Are visions from God real?

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Diana_Lynn

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I am a Catholic, I go to church, and I pray every day - several times actually. It occurred to me recently while praying for God’s assistance, that I never stop and listen for his answer. So I did just that. I stopped, sat quietly and cleared my mind to hear anything he might have to say. It only took a few minutes when I suddenly saw myself standing in some sort of lobby, with my hands holding the handles of a wheelchair. A strong voice clearly stated “Bring them Home”. I was confused and uncertain of the the message, when something like an elevator door opened directly in front of me. Light poured out of the doorway, and the voice again repeated " Bring them home". With this I was suddenly compelled as if by force to push the wheelchair into the light emitted from the open doorway in front of me.

I opened my eyes at this point, shocked & astounded by what had just occurred within my mind. I was utterly confused about the meaning of this “vision”. I have never encountered this type of thing before and I was uncertain of what to do next. So I decided to pray for clarification, and wait for an answer.

I closed my eyes again, and again within minutes, I found myself this time in a darkened room. Before me was a massive door, unlike anything I’d seen before. The room was small, and quite dark, but I could see to my right, lying on the floor a door just like the one standing in front of me. I instinctively knew that I was to remove this door and stack it on top of the other door to my right. So I stretched out my arms and attempted to pick up the door and pull it away. It was impossible - my arms did not reach to either side of the door at the same time. But I continued with my clumsy efforts, somehow knowing it needed to be done. As I struggled, the door began to effortlessly lift. The removal of the door allowed for incredible light to pour in from the other side. Through this light I could see the silhouette of Jesus who was lifting the door for me. His voice said “If you struggle, I will help you.”

Again I opened my eyes, utterly shocked at what I had just seen. And amazed that this was happening to me.

My question to you is: Is this really a message from God? If not, what do you make of it? What are the possibile explanations?

I have mentioned this to a few people I know, and while it hasn’t happened to them, I don’t believe I am the only one.

I still do not understand the significance entirely, I have ideas, but no clearcut understanding.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 
Several times in my life I have had close encounters of the God kind, as Jesse Duplantis calls them. It was March the 13th Friday that is was trying to understand the meaning of the relation ship between how the number 12 and the number 24 are used in the Bible when a felling of a person talking to my mind took me through many comparisons in the Bible of how God uses light as the number 12 and 24 as the Wisdom of His working through the lives of people to take them from the ordinary to the supernatural. That week end I was praying Sunday night about some very serious problems raising my two teenage children. At 7:07 pm I was praying for my children when I began to see a light in the east that seemed brighter than any sunrise and this was after sundown in the evening. At first it seemed only a curiously for a few seconds but then as I noticed several people out side did not notice what was happening I knew this was something miraculous. This light kept increasing and moving ever closer to me until I began to co ware and step back with my hand over my eyes and even with my eyes shut and covered I could see the outline of a person of pure light hold out His hand and put it on my shoulder and say “So that you know who I am”.
I have no words that can describe how it feels to have the power of God’s love heal and change me so completely in an instant.

That whole spring and summer I only needed 3 hours of sleep and would wake up and 3 a.m. feeling better than I did 30 years earlier as a teen ager. I read the Bible 3 times that year and had more understanding than some who teach on the Bible.
That was 10 years ago and I am now 56 and the one daughter that I prayed about that night is now finishing her masters degree at Ohio State and was just married.

I still wake up early sometimes and like to sing and praise God till dawn. I like to right stories of how God is showing his presents to us in many ways ever day. My post “The Fall and Salvation” is one example

I read many religious authors trying to understand and see if anyone else could dis crib what I felt as God Touched me and none could. Not St. John of the Cross or Joyce Myers or Jesse Duplantis or Francis who wrote “Hound of Heaven”. No not in the thousands of descriptions of the touch of God’s anointing could anyone dis crib it.

