ashwise

Is there a verse in the Bible that tells us that God speaks to us through other people? I've seen this be used in christian books where being told something numerous times through people is a sign that God is speaking to us, but I'm quite skeptical on this one.

I know that to be saved you have to accept Jesus, but can you get saved any time or do you have to wait for the Holy Spirit to iniate and take that oppurtunity? The church I go stated this prinicple, and I do not remember encountering this statement in the Bible. Any thoughts?

Never pay back evil with evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19 So dose God really take vengance against someone who has offended you or dose he not do anything at all? The reason I'm asking this is because other christians have told me God dose not do vengeance.

Thanks for all of your responses.

Thanks for posting this and it was a joy to read! As for me, I don't care about being right, all I care is the truth, but it seems that some Christians like to be right, which can cause problems. It feels like most of us are missing the message that Jesus taught, we are supposed to LOVE each other, not judge others.

About a while back I was watching Joel Osteen, for those of you who don't know who he is he is a pastor who preaches on t.v and is the head of a mega church. He has a line of books that promote living your best life. Anyway, the subject was about the verse in Psalm 23: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies from the NKJV of the Bible. Joel Osteen interpreted that verse as a way of having your enemies come to you when they need something from you and whenever something bad happens to think of God making a feast for you and serving it in front of your enemies. I'm just wondering if this what the verse really means or if there's a deeper interpretation of it.

Yes But I have found out he has a girlfriend so its completely in God's hands...

Thanks for responding and for the prayers Fresno Joe. Socal Jerry, I can totally relate to you and maybe that's my problem, not letting go and letting God. Thanks for the awesome advice! I think the hard part is actually letting go and reminding yourself that God is in control because the outward forces can be discouraging at times.

I feel like I'm at the end of my rope with the whole Faith thing. I beleieve God has placed a certain someone in my life and I feel like he wants me to be with this person, but in reality it feels like this man dose not reciprocate my feelings because I feel he is being closed minded and somewhat stuck in the past because we have had a history of conflicts. I have given him space but today as I was talking to him I accidently invited him to see a local band with me and I got turned down and its bothering me. If God is telling me we are supposed to be together than why in reality dose it feel likes its the opposite? I'm trying to figure out if God is trying to close this door or he is trying to teach me a lesson in patience because i feel impatient and frustrated with the whole situation.

Awesome. But what about through prayer can a person help God try and open that person's mind?

Can God open up a closed person's mind or would that be a violation of free will?

Thanks for posting this! Really needed it!

Please share what you mean by "God telling you." In our fallen word, it's easy to inject our own thoughts and feelings into what the Lord is saying. And even the most prophetic people will encourage you to seek confirmation on anything they tell you. But if it truly was the voice of the Lord speaking this to you, do you not think your number one prayer ought to be for this man's salvation? You see, if you develop a relationship with him in his unsaved state, you are opening the door to a world of hurt. Sure, your friend has a working marriage, but that doesn't mean the unequal yoking spiritually isn't causing stress. I've listened to many women with unsaved husbands crying out their pain over the matter. So this is my advice and encouragement to you. 1. Intercede first and foremost for his salvation, that he would fall head-over-heals in love for Jesus. (Rather than praying about him falling in love with your. If the word was from the Lord, that's a given you need to stand on, not plead and pray for and fret over.) PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION WITH NO THOUGHT FOR YOURSELF. 2. Seek confirmation of the word. I have been praying for his salavation because I know the only person who can save him was God and I feel like God is telling me he will have to break him in unorder to do so, but I always make sure to confirm it because I have been led astray by my thoughts before and I find it hard to listen to God's voice sometimes because I don't know if its my thoughts messing with me or God. I've been praying for an answer to my question if it is God's will for us to be together, but I don't know if God reveals to a believer that their future spouse is currently unsaved but tells them ahead of time that they will be saved. As for God telling me, I was in church with a completely blank mind focused on the service and I heard this small slow voice echo in my head that I will be this man's perfect mate. I was a little freaked out and told my christian friend becca and she said it could be God but pray to make sure. Thank you for advice, I will change my praying style to pray that he is saved and leave my question out of it. I just don't understand why a God who loves everyone would tell you to not marry an unbeliever. I've read through this subject alot and I know a lot of christians say the answer is no. I'm just having trouble accepting the "no" concept.

What about hearing God telling me that I was supposed to be this man's perfect mate in church?

Sorry if this seems a little off topic, but do you think God would show your future spouse as an unbeliever and then tell you to be patient while he is working in that person's life to help better themselves spiritually? And would the term "unequally yoked" also apply to former believers who have stopped believing because of circumstances in life? I have a few friends who this applies too.

I really appreciate the advice and I'm quite familar with the verse and I'm praying to make sure this is the right answer. Reading this though has raised many questions though. Are Christians being too judgemental to nonbeleviers? And are there other factors that can cause relationships to suffer besides faith? I have a former friend who athiest and bipolar and she married her husband, a believer and highschool sweetheart, this past April, just to share an example.

