Discerning God's will and hearing God's voice?

[nebula]

Am I missing something here? Is there a voice we are supposed to hear clearly in our head? I have read books by certain pastors who say they heard God speak to them clear as day with full sentences...

I have an old video from Mark Lowry (Christian singer and comedian). In it he tells of a time he performed/ ministered at a church, and they didn't give him an offering or a gratuity or anything.

So as he was driving home, he complained to God, "God, Your employee didn't get paid tonight. My stomach needs food! My car needs gas! What are we going to do about this, God?!"

Then Mark says he heard God speaking to his heart. "He didn't speak to me audibly. I'm a Baptist; I couldn't handle it."

"But He spoke to my heart, 'Mark, anything I give you is more than what you deserve, because what you deserve is Hell.'"

Humbled, Mark responded, "God, Your employee didn't get paid tonight, but it sure beats Hell!"

The point is that Mark obviously had the perception of words being spoken to him, but it wasn't something his physical ears received.

And that's usually how most of us hear God.

Does that make sense?

[2Joyful]

I have an old video from Mark Lowry (Christian singer and comedian). In it he tells of a time he performed/ ministered at a church, and they didn't give him an offering or a gratuity or anything.

So as he was driving home, he complained to God, "God, Your employee didn't get paid tonight. My stomach needs food! My car needs gas! What are we going to do about this, God?!"

Then Mark says he heard God speaking to his heart. "He didn't speak to me audibly. I'm a Baptist; I couldn't handle it."

"But He spoke to my heart, 'Mark, anything I give you is more than what you deserve, because what you deserve is Hell.'"

Humbled, Mark responded, "God, Your employee didn't get paid tonight, but it sure beats Hell!"

The point is that Mark obviously had the perception of words being spoken to him, but it wasn't something his physical ears received.

And that's usually how most of us hear God.

Does that make sense?

and the joke wasn't bad either, it carried weight in gold.

[silviawang]

If want a job you must make the search. You then get a job that fits you. The action between the search and getting the job is the voice of God. That applies to anything you ask Him.

Blessings

but how to now the job i searching for is GOD's will?how to know the difficulty is the test not the "no answer"from GOD?

[Fraught]

wyguy put it tactfully about being an 'old-school' christian - i'm not so diplomatic. one time i did hear an audible voice in my mind. my mind yelled back "NO" as loud as it could and that has never happened again. I do not think it is biblical that God should speak to us as a regular occurrence. no matter what others imply.

[Guest]

Another Take

 

Old School

 

And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

 

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

 

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

 

That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

 

And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And

 

Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

 

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

 

And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

 

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

 

And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

 

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

 

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

 

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

 

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

 

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

 

And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

 

And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

 

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

 

And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

 

And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. 2 Samuel 3

 

New School

 

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

 

Same LORD Same Book

 

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

[2Joyful]

You know late night, I really started thinking about this...who am I to say how God speaks? He is all knowing, all power and every where. Therefore if He chooses to speak audibly, through the Holy Spirit, or a donkey, then it shall be so.

He has already warn us that His ways and thoughts are not ours. In 1Sam 3:1-14, it clearly states: And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious during those days; there were no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not sleep; and ere the lamp when out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of the Lord was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, saying here I am, for thy calledth me, and he answered I called not, go lay down again my son. Now Samuel did not know the Lord, neither was not the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

Now to make the story short we know this happen three times, where Eli now realize that God is calling Samuel and tells him to return back to bed, instructing if the Lord calls again to answer, Speak Lord for thy servant heareth. We know that God returned, Samuel answered and God shared with Samuel what was to happen.

Now if there was no open vision at that time....and now we have them, that Samuel didn't know the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed.. BUT WE KNOW HIM and HIS Word and HE DWELLS in US...then why can't He speak audibly to us now? He is ALL POWER, ALL KNOWING, and EVERYWHERE, is He not?

[2Joyful]

Another Take

Old School

[color=#0

000ff]And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And

Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

Joe, as always you are right on the dime concerning scripture .. Let just say God send me a confirmation..

[nebula]

wyguy put it tactfully about being an 'old-school' christian - i'm not so diplomatic. one time i did hear an audible voice in my mind. my mind yelled back "NO" as loud as it could and that has never happened again.

I am curious as to know what the voice said.

I do not think it is biblical that God should speak to us as a regular occurrence. no matter what others imply.

Why?

[A Disciple]

Can't say I get anything real tangible from the Big Guy either. But looking back a bit, all the good things in my life are the very things I would have done differently at the time if I could. I'm a guessin' that is not an accident.

A Disciple

[Annette443pink]

I have been watching a lot of African Christian movies lately (my secret hobby, I guess ) and in many of them, the Christian main character needs to decide about a job or a spouse etc and prays and gets this clear as day answer from God!

In my experience, when I have prayed to God for guidance on a decision, I have not gotten a clear-cut answer, but rather, I would get additional informaiton that help me make an intelligent decision based on my own limited wisdom.

Some Christians have told me that you know that the decision is God's will because you get a sense of peace in your heart.... But in the past I have gotten a "sense of peace" about sinful/ungodly activities !!! Typically, I get the following advice:" God and pray and God will tell you what to do."

In the movies, God seems to tell them LIVE, like a voice speaking to them etc... Which is kind of cool

I tend to lean on the sober side here of looking for God's will in the Word. Looking at the Bible and seeing what God wants for his children: who to marry, what kind of job to hold or not to hold, and how to make a decision.

Am I missing something here? Is there a voice we are supposed to hear clearly in our head? I have read books by certain pastors who say they heard God speak to them clear as day with full sentences...

I like your honesty. I am the same way. I think about some of the stupid ideas I've had in the past and wonder why. These were things that I thought I was doing for God, then much later I figure out it wasn't right. Then I think maybe it's because I wasn't asking for wisdom. If we think we know anything at all, we need to pray for wisdom, because we'll never know enough. Someone said many things are our choice. Maybe sometimes it doesn't matter to God if you keep your current job or move to another (because one is not any better in His eyes than the other). Just some thoughts. Ask for wisdom and discernment daily. Read the Bible daily.