Dealing with "spiritual deafness"?

[Bohm_Bawerk]

I should begin by saying that I’m a very logical person. I don’t really pay very much attention to emotional arguments, and in short, I have a very pragmatic way of life. I have taken several personality tests and each of one them said I was an “INTJ”, which confirmed my suspicions:

“INTJs are analytical. Like INTPs, they are most comfortable working alone and tend to be less sociable than other types. Nevertheless, INTJs are prepared to lead if no one else seems up to the task, or if they see a major weakness in the current leadership. They tend to be pragmatic, logical, and creative. They have a low tolerance for spin or rampant emotionalism. They are not generally susceptible to catchphrases and do not recognize authority based on tradition, rank, or title.” [Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTJ ]

I often hear people say that God speaks to them. I’m very well aware that God rarely (if ever) speaks audibly, but what is meant by such statement is that you get an overwhelming sense of feeling of what God wants you to do. Problem is, I’ve never felt it. I suffer from trying to distinguish between whether God is talking to me, or whether I just have very good intuition. A few moments ago, I was a little bit ticked off at God that I wasn’t able to raise the funds necessary for the World Youth Day Trip with my diocese. My parish priest helped me raise some of it , but it was still a bit short of what was needed. I asked my school yesterday, but it would take several days for the agreement to come about; the payments were in tomorrow. I prayed an Express Novena and a prayer to the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague. I was expecting some kind of granduous miracle, e.g. an anonymous millionaire sending me the necessary amount to cover the cost lol.

None of that happened - no anonymous millionaire, no angel disguised in human skin, no money falling out of the sky, or anything so out of the ordinary it would be “miracle” written all over it. But this morning I kept thinking in my subconscious mind of whether I should text my priest. I kept thinking this while I pretty much concluded I was no longer going on the trip. Well, a few minutes ago, I texted my priest of whether I should just cancel the trip entirely because of the circumstance, and he texted me back along the lines that it was okay, that I was going to go, and he will deal with the matter personally.

Now my prayer was technically answered, but I’m still irritated by the conundrum I find myself in of having to distinguish between God’s voice, and good intuition.

Please help

 

[Samson01]

The Lord does use the good intentions of others for His glory…

 

[Hecares]

Bohm, it’s good to see you here again. I believe I have the same personality type, according to that test, as you do. It has been awhile since I took it, so I may not remember exactly.

I believe that the word of God comes to me in many different ways. One of them is when I pray about something and all of a sudden an answer comes to me, and I say “Of course!”
Here I have to say that prayer consists of talking and listening - sitting quietly and waiting for an answer. I have heard God speak to me through homilies. That days’ homily, or part of it sounds as if it is directed right to me. Scripture can speak to me, as can the writings of the saints. I believe God works in many ways through other people. One of these is to allow them to deliver a message for Him.

I would say that God wants you to go to Youth Day, and He has used others to help you to get there. I can find a basis in scripture for some of what I say, if it is important to you. Also have you read the catechism of the Catholic Church? It often provides answers for me.

 

[seagal]

Oh boy, I could have written that post Bohm! I am also sometimes too logical for my own good, and I also have a hard time figuring out what, if anything, God may be trying to tell me. I really envy those who can discern God’s voice in the chaos of their own thoughts. Sometimes I even have a hard time recognizing when He actually answers my prayer because it comes about in a way I wasn’t expecting. I’m learning (slowly) to pay attention to those recurring thoughts or intuition because it could well be God trying to get through. I will echo what HeCares said about sitting quietly in prayer (although I also have a hard time with that too ), and also homilies. I know many times when I was praying about something I’ve heard an encouraging word in a homily that seemed just for me.