I only say it is like taking all the good experiences of your whole life compressing them into one cell of your body and them having your whole body experience this heightened level of ectacy. God Bless
 
We are not permitted to divulge details of any personal visions or private revelations we may have received on this forum. It is specifically against the rules and could result in a reprimand, suspension or banning.

Some visions are from God, some are not. Anything we see or hear must be tested against the teachings of the Church to guard against being led astray. If the message is telling us to euthanise people to end their suffering for instance, we should not believe that God is speaking.

You should take your experiences to your confessor or make an appointment to speak with a priest to discuss them.

You are in my prayers.
:signofcross:
 
visions from God are real
not all visions are from God
most are natural products of our senses and the normal working of the brain, like dreams
some of those natural visions or dreams come because the brain is processing (name removed by moderator)ut that does come from God, such as his scripture, sermons, spiritual books, our good actions and intentions etc.
some visions are directly from God
some visions have a demonic source.
 
In the last 10 years one thing I learned very quickly was that the greatest hardened hearts against the close relationship we are meant to have with God are the so called religious. They will ask were did this man get His knowledge or you must have been talking to the devil or your have some kind of mental illness etcetera etcetera etcetera. This is why Jesus commanded His disciples to shake the dust of those who would not hear the Good News of God’s Salvation and just move on to those who will hear.
God Bless 🙂
 
Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut on this issue. I shall indeed take this to my priest, and discuss it further with him. Thank you very much for that suggestion.

I apologize if the content of my post caused any offense to others. I was not aware that there were rules against sharing private revelations.

Is it permissable to discuss the issue of visions without sharing details of them? As this experience is new to me, I am very interested in finding out if this type of thing has happened often to others, and what others think of this sort of event. I myself have no family or friends who have ever shared this experience, and I am not getting a great deal of (name removed by moderator)ut on it from the people in my life.

Thank you and may God Bless you.
 
While I understand the site’s rule about not sharing personal revelations, I feel that the basis for my posting may not have been clearly understood.

I see that the world is in great turmoil and I believe we are in a time of great & uncertain change. I feel that this change may have to do with the return of Christ.

At this time, and with this experience I find myself compelled to reflect on my life, and I am forced to face the fact that I have not devoted enough of myself to serving God, or spreading His Word.

With this time of great change, I fear that this lapse may be the real message to take away from my experience.

I fear hesitating to take action in response to this message, for I do not wish to be the unfaithful servant, unprepared at the hour of the return of Christ. For "Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so."
Perhaps it is from this concern that I am searching for answers.
Do others feel that this time is near? Has there been an increase in “spiritual phenomen” which may suggest that this time is indeed upon us? Have others responded to callings to serve the Lord due to personal experiences like this? How has it worked out for them?
I would like to devote myself to serving the Lord, but I do not know how best to begin such a journey. I have a family, debt, a mortgage, and although I know I should not fear for my financial well-being when embarking on such a journey,
I would like to know how others have balanced their obligations to the Lord, with their obligations to their family.
 
There is no prohibition against discussing the nature of visions or locutions, just details of any personal experiences we have had. Rest assured, you have not caused offense.

We can discuss visions and locutions that are approved by the Church. Ones that have not yet been approved, like that place in the former Yugoslavia, we are not permitted to discuss, nor are we permitted to discuss ones that have been condemned by the Church. I suggest you go to the link at the top that says ‘Rules’.

What I like about Catholics, is that you can talk about them about these things without being ridiculed. They don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that you are mentally deficient or insane, which I have had with some secular people, so please do not take my words as derogatory. I was afraid that my post was harsh and it was not intended to be.

There are many ways to spread the Word. Each person is given their own special gifts in order to witness to the Love of God. Some can preach. I can’t. Every time I try, I put my foot in my mouth. I have to spread the Word by how I live, by how I treat all the people I come into contact with and by Praying. To me, this feels sort of deficient, like I’m not doing as much as I am supposed to be doing but everytime I try to add something else, I fall flat on my face.

Some of us are given gifts to minister to certain peoples, like the Little Sisters of the Poor minister to the aged and dying. You may feel called to minister to the disabled. Please do discuss this with your priest. He may know the exact place for you in your area.
 
