Hi--Deep water here. :)

Hearing from God comes in many forms. The Bible talks about the more, shall we say, spectacular ways that he has communicated--in dreams, directly as an audible voice, even appearing in the form of an angel, in a fire, through a hand writing on a wall (not a very good choice to ask for--that was way bad news to that dude). I would think that all of those are still in vogue for God because, well, He is God. However, more people over the past 200 years have admitting to more indirect ways of hearing from God: through the Bible, through other wise, more mature believers, through feelings or impressions that they feel inwardly.

I think no one should tell another that they did or did not hear from God. It's a personal thing---I am sure that people gave Moses some serious grief about saying that he thought he had heard from God from a burning bush. "Ha ha, that Moses, what a kidder."

So, what I try to tell people are remember some basic principles:

1. God will never directly contradict something that is universal in the Bible--meaning, you can't tell me that God told you to sleep with your boyfriend when he has already said that sex before marriage is out.

2. Be willing to hear from other counselors because He tells us that wisdom comes in multiple counselors.

3. Look for a deep sense of peace about whatever decision you are dealing with.

Hope that helps.