driveway and trashing the half of the duplex where I lived. I watched in horror, wondering what to do. Then God said, “I am your firm foundation. As long as you trust Me, you won’t be shaken.” I realized all the destruction could be repaired–and whoever those people were, they hadn’t been able to touch my spirit or soul. That gave me strength to deal with unprecedented challenges that arose shortly after that and lasted several years.
That’s powerful. Yes, He is unmoveable and unchanging, bless His name! So glad that you learned to rest on and in Him, and not in your circumstances! Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you for your inspiring post, Angela. Years ago, I was shopping at a mall and noticed a young man sitting by himself, looking dejected. The Holy Spirit told me to go over to him and tell him that God loved him. Of course, the enemy’s voice whispered that as a woman, I shouldn’t approach a strange man. What would he think? But I resisted the devil and approached the young man anyway. I didn’t know what to expect, probably a smirk or a rebuff. But when I told the man that God loved him, imagine my surprise when he began to weep. His reaction opened the door for me to share the truth of the Gospel with him. Glory to God!
Yes, When I was pregnant with my 2nd child, a boy, I had some bleeding issues. Fearful that something was wrong I saw the Doctor and he ordered a sonogram. When I saw the beating heart of my child not only did my heart leap for joy, but I heard. “This child will reach those who are thought to be unreachable.” Michael is now a minister, and vice-president of USA’s national Soldiers for Jesus. (a MC) He has not only “reached” the 1%ers but has personally brought to Jesus the presidents of the Sons of Silence and the Hell’s Angels in his area. What a marvelous, blessed, present God gave me!