I have often faced this question in the last several years because I have met so many and read from so many that I cannot help but be exposed to the thought that God expresses his will and guidance in answer to prayer through avenues other than the Scriptures. In the next several blogs, we will explore these things. One issue that immediately comes to mind when we claim that God speaks to us outside the Word is that it denies the all-sufficiency of Scripture. Now, if the Scripture is not adequate for our needs and it can be shown, I’m perfectly content to accept it and must accept that I need to hear from God apart from it and that God will provide revelation and guidance or has been providing it all along.  If these assumptions are true, I need to learn to listen to Him because I am missing out on a tremendous blessing.
Suppose the Scriptures are sufficient and adequate to equip and complete us, representing God’s exclusive revelation to humanity. How do we access the claims and teaching of others that claim this connection with God and ongoing communication from Him? If not, some would argue that our relationship with Him could never occur because communication is one-sided, i.e., we are always talking to Him but hearing no response. In that case, one could ever claim a personal relationship with God who never communicates, personally.
I have two observations from those who write on this subject that they compare human relationships with our relationship with God when describing our fellowship with Him. They use such phrases as “love relationship,” “intimate relationship,” or “real,” and “personal” relationship.  If we are praying to God with specific and personal requests, we must expect an answer from God. To be ignored is no relationship.  The second observation is that has a specific will for my life, and thus, to make the right decisions, I must lean on God’s voice for guidance. While the Bible offers general guidelines about our personal lives, it does not offer detailed, specific, and personal instructions. Again, acknowledging this and following this line of thinking requires an admission that the Bible is not sufficient. We need something more because, for every action, there is a reaction or an effect resulting from that action. Some may appear to be small and inconsequential but looking back in our lives, we can see how those decisions made a huge impact in our lives or the lives of others.
Part of our problem is thinking that there is a right course and a wrong course in those personal decisions where we seek God’s wisdom. We have a tendency to think that our spouse, children, jobs, community, etc., are either right or wrong for us because of a decision we made in the past. Had we talked to God and waited for an answer, our livers would be better, or we are truly blessed because we waited and followed the God-given signs.  Is there only one door to open that has “God’s Will” written over the frame? Or, are there several paths to take that are neither right nor wrong and that we can walk with Him in either choice we make?
In the succeeding blogs, we will explore these and more questions regarding God, His communication to us, and our response to Him.