Is this normal?

Porpoise · Sep 1, 2018

I've found that God has answered my prayers in a number of ways, such as through dreams, other people, sermons, etc. But usually when I ask him questions (about his will, help understanding scripture, etc.) they are answered through the radio (radio bible studies/sermons).

I am feeling a bit wary about it because in the past, I was involved in the occult (tarot cards) and was deceived by a spirit who pretended to be God, and this reminds me a lot of that in some ways. When I did tarot cards, I had a specific way of getting answers, I could ask a question and immediately get an answer. When I realized they were occult and forbidden by the bible, I ceased tarot cards completely and anything occult to my awareness. But now I have been listening to the radio a lot in order to learn, because even though I've read the whole NT, I still don't understand a lot of it, and I don't always know how to apply it to my life. I pray and ask for help understanding things, and sometimes as soon as I turn on the radio, the answer is right there, the first words I hear. Sometimes this will happen several times in one day.

I've never heard of the radio being a form of occult or divination, but it feels similar to me. Am I right to be wary? I've tried the test from 1 John 4:2-3, I've asked for him to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh if it truly is God answering my prayers through the radio. I listened and didn't hear that, but what I heard instead was a sermon about doubting Thomas.

"So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”" (John 20:25)

I mean, that's pretty much what I'm doing. I'm saying "Unless I hear you say those words, I won't believe it's you." But I don't know, it just seems too good to be true. Who gets verbally answered prayers like this? Is this normal? I've wanted this so much, to be able to have this kind of relationship with God, with communication. But now that I have it, I'm just not sure about it because I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this.

Chris V++ · Sep 1, 2018

I used to be into a new age sort of Buddhism before I came to faith and was born again. My Buddhist friends would talk about 'synchronicity' which is sort of like an undeniable coincidence and also enlightenment. Being born again brought me my true enlightenment and the undeniable coincidences which confirm my faith for me float down like spiritual manna. Now that your eyes are open you will see more clearly, so yes, I believe God loves you and is speaking to you personally through the radio and that soon you will have no reason for doubt.

Hazelelponi · Sep 1, 2018

The Holy Spirit speaks to everyone in different ways, but there is never any harm with testing the Spirits since its a command by God to test them!

A_Thinker · Sep 1, 2018

Porpoise said:
I've found that God has answered my prayers in a number of ways, such as through dreams, other people, sermons, etc. But usually when I ask him questions (about his will, help understanding scripture, etc.) they are answered through the radio (radio bible studies/sermons).

I listened (and learned) from Bible ministries for years. As you said, God speaks through His people, whether that's face-to-face, in a church setting, over the radio, over the television, through books, articles, blogs, etc.

LoricaLady · Sep 1, 2018

Porpoise said:
I've found that God has answered my prayers in a number of ways, such as through dreams, other people, sermons, etc. But usually when I ask him questions (about his will, help understanding scripture, etc.) they are answered through the radio (radio bible studies/sermons).

I am feeling a bit wary about it because in the past, I was involved in the occult (tarot cards) and was deceived by a spirit who pretended to be God, and this reminds me a lot of that in some ways. When I did tarot cards, I had a specific way of getting answers, I could ask a question and immediately get an answer. When I realized they were occult and forbidden by the bible, I ceased tarot cards completely and anything occult to my awareness. But now I have been listening to the radio a lot in order to learn, because even though I've read the whole NT, I still don't understand a lot of it, and I don't always know how to apply it to my life. I pray and ask for help understanding things, and sometimes as soon as I turn on the radio, the answer is right there, the first words I hear. Sometimes this will happen several times in one day.

I've never heard of the radio being a form of occult or divination, but it feels similar to me. Am I right to be wary? I've tried the test from 1 John 4:2-3, I've asked for him to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh if it truly is God answering my prayers through the radio. I listened and didn't hear that, but what I heard instead was a sermon about doubting Thomas.

