Come On… God Talking to Me Sounds Pentecostal and Charismatic
A biblically grounded, step-by-step way to “hear God” (with Jamie Winship & Donna Winship’s lens) without drifting from Christ’s teaching
The hesitation is understandable
If you grew up wary of anything that sounds like “God told me…,” your concern is not only normal—it can be healthy. Christians have misused that language to manipulate others, justify bad choices, or elevate private impressions above Scripture.
Jamie Winship’s aim in Living Fearless is not to turn everyday guidance into new revelation, but to help people exchange lie-based thinking for truth and learn to live from a secure identity in Christ rather than fear. He teaches that hearing God is relational and practical—yet must be tested and tethered to what God has already spoken in Scripture. (Winship, 2022). (Barnes & Noble)
So the question isn’t, “Do we accept random spiritual impressions as equal to the Bible?”
The question is: Does Scripture teach that God guides His people personally—and if so, how do we do that responsibly?
Does God still speak?
1) God has spoken finally and authoritatively in Christ and Scripture
The New Testament is clear: God’s definitive revelation is Jesus Christ, and the apostolic witness to Him is preserved for the church (Hebrews 1:1–2, NKJV). That’s your anchor: the Bible is the final authority for doctrine and life.
2) God also guides His children by the Holy Spirit
Jesus taught that His followers are not abandoned. The Spirit would teach, remind, and guide (John 14:26; 16:13, NKJV). Jesus also described believers as sheep who recognize their Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27, NKJV). This is not a license for new doctrines; it’s relationship—illumination, conviction, direction, comfort, and wisdom.
3) Scripture commands discernment and testing
The Bible anticipates confusion and counterfeits. That’s why it says:
- “Test the spirits…” (1 John 4:1, NKJV)
- “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NKJV)
- God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33, NKJV)
So biblically, hearing is real, but testing is essential.
What Jamie Winship (and Donna’s testimony context) adds
Winship’s distinctive emphasis is that many believers live from false identities formed by fear, shame, trauma, and accusation—and that those identities distort how we experience God, ourselves, and others. He frames transformation as learning to ask God: “What do You want me to know?” rather than living on autopilot with anxious interpretations. (Winship, 2022). (Barnes & Noble)
Identity Exchange materials similarly describe an approach that pairs listening with truth—hearing God in a way tied to what He is doing and what is true about who we are in Christ. (Identity Exchange)
Donna’s public podcast appearances (and their joint content) commonly emphasize identity-shaping lies and the need for God’s voice to reframe who you are—again, as a discipleship tool, not a doctrinal shortcut. (Apple Podcasts)
A Christ-centered definition of “hearing God”
To keep this biblically sound (and not weird), define it like this:
Hearing God is receiving Spirit-led clarity that aligns with Scripture—through the Word, prayer, conscience, wisdom, providence, and the counsel of the body—resulting in obedience to Christ.
That definition:
- Honors Scripture’s sufficiency
- Makes space for Spirit guidance
- Requires testing
- Produces Christlike fruit
Step-by-step: How to listen in a biblically sound way
Step 1: Start where Jesus starts—relationship, not mysticism
Jesus’ “voice” language in John 10 is covenant relationship: belonging, following, trusting (John 10:27, NKJV). Your goal is not spiritual adrenaline; it’s companionship with Christ.
Practice (2 minutes):
Pray simply: “Father, because of Jesus, I belong to You. Help me hear You through Your Word and Spirit—and obey.”
Step 2: Quiet the noise without trying to “manufacture” a voice
One reason people think this is charismatic-only is because they imagine “hearing God” must be dramatic. Often it’s not. It can be: conviction, clarity, remembrance of Scripture, a settled nudge toward obedience.
Practice (3 minutes):
Slow your breathing. Release urgency. Ask:
- “Lord, what’s true here?”
- “What am I believing that may be false?”
This aligns with Winship’s “truth over lie-based thinking” emphasis. (Winship, 2022). (Barnes & Noble)
Step 3: Open Scripture first
If God never contradicts Himself, Scripture is your primary filter and the Spirit’s most reliable voice to you.
Ask three questions with an open Bible:
- What does God say is true about Him?
- What does God say is true about me in Christ?
- What obedience does this require today?
This is how Christ trains disciples: “If you abide in My word…” (John 8:31, NKJV).
