However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13 NKJV

Growing up, I would often hear both my Father, who was a pastor, and his cousin, a prophet, say: “the Spirit told me this, that, or another” . . . or say “the Spirit showed me.” I didn’t make the connection then, but I do now—the Holy Spirit has a voice.

There are basically three ways to be led by the Spirit of God: the inward witness, the inward voice, and the voice of the Holy Spirit. The voice of the Holy Spirit is more authoritative than an inward witness that testifies of God’s truth of our position, power, and place in God’s family (Rom. 8:16), or the inward voice of conscience that keeps us in tune with the Holy Spirit by confirming the rightness or wrongness of our thoughts, actions, or motives (Rom. 9:1). The voice of the Holy Spirit comes to provide direction, guidance, and instructions (Text).

Simon Peter heard the voice of the Holy Spirit speak to him while he experienced a trance-like vision that God gave him to deal with his stronghold of racial bias, religion, and ethnic prejudice, in order for the Gospel to be taken to the Gentiles (Acts 10:17-20). The Holy Spirit also spoke to Philip to direct, guide, and instruct him to approach an Ethiopian Eunuch in order for the Gospel to be spread to Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-30). And, the Holy Spirit will speak to you to direct you, guide you, and instruct you according to his will (John 16:13).

Just know that, as in the case of both Peter and Philip, God has an overarching plan. He uses the voice of the Holy Spirit to communicate the direction, and provide guidance to His people to fulfill His plan and purpose. God’s given vision and direction doesn’t ever change, but the actual guidance and instructions, from season to season, may change or even seem circular (See Exodus 13:17-18); but this is just part of the process—whatever it takes, the voice of the Holy Spirit speaks to us in a way and in a place that we can hear and understand.