All too often we don’t incorporate the use of our minds with hearing God’s voice, but he gave us an incredible tool in and through our cognitive abilities. Some have had thoughts in the past that if God is going to direct us, he is going to by-pass our mind. I guess our reasoning is that God is Spirit and if he is going to speak it will be something spiritual that we won’t be able to comprehend.

I think perhaps that we may be confusing faith and thinking.

There are probably many ways that we can ‘hear’ God’s voice speak to us. These are some of the filters, ‘grids’ that we need to consider if we want an accurate ‘take’ on what he is saying.

A) God’s Word – Three Grids

1) Grid of Thinking: How are you doing in your thought life?

Phil. 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

True?
Noble?
Right?
Pure?
Admirable?
Excellent?
Praiseworthy?

2) Grid of Accepting: How are you doing with what you believe?

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

First Pure?
Peace-loving?
Considerate?
Submissive?
Full of Mercy?
Good fruit?
Impartial?
Sincere?

3) Grid of Doing: How are you in your attitude or response to another person?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…

Patient?
Kind?
Does not envy?
Does not boast?
Not Proud?
No Dishonor?
Not Self-seeking?
Not Easily Angered?
Keeps no record of wrongs?
No delight in Evil?
Rejoices with the truth?
Always protects?
Always trusts?
Always hopes?
Always perseveres?
Never Fails?

B) Listening to the counsel of a brother or a sister who are in a godly relationship with you. 
Discipling or Mentoring

C) Does the next step violate or hurt anyone?

Does it make sense, does it line up with where things should be?