On Good Friday my mother and I were bringing home some fast food from a drive-through window. We both saw a man dressed in clothes (ChristLike) and carrying a huge wooden cross. AND I mean dragging it not on rollers. It was awesome to us. I know it was Good Friday and a lot of churches may express their devotion by this type of portrayal BUT we left 3 minutes later and HE WAS GONE. There was absolutely no way he couldhave disappeared int hat length of time or gotten into any type of vehicle with that HUGE cross he was carrying. My heart felt like it was pounding on overdrive when we saw him.
:byzsoc:
 
A vision from God is ALWAYS real.

The question is whether a given vision is in fact from God.
 
Here is the New Advent entry regarding Visions and Apparitions:
newadvent.org/cathen/15477a.htm

If one should have a vision or apparition, it is best to subject them to obedience and one’s director, or a priest generally. Nothing is ever lost even if the director/priest makes a wrong decision. The Lord, if it is His Will will override these incorrect assessments by either…though to be told one is deceived by self or the devil is immense suffering. I think St. Teresa of Avila was told she was being deceived and so was St. Bernadette…in due time The Lord made it very clear to the authorities that neither was deceived. In the interim it was painful to St. Teresa and St. Bernadette.
There is great spiritual merit and strengthening to make oneself subject in obedience to some properly appointed spiritual authority. By “properly appointed” I mean a priest (including one’s Bishop) or someone authorized to act as a spiritual director.
Our own Australian Blessed Mary MacKillop was disciplined by her Bishop which went as far as her being excommunicated. She was totally obedient to the Bishop, and stated that at the time (she felt her Bishop was wrong) she had never felt closer to God. She was stripped of her religious habit and no Catholic was allowed to speak to her. not all Catholics at the time however were obedient to this directive. She was denied the Sacraments…The excommunication was duly lifted. Nothing is ever lost by obedience.
http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=52&ch=13&l=1&f=s#x
Romans 13[
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1 Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God](Douay-Rheims Bible, Romans Chapter 13): and those that are, are ordained of God.
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http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=52&ch=13&l=1&f=s#x

Blessings this Easter…Barb:)
 
OK, here goes…yes i have had visions, and yes i have been dulely repromanded by many here on CAF for speaking of them, It has gone as far as being booted off. So here i come across this thread “about” what we are not to wisper here on CAF.

NO i am not upset, i am just suprised. I felt like i was reaching out for help and guidence and was given the third degree on how many things i did wrong. Being perfect is hard place to reach when we know only God is that.

When we come here for friendship and christian fellowship ~ to be a friend means to help them get to where God wants them, and not simply say, yep, you’re very wrong. The forums patrons and leaders spill the old church feeling into your heart of YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF THIS CLUB (religion) is and should not be a part of councel.

Inform and guide with gentle hands. Speak as if it was Jesus teaching. If you do not, you are simply NOT doing his work, but have your own agenda. Jesus does not make ANYONE feel unworthy, judged, or hurt them explaining their wrongs.

This indeed is not meant to be anything other than a note telling you that i see changes here, changes far more christian, and i hope it keeps spreading. It was enough to make me post here after a long hurtful hiatus.

Good job Barb!

Lana
 
yep. get a spiritual director and obey. for your own good, your own safety, and for God’s will to be done for everyone.

there are so many people being misled and hurting themselves and others out of selfishness with visions and dreams, etc. it makes me sad the life decisions that normally faithful people are making based on such things. please trust our Church obey, following our Saints like stated above. we pray for you.

oh ya, regarding dreams, i stumbled on Sirach 34 and feel it says it all:

Sirach
Chapter 34 1 1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams. 2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams. 3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself. 4 Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth? 5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts. 6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it; 7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.
 
I am just comfortable enought to seek councel, as most of the councel i have asked this about has been very mean spirited here on CAF. My post was commenting on the differences i have noted, and a kindness restored.

