I happen to believe it's important
and fruitful to determine whether God does or does not speak, and that includes specific instances. Perhaps you do, too, and you already have an answer (yes) to the first part. That's fine, if it's true. OK, let's say it is true. God does speak to individuals. What about the second part -- dealing with specific cases?
Those individuals and their audiences ("God told me to tell you") have
no way of knowing if any given instance really is from God or not. The alleged prophet could
feel deep inside that it's from God, have goosebumps and chills down the spine, could see a bright light, could hear an audible voice, could get confirmation from another alleged prophet, or you name it. None of it proves anything. You might say he should just have
faith that it's from God. Sure. If it really is. But now we're back to square one.
What's the best policy, then? Believe it's from God until proven otherwise? Tell that to the Mormons!
Tell that to Deanna Laney, who killed her children on orders from God.
What would
I tell all the potential Deanna Laneys and Joseph Smiths and David Wilkersons and their audiences? I say assume it's
bunk until proven otherwise. Could be a hunch or a whim or blatant fraud or made up from whole cloth or a word from a demon or whatever. Could be a genuine word from God, I suppose. In that case, I would think God would have a fool-proof way for us to know. But He doesn't.
Sorry, but it's not possible to be "proven otherwise". My advice will end up with nobody ever hearing from God, or at least not believing that it is (whether it is or not). But is that such a bad thing? What are the horrible consequences of missing a true word from God? What's so important that God would think it's a good idea to plant a thought into someone's mind, or vocalize (audibly) it? Why would He use a method that is so easily and very often is faked (intentionally many times, accidentally other times, perhaps with the best of intentions), and sometimes causes various kinds of bad results, such as unnecessary panic, or the deaths of innocent children?
Oh by the way, how does one discern whether I am using critical thinking, or I have a critical spirit? Just curious.