I don’t think you have to distinguish between good intuition and God’s voice. Intuition is a gift from God after all. If something works out in your favour (even if you haven’t prayed about it) thank God! He undoubtedly had a hand in it somewhere

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

I should begin by saying that I’m a very logical person. I don’t really pay very much attention to emotional arguments, and in short, I have a very pragmatic way of life. I have taken several personality tests and each of one them said I was an “INTJ”, which confirmed my suspicions:

“INTJs are analytical. Like INTPs, they are most comfortable working alone and tend to be less sociable than other types. Nevertheless, INTJs are prepared to lead if no one else seems up to the task, or if they see a major weakness in the current leadership. They tend to be pragmatic, logical, and creative. They have a low tolerance for spin or rampant emotionalism. They are not generally susceptible to catchphrases and do not recognize authority based on tradition, rank, or title.” [Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTJ

]

I often hear people say that God speaks to them. I’m very well aware that God rarely (if ever) speaks audibly, but what is meant by such statement is that you get an overwhelming sense of feeling of what God wants you to do. Problem is, I’ve never felt it. I suffer from trying to distinguish between whether God is talking to me, or whether I just have very good intuition. A few moments ago, I was a little bit ticked off at God that I wasn’t able to raise the funds necessary for the World Youth Day Trip with my diocese. My parish priest helped me raise some of it , but it was still a bit short of what was needed. I asked my school yesterday, but it would take several days for the agreement to come about; the payments were in tomorrow. I prayed an Express Novena and a prayer to the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague. I was expecting some kind of granduous miracle, e.g. an anonymous millionaire sending me the necessary amount to cover the cost lol.

None of that happened - no anonymous millionaire, no angel disguised in human skin, no money falling out of the sky, or anything so out of the ordinary it would be “miracle” written all over it. But this morning I kept thinking in my subconscious mind of whether I should text my priest. I kept thinking this while I pretty much concluded I was no longer going on the trip. Well, a few minutes ago, I texted my priest of whether I should just cancel the trip entirely because of the circumstance, and he texted me back along the lines that it was okay, that I was going to go, and he will deal with the matter personally.

Now my prayer was technically answered, but I’m still irritated by the conundrum I find myself in of having to distinguish between God’s voice, and good intuition.

Please help

My dear friend,

Your too analytical. The problem is that everything happens for an infinite number of reasons ,or God does every little thing for an infinite number of reasons. So how can you expect to know or understand them or anything for that matter? How do you know God would not have gotten you there any one of infinite other ways if your text failed? You don’t. And God knows what is best for you , just trust Him always , like a little child. That’s all we are. What if god helped you avoid a plane crash? The possibilities are beyond infinite, and God knows everything. Just trust Him is all you can do. hope this helps.

God bless and Love you,and have a great world youth day

John

 

[Robert_Sock]

I never pray for anything except the grace and discipline needed to make it to Heaven.

In my most spiritual mode of being, I focus on nothing but faith, hope, and LOVE. It’s here that I feel God working with me. It’s a spiritual experience! It’s a subtle form of spiritual ecstasy that I would completely miss if it were not for keeping my mind quiet and focused.

 

[seagal]

I never pray for anything except the grace and discipline needed to make it to Heaven.

In my most spiritual mode of being, I focus on nothing but faith, hope, and LOVE. It’s here that I feel God working with me. It’s a spiritual experience! It’s a subtle form of spiritual ecstasy that I would completely miss if it were not for keeping my mind quiet and focused.

That’s very admirable, that you can stay in that spiritual quietness. I find it nearly impossible even for a few minutes.

I don’t have any hesitation praying for things, knowing that God will give me what I need (also knowing that’s not necessarily the same as what I want). Jesus promised that we just have to ask and it shall be given.

 

[mommyof4]

Who gave you your intuition?

 

[Robert_Sock]

That’s very admirable, that you can stay in that spiritual quietness. I find it nearly impossible even for a few minutes.

I don’t have any hesitation praying for things, knowing that God will give me what I need (also knowing that’s not necessarily the same as what I want). Jesus promised that we just have to ask and it shall be given.

I have plenty of mental distractions too. Usually the ecstasy is just for a few moments. Just long enough to know that I’m on the right track. It’s subtle but ever so powerful effect.

 

[Luke_K]

I think Pope Benedict XVI said that the secret to discerning God’s will for our lives is Eucharistic adoration. Having faith and becoming aware of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, even though we cannot sense him, is training for being aware of his will in our lives.

But I also think that you should stop analyzing these things in such depth. I am also an INTJ, and we need to realize that in-depth analysis isn’t always worth the time.

