Be still and know I am God

Greetings:
How do we know what we are hearing is God?
So many times, I've wanted God to just say, “Hello, it's God”.
Or, perhaps a more effective way for God to keep us on the straight and narrow path would be to give us a stern rap on the side of the head whenever we veer off the course.
We often doubt if we are hearing from God until we learn to recognize the ways God speaks to us.
John 8:47 says, “He who is of God hears God's words.”
God sometimes speaks to people through dreams, visions, prophecy, His written Word, and even an audible voice. God also speaks through other
people.
No, that does not make you mentally ill as a television host recently accused our nation's vice president, because he professes as a Christian to hear the voice of God.
God sometimes speaks through circumstances, the opening and closing doors of opportunity. We are not to be led by people, but only by the Holy Spirit.
We are to walk by faith not by sight, and faith comes by hearing the spoken words of God and recognizing His voice.
Actually hearing from God isn't so much a matter of if he's talking to us, but rather, whether we're listening in the right way to him.
Psalm 46:10 offers the best advice, “Be still and know I am God.”
Be blessed.