"So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”" (John 20:25)

I mean, that's pretty much what I'm doing. I'm saying "Unless I hear you say those words, I won't believe it's you." But I don't know, it just seems too good to be true. Who gets verbally answered prayers like this? Is this normal? I've wanted this so much, to be able to have this kind of relationship with God, with communication. But now that I have it, I'm just not sure about it because I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this.

I have had experiences in regard to the radio. Not too long ago I felt led to turn it to a Christian channel, for example, and heard someone saying "There is nothing more hypocritical than a Christian who will not forgive." Well, there was someone I was feeling resentful toward and that was a good word for me.

Another time I got the Word of Knowledge "radio", turned it on and it was talking about the need to take enzymes in many cases. When I mentioned this to my doctor, he thought taking enzymes would be a good idea. (He was kind of into natural health.)

If what you feel led to is consistent with Scripture, or at least in no way contradictory to it, no problem. The Lord is extremely creative in the ways He communicates to us, either directly or indirectly. The trick is to prayerfully study the Scriptures so you, for sure, know what is consistent with them and what is not.

However I would pray for Words of Knowledge and Words of Wisdom, sometimes called rhemas, and for discernment. A lot. The Savior told us about the "voice of the stranger", which you apparently know is the devil and his crew. We are told to "discern the spirits" too. There are spirits from the dark side, and "ministering spirits" i.e. holy angels, sent by the Father. The evil ones are slick as, well, hell. But with prayer we can see through them.

Another way the Father communicates is through the Holy Spirit giving us checks in our spirit that something is wrong. Other times He might give us a feeling of peace that all will be well. Not uncommonly I have gotten that feeling of peace when I prayed about something, and in a way it seemed to be saying "You've prayed enough. All will be fine." So far that has always been the case.

It is good that you want to be sure that the voice you hear is from Heaven.

com7fy8 · Sep 1, 2018

Porpoise said:
But usually when I ask him questions (about his will, help understanding scripture, etc.) they are answered through the radio (radio bible studies/sermons).

I am feeling a bit wary about it because in the past, I was involved in the occult (tarot cards) and was deceived by a spirit who pretended to be God, and this reminds me a lot of that in some ways.

I do not know for sure about you. It is good for you to pray and test "all things" >

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

You have honored God, by stopping the tarot thing; so it is possible God has honored you by giving you a ready availability of answers through radio. I think I have heard some pretty good ministers on radio . . . possibly more real than the TV ones I have been hearing.

So, I see it is possible God can do this. But yes do test.

Also, I think of this > answers to questions is not the main concern of Christianity. We need to personally submit to God all the time in His peace (James 4:7, Colossians 3:15), and actively seek how He corrects our nature > Hebrews 12:4-11, while He is changing us into the image of His Son Jesus (Romans 8:29). So, this process is much more complicated and challenging than getting answers to questions.

So, the ready availability of answers could mean answers are not the main thing for you to invest your attention in getting. But concentrate on real correction and becoming pleasing to our Father (including 1 Peter 3:4) and learning how to love in close sharing as family with Jesus people while also reaching caringly to any and all people of this world.

God bless you, and welcome to Christian Forums

HTacianas · Sep 1, 2018

Porpoise said:
I've found that God has answered my prayers in a number of ways, such as through dreams, other people, sermons, etc. But usually when I ask him questions (about his will, help understanding scripture, etc.) they are answered through the radio (radio bible studies/sermons).

I am feeling a bit wary about it because in the past, I was involved in the occult (tarot cards) and was deceived by a spirit who pretended to be God, and this reminds me a lot of that in some ways. When I did tarot cards, I had a specific way of getting answers, I could ask a question and immediately get an answer. When I realized they were occult and forbidden by the bible, I ceased tarot cards completely and anything occult to my awareness. But now I have been listening to the radio a lot in order to learn, because even though I've read the whole NT, I still don't understand a lot of it, and I don't always know how to apply it to my life. I pray and ask for help understanding things, and sometimes as soon as I turn on the radio, the answer is right there, the first words I hear. Sometimes this will happen several times in one day.

