When God speaks and we hear His voice it’s always an exciting adventure. It’s what makes us come alive. While there are many ways that God speaks, learning how and when He speaks is one of our primary aspects of being a child, friend, follower and servant of the Living God. Since English is not God’s primary language . . . what are other ways He speaks and guides us?

Years ago, I was driving paying attention to the road. All at once I noticed that one ear got hot while the other was cold. I thought, “I never experienced this before . . . do I have a condition?” When I got home I asked my father to touch each ear. He asked without me saying anything, “Why is your ear red and hot?” I went hours thinking there was something wrong with my ears when it occurred to me I should ask God what was happening. After all, He is the one who created me and knows everything about me. Upon asking a subtle thought came into my head . . . recognizing it was the Lord because of the clarity and peace it brought. I heard, “I’m trying get your attention . . . Listen up!” I found it so interesting that God spoke to me through my sense of touch.

Another time while shopping in a store I suddenly noticed a sensation in my leg and then my ankle started hurting. I thought to myself, “I never have ankle pain or any injuries, I wonder what this is all about!” Again, wondering if God was speaking to me, I noticed an older woman walking towards me. I asked her if she had any pain in her ankle and she acknowledged and said yes. God allowed me to feel her pain so I could pray for her and see God’s love touch her.

Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Since touch is one of our senses, it seems fitting that sometimes God would speak to us this way. Feeling a sensation in our bodies while recognizing that it’s the Lord is the perfect invitation to a deeper relationship with Him. I typically recognize God is speaking to me through repetition and trial/error. The writer of Hebrews said it perfectly when he wrote, “practice”!

Asking questions, waiting for God to speak, and following what He says are 3 major keys to maturing in our faith. Since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17), it is pivotal that we are positioning ourselves to listen. Is God speaking to you through your sense of touch? If so, what is He saying?

By Francesco Sideli