Step 4: Ask a better question than “What should I do?”
A major Winship-style shift is moving from anxiety-driven decision making to identity-driven obedience.
Instead of:
- “God, what should I do?” (often fear-based)
Try:
- “God, what do You want me to know?”
- “What lie am I agreeing with?”
- “What’s the next faithful step of obedience?”
That’s consistent with Jesus’ discipleship method—He reshapes identity and belief, which reshapes behavior (Winship, 2022). (Barnes & Noble)
Step 5: Write what comes—then test it
When you pray and you sense clarity (a phrase, Scripture, conviction, direction), write it down—briefly—then test it.
Four biblical tests (non-negotiable):
- Scripture test: Does it align with biblical teaching?
- Character test: Does it sound like Jesus—humble, truthful, holy, loving?
- Fruit test: Will it produce the Spirit’s fruit over time? (Galatians 5:22–23, NKJV)
- Community test: Can mature believers confirm the wisdom of it? (Proverbs 11:14, NKJV)
Scripture explicitly calls for testing (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21, NKJV).
Step 6: Separate guidance from authority
Here’s how you stay out of charismatic excess and out of sterile deism:
- Authority for all believers: Scripture
- Guidance for a particular moment: Spirit-led impressions that must submit to Scripture
So you can say:
“I sensed the Lord leading me to reconcile / apologize / slow down / call my pastor,”
without implying:
“God has revealed new doctrine.”
That’s an important Reformed-safe boundary.
Step 7: Obey the next right thing
Jesus links hearing with doing:
- “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28, NKJV)
- “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, NKJV)
Most “hearing problems” are actually “obedience delays.” The Spirit often gives enough light for the next step, not the whole blueprint.
Step 8: Expect God’s voice to emphasize repentance, reconciliation, courage, and love
If what you “hear” mainly flatters you, fuels outrage, or justifies fear—be suspicious.
In the Gospels, Jesus’ direction usually pushes people toward:
- truth-telling
- repentance
- forgiveness
- courageous love
- surrender
That’s exactly why Winship ties hearing God to exchanging lies for truth and moving out of fear-based living. (Winship, 2022). (Barnes & Noble)
“But what about the fear of being deceived?”
Great fear—because it’s realistic.
Guardrails that keep this biblical and sane:
- Never make your impressions binding on others.
- Never use “God told me” to control or win arguments.
- Never treat impressions as equal to Scripture.
- Always submit major decisions to wise counsel.
- If you struggle with scrupulosity/anxiety, shorten the loop: Scripture → counsel → simple obedience.
Done this way, listening prayer becomes discipleship, not spiritual roulette.
A simple “Listening Prayer” script you can use today
Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name.
Thank You that Your Word is truth and Your Spirit guides Your children.
Show me what is true about You, what is true about me in Christ, and what obedience You are inviting me into today.
Expose any lie I’ve agreed with.
Bring to mind Scripture that anchors me.
Give me courage to obey the next right step.
Amen.
Then write:
- What lie am I believing?
- What Scripture corrects it?
- What is the next obedient action?
Bottom line
Yes—this can be biblically sound and rooted in Christ’s teaching if you define it rightly and test it rigorously.
If you want to avoid the “Pentecostal/charismatic vibe” without becoming spiritually dry, keep the formula:
Word first. Spirit-led listening second. Testing always. Obedience next. Fruit over time.
That’s not sensational. That’s normal New Testament discipleship.
References (APA 7)
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Religious work references. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/religious-work-references (APA Style)
Winship, J. (2022). Living fearless: Exchanging the lies of the world for the liberating truth of God. Revell. (Barnes & Noble)
Identity Exchange. (n.d.). Knowing Rediscovered. https://www.identityexchange.com/knowingrediscovered (Identity Exchange)
Identity Exchange. (n.d.). Identity Exchange (website). https://www.identityexchange.com (Identity Exchange)
Identity Exchange. (2025). Episode 001: Discover Your True Identity: The Primer for… (Podcast episode). https://www.identityexchange.com/podcasts/the-jamie-donna-winship-podcast/episodes/2149097915 (Identity Exchange)
(Bible citations: APA allows Bible verses to be cited in-text by book, chapter, and verse; whether to include the Bible in the reference list depends on your institution’s APA guidance.) (Oral Roberts University Library)