Asking God for Truth
What if I asked you this: “How often do you lie to yourself?”
I don’t think you mean to. But when I hear you say, “they’re just being nice” after someone just gave you a compliment — I’ll notice.
Maybe you’ll catch my attention by saying, “I should be doing better than this by now” or “God doesn’t want to hear about that.”
My ears will perk up if you say, “I’m such an idiot,” when you accidentally knock over a coffee cup.
You might not even hear yourself say these things.
And you might not even realize you believe them.
I’ve learned differently.
The things we say — especially what comes out quickly or repeatedly — often point to what we believe underneath.
I’ve also learned that my reassurance doesn’t change what you believe.
But the voice of the One who Created you can.
In previous posts, I’ve given you some examples of how I’ve asked God to speak truth to the lies I’ve believed and I’d like to invite you to do the same.
If you’re ready to try this, and you’ve read the Listening Prayer Guardrails article, I’d like to walk you through what I would do if we were sitting together.
Notice What Seems True
You may have been noticing little things you say when you make a mistake. I gave the example of “at least you’re not as dumb as you look” and how God and I worked through that.
Often the place to begin isn’t hidden.
It’s already in the thoughts we carry and the words we say without thinking — things that feel settled, like facts:
- I’m not enough.
- I always mess things up.
- God is disappointed in me.
- I’m on my own.
These don’t usually feel like questions.
They feel true.
And that’s what gives them their weight.
We’re not hunting for something to work with.
If you don’t have a phrase to work on today, you can come back to this another time.
Later we’ll talk about other ways issues show up.
Check If It Feels True
Once you have the phrase, the question to ask yourself is:
Does this actually feel true to me?
If your answer is:
“Yes… it really does,”
then you’ve likely found something important.
But I Know It’s Not True
Even though your head may know the truth, what you believe is deeper than logic alone.
We are shaped by experiences, memories, and emotions.
That’s why simply repeating truth doesn’t always change our beliefs.
If that were enough, you probably would have convinced yourself by now.
What we need is for God to make that truth real in our hearts.
The best way I’ve found is to simply ask Him about it.
A Prayer for His Voice
Before we bring anything to God, we can begin by simply asking to hear from Him clearly.
Lord, as I come to you, I ask for your protection.
I pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as I bring these thoughts to you.
I ask for clarity, not confusion. I ask that You would show me anything I need to know.
Help me recognize what is from You, what is from me, and what is not from You.
Let me receive as truth only what is from You.
In Jesus Name, I acknowledge Your presence now.
God, What Do You Say?
Now, if you are ready, it’s time to ask God about what you have been telling yourself.
In a prayerful attitude, think about your phrase.
One phrase only, not all of them at once.
Notice if there’s any emotion or deeper pain connected to it.
This isn’t the time to try to fix it or figure it out yourself.
Instead, ask God if He wants to show you a connection, perhaps to a past event or memory.
Often, but not always, there will be an echo to the past that might clarify what you have believed.
Bringing this connection to light can bring a sense of relief and insight.
Simply bring it to Him:
Tell Him the phrase that feels true to you.
“I’m __________________.”
“I’m not __________________.”
“I’m too ____________________.”
“I can’t ___________________.”
And ask:
Jesus, what do You have to say about that?
And listen.
You might wonder if what you hear are just your own thoughts.
If you could have figured it out on your own, you probably would have by now.
No need to strain.
You can hear His voice.
Just His.
Radio Silence
If nothing comes, that’s okay, too.
It does not mean that God is disinterested in you or angry with you.
You are practicing. You are learning.
This is new, and that’s okay.
Just keep going.
We can talk about some reasons for that later.
If Something Comes
If something comes to mind — words, a picture, a sense of truth:
If it resonates, don’t rush to analyze it.
If it doesn’t, don’t dismiss it immediately.
Don’t feel like you have to get it “right.”
Instead:
- Write it down
- Sit with it
- Bring it back to God in prayer
It will probably be short, not a long explanation.
It might be surprising, but God is able to make Himself understood.
He’ll communicate in ways that speak right to your heart.
A Gentle Encouragement
Sometimes what we hear may not fit our expectations right away.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t from God.
More than once, I’ve seen something initially questioned turn out to be exactly what was needed.
Give it space before you decide.
You can ask Him:
“Is this from You?”
“Would You make this clearer?”
“If this isn’t from You, would You redirect me?”
God is not irritated by those questions.
He welcomes them.
Stay Anchored
As you listen, remember:
- God’s voice will not contradict Scripture.
- He is kind, not condemning.
- He leads in truth, not confusion.
If something feels off, bring that back to Him in prayer.
Test the Fruit
Now say your original phrase again.
Notice if anything feels different.
If it was connected to a memory, does the memory feel different?
When God speaks truth, something changes.
Sometimes you feel it right away.
And sometimes that truth keeps working its way through.
Take a moment to thank God for the truth you have received.
Let Him know if there is any lingering pain attached.
If the sting is still there, be gentle with yourself, and keep it in prayer.
As you do, God may bring further insight.
Journaling or talking to a wise helper may also be supportive.
Bring It Into Community (when needed)
I have some trusted friends that know my deeper story. Sometimes I will share these interactions with them. As I talk with them, the path becomes less tangled.
I become more aware of what to bring to God for healing.
Other issues connected to my chaotic childhood I will take to my therapist.
- Wise counsel is not lack of faith.
- God often works through safe, trusted people.
- Counseling is a gift, not a failure.
You don’t have to figure all of this out at once.
This is something you can come back to, one step at a time.
God is not in a hurry with you.
He is not only patient, He is willing and able to make Himself known to you.
The Why
This isn’t only about finding relief from what’s been weighing you down.
Scripture reminds us that we are saved by grace, but not just for Heaven. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared in advance for us.
God has put talents and skills in each of us. It is much easier for us to move in them when we are not hindered by the lies we’ve believed.
Healing isn’t the goal by itself. It’s part of how God prepares us to live more fully with Him.
If you try this:
I’d genuinely love to hear what happened—whether it felt clear, confusing, or somewhere in between.
You’re welcome to share in the comments, even if it’s just a sentence or two.
Sometimes hearing how God meets each of us helps others take their first step.
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