I've never heard of the radio being a form of occult or divination, but it feels similar to me. Am I right to be wary? I've tried the test from 1 John 4:2-3, I've asked for him to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh if it truly is God answering my prayers through the radio. I listened and didn't hear that, but what I heard instead was a sermon about doubting Thomas.

"So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”" (John 20:25)

I mean, that's pretty much what I'm doing. I'm saying "Unless I hear you say those words, I won't believe it's you." But I don't know, it just seems too good to be true. Who gets verbally answered prayers like this? Is this normal? I've wanted this so much, to be able to have this kind of relationship with God, with communication. But now that I have it, I'm just not sure about it because I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this.

Let's set aside for a moment the idea of God speaking to you through some medium or another and look at it from a different perspective.

Different people learn in different ways. Personally, I learn the most through reading. Some people don't. You may be one who learns best verbally, meaning that you learn best through hearing someone read the words rather than by reading them yourself. There is nothing wrong with any form of learning, it's just different for different people.

I was a corporate technical trainer for years and always trained through a multimedia form to reach as many people as possible.

Continue to read but also continue to listen to others read. A bible on audio will probably make things easier.

GandalfTheWise · Sep 1, 2018

Porpoise said:
I've found that God has answered my prayers in a number of ways, such as through dreams, other people, sermons, etc. But usually when I ask him questions (about his will, help understanding scripture, etc.) they are answered through the radio (radio bible studies/sermons).

I am feeling a bit wary about it because in the past, I was involved in the occult (tarot cards) and was deceived by a spirit who pretended to be God, and this reminds me a lot of that in some ways. When I did tarot cards, I had a specific way of getting answers, I could ask a question and immediately get an answer. When I realized they were occult and forbidden by the bible, I ceased tarot cards completely and anything occult to my awareness. But now I have been listening to the radio a lot in order to learn, because even though I've read the whole NT, I still don't understand a lot of it, and I don't always know how to apply it to my life. I pray and ask for help understanding things, and sometimes as soon as I turn on the radio, the answer is right there, the first words I hear. Sometimes this will happen several times in one day.

I've never heard of the radio being a form of occult or divination, but it feels similar to me. Am I right to be wary? I've tried the test from 1 John 4:2-3, I've asked for him to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh if it truly is God answering my prayers through the radio. I listened and didn't hear that, but what I heard instead was a sermon about doubting Thomas.

"So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”" (John 20:25)

I mean, that's pretty much what I'm doing. I'm saying "Unless I hear you say those words, I won't believe it's you." But I don't know, it just seems too good to be true. Who gets verbally answered prayers like this? Is this normal? I've wanted this so much, to be able to have this kind of relationship with God, with communication. But now that I have it, I'm just not sure about it because I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this.

There are many good posts in this thread.

The main thing I would add is that is God wants us to trust *Him*, not the *method* we are using. I think that is why God uses a variety of ways to speak to us.

As a general guideline, the main thing is that God's speaking to us moves us forward spiritually and draws us closer to Him. At times it might be convicting or encouraging, but it is for our spiritual health. When it is *not* God speaking, that's what leads to guilt, depression, discouragement, and causes us to want to give up or stop trying or causes us to become arrogant or presumptuous. Over the years, I've heard many testimonies of various ways God spoke to people or did things that spoke in ways words cannot.

sea5763 · Sep 2, 2018

My mother said that whenever there was something that she was wondering about, that she would randomly flip open the Bible and find the answer all of the time. It seems like all of her prayers get answered too.

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Is this normal?

Porpoise

Active Member

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Chris V++

Associate Member

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Hazelelponi

:sighing:

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A_Thinker

Well-Known Member

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LoricaLady

YHWH's

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com7fy8

Well-Known Member

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HTacianas

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GandalfTheWise

In search of lost causes and hopeless battles

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sea5763

Well-Known Member

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