 

[PennyinCanada]

I often hear people say that God speaks to them. I’m very well aware that God rarely (if ever) speaks audibly, but what is meant by such statement is that you get an overwhelming sense of feeling of what God wants you to do. Problem is, I’ve never felt it. I suffer from trying to distinguish between whether God is talking to me, or whether I just have very good intuition. A few moments ago, I was a little bit ticked off at God that I wasn’t able to raise the funds necessary for the World Youth Day Trip with my diocese. My parish priest helped me raise some of it , but it was still a bit short of what was needed. I asked my school yesterday, but it would take several days for the agreement to come about; the payments were in tomorrow. I prayed an Express Novena and a prayer to the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague. I was expecting some kind of granduous miracle, e.g. an anonymous millionaire sending me the necessary amount to cover the cost lol.

None of that happened - no anonymous millionaire, no angel disguised in human skin, no money falling out of the sky, or anything so out of the ordinary it would be “miracle” written all over it. But this morning I kept thinking in my subconscious mind of whether I should text my priest. I kept thinking this while I pretty much concluded I was no longer going on the trip. Well, a few minutes ago, I texted my priest of whether I should just cancel the trip entirely because of the circumstance, and he texted me back along the lines that it was okay, that I was going to go, and he will deal with the matter personally.

Now my prayer was technically answered, but I’m still irritated by the conundrum I find myself in of having to distinguish between God’s voice, and good intuition.

Please help

All of us have a certain bend to us and we often need to find balance. I would agree that you are over analyzing the situation to the point of killing any joy that should be yours by having a prayer answered. Now you asked God for the funds to go, and it turns out that you will have your request granted. Now why are you so stingy toward God, Who is so generous to us in all things, to give Him a generous and hearty Thank You? Are you diminished in some way if you say Thank You to Him? I am surprised that you said “I was a little bit ticked off at God” because you thought the funds weren’t there. If the funds never materialized, you, and myself too, should always give thanks to God, even if we didn’t get what we asked for, because He always looks to our greater good and knows the beginning and end of our life in totality.

“I’m still irritated by the conundrum I find myself in of having to distinguish between God’s voice, and good intuition.” Don’t be irritated. Rejoice and be glad and give a hearty Thank you. Tell Him you’re delighted! Jump up and down like a kid who just got a bicycle for his birthday! Don’t imagine for a moment you had some kind of ‘good intuition’. Anything good in you comes from God, the source of all good anyway!

Ask God to continue to give you a ‘little nudge’ now and then. Ask Him to help you to enjoy it and receive it as a gift! It will bring some balance to your bend of being over analytical. You don’t care too much for emotionalism, but you did confess to being ticked and irritated. Let’s move that to joy and delight!

I think God answered your prayer in this gentle way, perhaps hiding behind people, because He knew you couldn’t handle an angel showing up all glowing and giving you a bag of money.

May your trip be a life changing experience! Blessing and peace to you.

 

[PennyinCanada]

Rejoice and be glad and give a hearty Thank you. Tell Him you’re delighted! Jump up and down like a kid who just got a bicycle for his birthday! Don’t imagine for a moment you had some kind of ‘good intuition’. Anything good in you comes from God, the source of all good anyway!

I want to thank you for the opportunity to write this note to you yesterday. We are going through a change here ourselves and I’m not exactly delighted with it. After thinking of this answer to you I decided to take a sip of my own medicine and tell God how delighted I am about it because He is there in our midst, always looking out for what is best for us because He sees the beginning and end of our life. He can bring joy in all situations! Funny how it was easier to see when it was you than in my own life! Live and learn along the way. I imagine that God is smiling and saying to the angels, Finally! She got it. What a slow learner.It helps when I spell it out for them.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

I think Pope Benedict XVI said that the secret to discerning God’s will for our lives is Eucharistic adoration. Having faith and becoming aware of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, even though we cannot sense him, is training for being aware of his will in our lives.

But I also think that you should stop analyzing these things in such depth. I am also an INTJ, and we need to realize that in-depth analysis isn’t always worth the time.

I want to go to Adoration one day! I really hope my parish offers it when my exams are over.