One of the privileges we have as Christians is that we have spiritual leaders who can tell us what God is saying, not just what God has said. They can teach you a lot of what God has said. What God has said means, they can teach you scriptures, which I often do. I teach scriptures. As the Bible tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”, (2 Timothy 3:16).

We need what God has said because it is what we use to build people spiritually. As Paul said “…Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up…” (Act 20:32 NIV). You are built up with what God has said.

But what God is saying is for your guidance. Just as He said, “I will guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalm 32:8). People go astray when they don’t know what God is saying to them now. Even mature and built-up people can still go astray. Everything God has said can build you spiritually, but without knowing what He is saying about your current situation, you can still make wrong choices. What God is saying protects you from evil—it keeps you from what Satan is trying to destroy your life with. Even though the Word says, “for he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psalm 91:11), you can still be a victim if you are not guided by His present voice.

This is the major difference between what God has said and what God is saying now. What He’s saying now is for our guidance. This is why the Bible says, “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Word of God builds you, but the voice of God guides you. What He has said strengthens you, but what He is saying leads you. What He has said forms your foundation, but what He is saying helps you navigate the paths of life. The Psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

It is important not only to know scriptures but to stay sensitive to what God is saying to you today. His present voice keeps you safe, aligned, and protected from the traps the enemy sets. He said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). When you read His Word, pay attention to what God is saying and always seek His present guidance. As you give attention to His Word and stay yielded to His Spirit, your life becomes balanced—built by what He has said and guided by what He is saying.