I have recently enjoyed reading two books by Tony Stoltzfus: The Invitation and The Encounter Coach's Cheat Sheet. In another of Tony's books, I discovered the innovative list below of 12 ways God leads us.

I see God has used all twelve of these methods to reveal and confirm His will and destiny for my life. With permission from the author, I am sharing this helpful list with you for your edification and for you to share with others, helping them discern God’s gifting, leading, call, and destiny God has for them. Pursuing one’s God-ordained destiny is the KEY to an effective, fun, fulfilling, and abundant life!

12 Common Ways People Experience Hearing a Call from God - by Tony Stoltzfus

  1. Drawing to a Need – I see a person, group, or need my heart is drawn to serve, and through that feel a larger sense of calling to meet those needs long-term (Moses).
  2. Personal Suffering – My call grows out of a personal experience of suffering and what is birthed in my heart through it (Job).
  3. Personal Success – God speaks to me through my success or overcoming something with a realization of what I can do on behalf of others (David with Goliath).
  4. Demonstration of Gifting – My calling is demonstrated (and often recognized by others) through unusual or early manifestations of gifting or ability (Joseph).
  5. Childhood Dreams – God implants significant insights about the future in the hearts of children (Samuel).
  6. Holy Discontent – I can’t stand something that is going on, and in the process of working against that injustice I discover my calling (Nehemiah).
  7. Inheritance/Community – My call comes through being part of my family, tribe or community, and embracing that group’s sense of collective call (Isaac, Jacob, Ruth).
  8. Affirmation/Confirmation – God uses others to name, confirm, or prophetically reveal my calling to me (David).
  9. Scripture – God reveals my call through a Scripture that is brought to life for me (Josiah).
  10. Circumstances – I find myself in a place of destiny where circumstances force me to respond (Esther).
  11. Direct Revelation– God speaks directly through an inner witness, dreams, visions or other supernatural means (Paul, Mary).
  12. Progressive Revelation – God uses many events, circumstances and insights to progressively unfold my call over a period of years (Abraham).

Stoltzfus, Tony. A Leader's Life Purpose Workbook: Calling and Destiny Discovery Tools for Christian Life Coaching. Pegasus Creative Arts. Kindle Edition.

Testimony: How I (Mark Virkler) have experienced these twelve ways God guides

  1. Drawing to a Need – I got saved in a church that didn’t believe God spoke today. Even churches that do believe God speaks have many in their congregations who did not know how to clearly and easily hear His voice as no one had ever mentioned to them that God’s voice is experienced as flowing thoughts which light upon your mind, while your eyes are fixed on Jesus.
  2. Personal Suffering– I was devastated with sadness and regret that I didn’t live when Jesus was alive on the earth, so I could walk and talk with Him. Now He was far away in heaven.
  3. Personal Success – I realized the final words of Jesus were: “Behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:20 Modern KJV) Yay! Also see #11 below concerning direct revelation.
  4. Demonstration of Gifting – Once God revealed to me the four keys to hearing His voice, I discovered as I shared them, others could hear God’s voice too.
  5. Childhood Dreams – God put in my heart as a child the passion to LIVE the Bible.
  6. Holy Discontent – I could not accept that God no longer allowed His sheep to hear His voice.
  7. Inheritance/Community – My call came based on a family heritage of parents who loved the Lord and sought to serve Him with all their lives.
  8. Affirmation/Confirmation – Rev. Tommy Reid, John Arnott, and Randy Clark all confirmed the 4 Keys and had me teach them continuously in their ministries. Shawn Bolz, Sid Roth, Patricia King, and many others have video interviews with me on the 4 Keys. The 4 Keys have been translated into 56 languages. Nearly 100 other authors have added the 4 Keys to their books. I have traveled for 40 years on six continents teaching How to Hear God’s Voice. Now we have students in 127 nations who have taken our training on communion with God and provided hundreds of testimonies of transformed lives. (See also Trustpilot Reviews.)
  9. Scripture – God showed me His guarantee: “My sheep hear My voice!” (Jn. 10:27)
  10. Circumstances– I found myself kicked out of my church when I first taught the 4 Keys. This opened the door for me to become a co-pastor in a church of 3,000. When let go from that church, God used that to fulfill His ultimate destiny for my life: He led me to the nations to teach communion with God.
  11. Direct Revelation – As I honored the inner leading to set aside a year of my life to learn God’s voice, He woke me halfway through that year with a booming bass voice, saying “Get up, I am going to teach you how to hear My voice.” That morning He taught me 1) stillness, 2) vision, 3) flow, 4) journaling. God’s voice is as simple as quieting down, fixing my eyes on Jesus, tuning to flow, and journaling out the flowing thoughts (God’s voice), and flowing pictures (God’s vision). See: www.CWGministries.org/4keys 
  12. Progressive Revelation– I have been a Christian since age 15. I learned the 4 Keys at age 25. Now at age 72, I have over 50 books that bring the voice of God to 50 areas of one’s life. We have 100 university courses that bring the voice of God to your university education and a School of the Spirit which brings the voice of God to over 25 e-learning training modules. We also have a website committed to communion with God (www.CWGministries.org/4keys). God has confirmed that I am living out my destiny. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Now It's Your Turn: Personal Journaling Application

Ask God for direction for your life’s ministry by asking Him for revelation in these 12 areas.

  1. Drawing to a Need – Lord, what need do I feel drawn to meet?
  2. Personal Suffering – Lord, where have I personally suffered?
  3. Personal Success – Lord, where has Your comfort granted me the grace to overcome this suffering so I can minister this same healing to others who have experienced similar suffering?
  4. Demonstration of Gifting – Lord, what gifts and strengths have I expressed so far in my life?
  5. Childhood Dreams – Lord, what dreams did You place in my heart as a child?
  6. Holy Discontent – Lord, what is it that I can’t stand and believe needs fixing?
  7. Inheritance/Community – Lord, what are the gifts in my family's heritage which I see are now present in my life also?
  8. Affirmation/Confirmation – What do others tell me my gifts and calling are?
  9. Scripture – Lord, what Scripture supports my gifts and calling?
  10. Circumstances – Lord, what circumstances are pushing me in the direction of my calling?
  11. Direct Revelation – Lord, what would You say to me about my gifts and calling?
  12. Progressive Revelation – Lord, what ongoing revelation confirms and expands my gifts and calling?

Dig Deeper: Personality Profiles, 4 Keys Training, & More Journaling Questions

Related Resources: 

How to Hear God's Voice!