leafstone, when I try to spend some quiet time alone, I have thoughts that come into my head that talk to me
I can't really tell if it's from God or not because if I ask God something, something in my mind pops up and I don't know if it's me making it up or if it's God because I think of some weird things
LIke if I try to listen to God, I have a thought that says like "Pick up the cup on the table" or something weird
Godsray, I have been reading through this thread slowly. I don't know if Leastone is still here or not. The last post I saw was May 6, 2006.
I know this: I witness to everything I have read so far. This man truly loves God, and has walked with Him.
I am not Leastone. But when I saw your question, I wondered if I should answer. So with hesitation I offer you my thoughts.
There are three voices that you can hear when you are listening for guidance. One is the voice of your own soul or spirit. One is the voice of demonic forces assigned against you. The third voice is that of the Lord.
Your soul is your mind, your will and your emotions. Most of us are well conditioned to listening to our soul. Through it we give ourselves directions, continue in both good and bad habits, and even continue listening to voices that have been programmed in us from the past.
A second voice is that of demonic forces assigned against you. There are ways to recognize this voice, as it tends to be pushy, and cause fear and confusion. Satan--or his forces--can use Scripture, as Satan did when he tempted Jesus, Matthew 4:1-10. Satan can do miracles, as the Egpytian magicians when they imitated the first three miracles Moses did, Exodus 7:11-12; 7:22; 8:7. But there is one thing I've found that Satan cannot imitate: he cannot imitate God's peace.
A good way to judge whether guidance is from God or not, I've found, is to use several tests. Leastone himself said to make sure that what you hear lines up with God's Word. That is one test. Also, make sure that that Word is given with peace, because the wisdom of God ALWAYS comes with peace, James 3:17-18. If something is pushing you to do something when you are trying to spend time with the Lord, that is not God. It may be your own soul or demonic forces, however. Another test is remember that even when He corrects us, God never condemns. Even in correction, there is comfort, edification and encouragement, 1 Cor. 14:3.
It is a good thing to seek the Lord's guidance! And you do get better at discerning His voice. Let me help you a bit further, if I may.
I went to the Lord one day and asked why I couldn't hear Him more easily. I'll never forget His answer. He told me that the reason I was having trouble hearing Him was that I was listening to the world too much, and almost not at all to Him. So true. I was a newspaper junkie. I loved reading my newspaper! And TV! And radio! I liked to stay informed!
But now the Lord asked me to do something so that I could hear His voice more easily. He asked me to fast my newspapers, TV, radio, etc. He asked me to spend time in His Word instead. So for nine months, I gave up my news sources...and spent time in the Word. During that time, it became so easy to hear God's voice--because I was listening to His voice everyday! His Word is His voice! And the more I read the Word and got it inside of me, the easier it was to hear the Lord, not only in His Word, but also that still small voice inside of us that is Him.
Now, I admit, I read newspapers and watch TV today. But I know that when it gets difficult to hear the Lord, I've been listening to the world too much again--and not enough to Him.
How to quiet the voices that are not His? Galatians 5:24 says "those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." I've found this useful to do from day to day as I pray. I always start the day asking God to examine my heart first and show me any sin. And then I say that I am crucifying my flesh with all its passions and desires, and I choose to live for Christ this day. It helps a lot to be willing to be dead to self!
Also, when I need guidance on some important issue, often I'll tell God what all my own good ideas are. I'll list every one of them, and then say that I am putting all my own great ideas on the altar. I am choosing to die to my own good ideas, I tell my Father, and unless He quickens one of them to me, I am going to leave my ideas there. Then I wait and listen. Sometimes I pray quietly, but I'm listening. And I wait. I absolutely refuse to move until I know God is in something. Let the flesh be dead, I will wait! It's funny to me how often my great ideas--you know, the ones I put on the altar--are NOT what God has me do!
How to quiet the voice of the enemy. One suggestion is not to listen to the enemy as he comes over the airways and through the eyegate. Sometimes this is tough, I know. But watch what you put in your heart, because it will influence you. A second suggestion, REBUKE the enemy. James 4:7-8 is spiritual warfare. Look how it says, "submit therefore to God," that is, confess any sin He convicts you of. Then it says, "resist the devil and he will flee from you." When I am aware I am being harassed by the enemy, I will speak out loud and say something like, "You devil that just told me such-and-such, I resist you now and command you to flee!" Then I even quote James 4:7 and tell that demon that it has to go. Amazing, how those little voices stop--the ones that harass you and tell you you're no good, etc--when you do this. Then I go on to the next part, where James 4:8 says to draw near to God. The fastest way to draw near to God, I've found, is to praise Him. Praise, worship, thanking Him, reading the Word out loud--these all are ways of drawing near to God.
I hope this helps. Leastone is giving some great advice. What lovely posts there are here!
