By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

Hello, friends! This month I’m launching a series called 5 Ways God Speaks to Us. Every Wednesday in May I will release a new blog post focused on one of the ways we hear from God. Join me as we dive into this exciting topic!

My senior year of high school I received some literature in the mail from a Christian college in another state. They sent a brochure highlighting their English program, offered to waive the application fee, and provided a free t-shirt.

I did things a bit backwards. I applied to this college before I visited it! A few weeks later, around Thanksgiving, I stepped foot on campus for the very first time. As soon as I stepped out of the car and my feet touched the pavement, I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit telling me this was where I was supposed to go to college.

Have you experienced something similar? Has there been a moment where you knew, completely and with conviction, that the Holy Spirit was speaking to you?

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

The Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost) is the part of the Triune God that dwells within us. It’s not quite your conscience, though at times the Spirit may encourage you to make better decisions. That’s how God uses the Holy Spirit to speak to us!

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17 KJV).

After Christ’s Ascension into Heaven, the Holy Spirit came down on Pentecost, filling the disciples and encouraging all believers. The Holy Spirit is within us, guiding us, directing us, teaching us God’s ways.

It’s Not Your Conscience Speaking

The Holy Spirit speaks to us in a variety of ways: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18 KJV).

Not every dream you dream is a vision from God, nor is every word you speak prophetic. But the Holy Spirit can inform our desires and our thoughts. When I made the decision to leave my old job, I had no idea what I was going to do next. I started praying on it and within just a few days I had this persistent, nagging thought of “what about writing?”

I never would have considered being a full-time author as my next career. It’s risky, and I’m generally risk adverse. I liked having a steady paycheck and health insurance. I liked knowing I could pay my bills. With writing, I would have to step out in faith and trust in God, while glorifying God through my words. That’s how I knew the thought of becoming a writer was not my thought, but the Holy Spirit within me.

Can You Hear God Now?

God never stops communicating with us. As we draw closer to the Lord, we hear Him better. We’re better able to differentiate between our thoughts and the words of the Holy Spirit. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today?