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God's Voice
Jeff:
I know that God speaks to us primarily through the Scriptures, but I was wondering if anyone has the occasion to know when God is prompting them, or maybe put more aptly, do you ever know the difference between your own thoughts and when God might be saying something to you directly? I apologize if this naive but I don't have a clear understanding. God is mostly silent in this age and while I pray about it constantly, I've never been sure if God would even be talking to me, or prompting me to think about something. God is logical, and so logically, I suspect that the thoughts in my head are my own. I hope this makes sense.
lilitalienboi16:
--- Quote from: Jeff on October 01, 2015, 07:43:35 PM ---I know that God speaks to us primarily through the Scriptures, but I was wondering if anyone has the occasion to know when God is prompting them, or maybe put more aptly, do you ever know the difference between your own thoughts and when God might be saying something to you directly? I apologize if this naive but I don't have a clear understanding. God is mostly silent in this age and while I pray about it constantly, I've never been sure if God would even be talking to me, or prompting me to think about something. God is logical, and so logically, I suspect that the thoughts in my head are my own. I hope this makes sense.
--- End quote ---
Hi Jeff, this is an interesting subject.
I believe that part of how God instructs us is by slowly giving us the ability to discern between good and evil. The grace of God by way of His spirit teaches us to deny ungodliness and shows us what is good and right to do. There is a big difference between the thoughts of men and the thought of God but slowly our thoughts are transformed as our minds and hearts are changed until we come to that measure of stature of the fullness of Christ. To make it painfully obvious in the differences of thought just think of what the carnal mind desires and does and compare it to the mind of Christ. Now you know the difference between your thoughts and God's.
Hebrews 5:13-14
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Speaking of David:
2 Samual 14:16-17
16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and evil: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee.
1 Kings 3:5-12
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
I do believe this is how the spirit of God works in us, that still small voice--Giving us the ability to discern between good and evil.
1 Kings 19:9-12
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
By way of the holy spirit we begin to understand what God is teaching us (discerning between good and evil) and so we can see where God is indeed 'prompting' us because without Him we could never have been drawn this close.
God bless,
Alex
Dave in Tenn:
I've never heard an audible voice from God 'prompting' me to do anything, though I have "heard" a "voice" on many occasions.
To add to Alex's post:
We're told to ask for wisdom. I'd give you that as a short-cut, but it's really no short-cut at all. Because the Lord will give wisdom in His own time and in His own way. Sometimes it may be with an open bible, and sometimes it won't. Patience and long-suffering are fruit of the Spirit.
"Wisdom is justified of her children." Put another way, wisdom is made to be wisdom by its results.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I'll give you another short cut that isn't a short-cut at all either. If what I am thinking is different than what I have been thinking, is it better? If it is, then it is of God. That has 'worked' for me a number of times, but often takes a while before it becomes evident whether or not is really IS better.
Kat:
Hi Jeff, like the others were saying I think that God's Spirit works in us as discernment, and that is not through the 5 senses, but in the mind. It's effects how we think and reason and our attitude. It is the carnal mind decreasing and the mind of Christ increasing.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
I think it is a slow process, I don't remember really having a sense of the Spirit working for a long time after my eyes were opened to this truth. But we must constantly feed the Spirit within, that it may grow strong in us.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
What I believe Christ is saying here is that just as physical food nourishes our physical body, so spiritual food, that comes from Christ, nourishes us spiritually.... and that comes from study of the Word, meditation on the spiritual and pray. The more we dwell on spiritual matters, the more we come out of the world.
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
v. 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
v. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Jeff:
Kat, Dave, Alex,
Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated.
The Holy Spirit is quick to let me know when I'm being carnal. God has done much in me over the years to correct my behavior and "...make straight my paths..." Prov 3:6.
This is probably closer to what you wrote Dave "the still, small voice." But it's more than that too. Literally - many, many times, every single day, I ask God to fill my heart with His desires and my mind with His thoughts for me. I think walking in the Spirit requires that. But the past 6 months of my life have been uniquely difficult. Everyone's are, I just mean, something is going on that I don't quite understand yet.
I have this thought stuck in my head, and it's the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing at night. I'm trying to kill that thought and am not having success. I pray about it dozens of times a day. It's really more of a hope, that I want to go away. It's not something carnal, rather it would be a gift from God (that only He could give), but all things being equal, I don't think God would want this for me, but it's just a guess and I may not understand.
I just can't figure out if the thought is from God, the Adversary, or something that's just mine alone. It's tormenting me, but it also may be there for a purpose. We all talk about long-suffering and that's something that I'm not good at, and this thought may be there in order for me to be tried in the fire - more.
I pray for wisdom, peace of mind, God's direction, that God would remove the thought, or help me understand it, but it continues without much change.
That's when I go back to asking for God's will in my life and leave it at that.
But I think when our hearts are right, and we understand that only God's will matters, it's ok to ask for something specifically. I recall Ray saying in one of his studies "Ok, God, If you want me to move to Mobile, then help me find a house that's just right" (paraphrased probably) and then he found that house a few minutes later.
I miss Ray.
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