I do not have a problem being told something is wrongful, or i am being misled and so on, i have a problem being told off and rejected. This, as a very hard thing to deal with on its own, is harder yet when you place a volume of truth to what the posters are saying, and not have a mod jump in.

My first vision was in a dream. I was distraugh over learning my son was terminal. I knew God had a plan, but how was i going to endure this. I prayed all the time to be able to endure what comes before me. In my vision/dream…i seen hands stretching out before me. In it, i say…how can i do this, how can i get through this, and her hands came closer with the rosary lying over her hands. She smiles so tender, “this is the way to my beloved son”

Ummm not much in this one to appear evil…but i get your point.

I am just glad that the delivery of direction here has been so much kinder than in the past…

Thank you both.

Lana
 
I would like to take this opportunity to bring light to my situtation, and pray that nobody takes any offense to my doing so.

I took the advice offered to me here by many, and spoke to my priest about my visions. Although he explained he was not a dream interpreter he listened wholeheartedly, and gave me feedback on what he believed was the message I was to take from this. I am not certain as to whether his interpretration was sound, but he most certainly accepts the value of visions from God. His advice to me, which I would like to share with all who have encountered such situations, was to continue to pray for God to bring clarity to any uncertain messages. It is his belief that God grants us what we need, when we need it, and although I may not be completely clear of the end result of this message, that in someway it may very well have started a chain of events that will unfold as it should.

It was these visions that brought me here to CAF, looking for answers. While the answers I sought were not here, the path I followed brought me to the prayer intentions forum, where I have found great fulfillment as a prayer warrior. In praying for those who feel desperate, hopeless, and in need, I take comfort in knowing that God’s Will may well be at hand along my path. Each day I pray for him to guide and direct me, and to fulfill only that which is in his Divine Will.

I do not believe that there was anything self-directed in my vision, nor any evil misdirection. I feel God knew what it would take to get me here, and thus he brought it to me. There may be more to it, and I joyfully and patiently await any further guidance He has to offer me. I am content and fulfilled in knowing that he has touched my heart, and will always direct me for the greater good.

Rammy, I am sorry that you faced rejection when you came looking for answers. I understand your pain. We are all humble servants, and none with such infinite wisdom as He who we serve. I pray that you have found forgiveness in your heart for any trespass against you, and that you have found direction in regards to your past visions/dreams. I will hold you in prayer daily, as I look to God for clarity and understanding, that He may grant this for you also.

Barbara, thank you so very much for your post linking the New Advent entry regarding Visions and Apparitions, along with your advice and Easter Blessings. May God be with you always!
 
The vision you described sounds legitimately from God, but it will take a good spiritual director to interpret it. the voice saying, “Bring them home” is a little strange and the meaning is vauge. God told St. Francis, “Rebuild My Church”, and he misinterpreted it to mean that he needed to start physically rebuilding san damiano church when the messege was to reform the abuses of the day. If the meaning is unclear, then continue prayerfuly discerning with a spiritual director and leading as many souls to Christ as possible through your prayers, words and examples, and the Will of God will manifest itself eventually.
 
Diana_Lynn said:
Rammy, I am sorry that you faced rejection when you came looking for answers. I understand your pain. We are all humble servants, and none with such infinite wisdom as He who we serve. I pray that you have found forgiveness in your heart for any trespass against you, and that you have found direction in regards to your past visions/dreams. I will hold you in prayer daily, as I look to God for clarity and understanding, that He may grant this for you also.
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Thank you…tis why i have three names here…it went as far as being booted off.

Lanasshoebox
TheRam
Rammy

I have not harmed anyone, and saught help, and it was cruel.
Dealing with my sons death, this really felt like the church
rejecting me as well…i was dearly in need of direction.

And now i see this thread…so kind, so helpful…beautiful!

We need more like this.

Lana
 
Don’t worry too much about not understanding the vision. If it came from God, you received graces from it at that moment, whether or not you received intelligible information.
 
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