I really like this guy. Unfourtunately, he's unbeliever and comes from a broken home which has affected his personality. He's nice, but he is somewhat sociallly awkward and antisocial. My friends think he is a jerk and haven't really met him but base this opinion on what I've told them and from his appearence and his body language. At the begining of the semester, we got into a really bad fight and after blaming everything on me, he told me to not speak to him. For almost two months we haven't spoken until the last week in october when i told him I wasn't mad at him and he apologized, realzing it was not anything to be upset about. We get along fine and talk whenever we see each other. I still have feelings for him and I've been praying to God to see if this man is supposed to be the one. I feel like God is silent for a while and then i get a variety of answers such as "be patient, you will have your answer soon" "yes, you two will be together, you must be patient, he is being difficult, it will be awhile". I keep asking God because I'm not sure if its my thoughts messing with me. Another friend has told me the answer is no because she asked if he has hurt me emotionally and mentally and God would not put someone in my life like that. I have kept her answer in mind, though I silently disagree because I believe God puts a variety of people in our lives for a reason. I have also a theory that he could have treated me as such because it could be a defense mechanism because some people tend to push others away. Now that we are talking, I'm not really sure what to do. I've been praying and debating of asking him what's next. A friend of mine said to let it be and work on it next semester since this one is almost coming to an end...Any suggestions?

In my prayers. Have you tried an adult day care service? I know they can be helpful.

Also praying and hang on! It will be over before you know it! Have you tried talking to a counselor whenever your depression worsens?

I have anexity issues as well and I found your story somewhat relatable. Congrats on being 3 weeks stable for your GAD. Do you do any breathing excercises to help calm you down or have a close friend to talk to? I always suffered from being nervous and anxious, I got that alot from my mom and I was somewhat insecure as a child. When I was 15 my anexity really escalated when my grandfather killed himself. I did not start grieving until 4 months after his death. My grief lasted 6 months. It ruined a few friendships and caused me to be very miserable. On top of that, the weight of resentments toward a friend caused me to snap and go a little crazy, also ruiining two friendships, one of which was a friend who also suffered from bipolar disorder. My anexity came with my first panic attack at that age of 16 when watching the Crucible in English class and seeing the hanging scene. I remember feeling very panicky, I wanted to leave the room, my heart was beating very fast and I just looked away while the men in my class were shouting approval. It made me sick. The anexity I felt during my grief made me question my sanity and my relationships with others and it ruined my trust with others. At the end of highschool I was a shy and angry woman. My aniexty still bothered me a little in college, but I found true friends that I could trust, but my anexity came back in my sophmore and junior years when I was forced to become a nursing major. I had so much pressure to pass that my aneixities kicked up again. I excluded from my friends, I suffered from test anexity, I stressed so much, and I got a couple of panic attacks. Those were the two most miserable years of my life, I didn't listen to my friends who kept saying switch your major, my parents were not that supportive as they kept threatening to force me to quit school if I did not pass nursing. It was very stressful and I was anxious person. I did have a good counciler during those times, the chaplain at my college seemed to get me and helped me understand my situation. Thankfully though all of the anexities ended when I failed out of nursing school last semester and I'm finally doing what I want. Suffering from anexity is not fun. You always feel like you are always on edge and you do not know who to trust. It really tanks your self-esteem. Also shoofly, I can totally relate to your story of a bad therapist. I had one that made me feel like a bad person. It took me awhile to find a good one who really got me. Maybe try your campus pastor if you have one and hopefully that person can help you. I hope your GAD calms down so you can enjoy your trip.

Thanks for the good advice. I've been praying for him like crazy. I did wave to him a few days ago so I hope that counts as being nice.

Thanks for alll the fantanstic advice! It was making me think maybe it was my thoughts instead of God talking....I'm still praying about it.... As for the falling out, I don't really remember what happened, I guess he's one of those people who likes to put others down.

I'm a college student and recently had a falling out with this nonbeliever who i thought was a friend. We have not spoken in a month and whenever he sees me he likes to play the avoiding game. For example, last thurs. I was making my way to the libary and I saw him, we were going to the same place. I felt he was avoiding me because he would stall and wait for me to go in so he would not have any contact with me. I was a little hurt and upset by it and allowed it to affect me for 2 days. I feel like God is telling me to feel a little pity for him since I have hardned my heart with anger and hatred for this man. I'm just wondering if we should also feel sorry for our enemies besides trying to be nice to them.

need some insight from anyone who's had experience "hearing" from God. How do you trust God's direction when you can't trust you're receiving God's direction? I've had a life-long struggle with clearly hearing God's voice. I've seen others latch on to hearing from God and doing well with it. Yet sometimes things don't go the way they believed the Lord was telling them. It's left me even more frustrated. I don't want to live a life of trusting my own intellect and instincts and being swayed by circumstances to make a decision. Yet taking leaps of faith that weren't mean to be taken? Or . . . I don't know what? . . . is devastating. Anyone? Thanks for posting this, I can totally relate to your situation because I'm in the same boat. I just pray constantly after I hear it from God and i feel like if God has repeated himsellf or if what he says matches what is said in the Bible or if a friend says it then it has to be from him.