Following the Voice of God

[Sam509]

Does anyone have any insight or Catholic references into following the voice of Christ? How does one know if (our inner voice/intuition) truly is God that is speaking to us and guiding us along the way or simply our own mind taking us in a direction based on it’s own conditions.

 

[ncjohn]

Does anyone have any insight or Catholic references into following the voice of Christ? How does one know if (our inner voice/intuition) truly is God that is speaking to us and guiding us along the way or simply our own mind taking us in a direction based on it’s own conditions.

Teresa of Avila, in The Interior Castle, gives some recommendations on how to distiguish where interior locutions might be coming from, if that is what you are addressing rather than just distinguishing if urges you feel are your own or from God.

Here is a link to the 6th Mansion, Chapter 3, which is at least on place where it is discussed (you’ll have to scroll down to Chapter III). catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/stteresa/castle/interiorcastle4.cfm#CHAPTER%20III/6

Having a trusted spiritual advisor is helpful, but often spiritual advisors don’t have enough personal experience and may write off mystical experiences that can in fact be quite real.

Peace,

 

[Matas]

I can’t offer any insight, and can barely articulate my experience. For me it was something like a voice that guided me back to the Church. I dismissed it and ignored it for 20+ years. Many Christians make a big deal about the Light of Christ, but I don’t see anything. I just hear the voice.

 

[Sam509]

Teresa of Avila, in The Interior Castle, gives some recommendations on how to distiguish where interior locutions might be coming from, if that is what you are addressing rather than just distinguishing if urges you feel are your own or from God.

Here is a link to the 6th Mansion, Chapter 3, which is at least on place where it is discussed (you’ll have to scroll down to Chapter III). catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/stteresa/castle/interiorcastle4.cfm#CHAPTER%20III/6

Having a trusted spiritual advisor is helpful, but often spiritual advisors don’t have enough personal experience and may write off mystical experiences that can in fact be quite real.

Peace,

Thank you for your reply. It seems to me that our human nature has it’s inborn tendencies and our minds are instruments that are largely shaped by our human experience. To follow the preferences of the mind often leaves me sidetracked in my quest to live a life more united with God. Teresa of Avila does speak of this, however, I find her language not easy to follow. I think that having a spiritual advisor that has done enough spiritual work and is understanding of the mystical experience would be ideal and beneficial, however a spiritual advisor is not easy to find. That is why (I believe) that if one can distinguish and follow the voice of God it will also be a guide.

 

[contramundum7]

Does anyone have any insight or Catholic references into following the voice of Christ? How does one know if (our inner voice/intuition) truly is God that is speaking to us and guiding us along the way or simply our own mind taking us in a direction based on it’s own conditions.

Don’t have time to read all posts, but this is a good question, one i’ve been dealing wtih a lot lately…
I spent a lot of time in the Church with Jesus the other day (Exposed S)… and afterwards, i felt i “knew” what he wanted a lot better. I would later meditate and think about how things were when i was there with him and it helped… I didn’t get concrete answers about this or that… just a feeling of peace… and a sense that i didn’t need to figure it all out…


It’s really hard to make your mind/heart go blank so you can listen to him… Well, it is for me anyway…

 

[DBT]

Hi Sam509 -

Maybe you could clarify . . . are you asking about locutions or inspiration? If it’s locutions, then NCJohn gave you some very good advice about St. Teresa’s “Interior Castle.” I might also add to that “The Ascent of Mt. Carmel” by St. John of the Cross. Locutions, though, like visions and revelations are extraordinary mystical experiences that occur in the height of contemplative prayer. So in the scheme of things, these are probably pretty rare events.

Inspiration from the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a much more common occurance . . . in fact, it happens in souls all the time. If this is what you have in mind, then I’d highly recomend “Abandonment to Divine Providence” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. This book is designed to teach the reader how to live in the present moment, discern God’s will in all circumstances and follow one’s own intuition and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This book is a classic of Catholic spirituality.

Here’s a sampling of what Fr. de Caussade has to say about following inspiration for souls first starting out . . .

In order to keep on the straight road leading to perfection, we must make quite sure that all spiritual promptings we receive are from God. We shall know they are not divinely inspired if they withdraw us from the duties of our state of life. For these duties are the clearest indication of God’s will, and nothing should supersede them.

And . . .

For some, God wills only that they should attend to the duties of their everyday life and to what other matters he confronts them with. They need do nothing else to achieve perfection. For others, God may demand the accomplishment of things which go beyond their ordinary duties. Those upon whom he makes this demand will recognize it because they will be attracted by it and will, as it were, feel inspired. If we are one of these, the best thing we can do is go where inspiration leads us, without ever neglecting to do what we are commanded to do and obeying always those commands which God may unexpectedly give us.

Notice, now, the completely “free-form” relationship the soul has with the Holy Spirit after many years of practice . . .

For these souls, their hearts tell them what God desires. They have only to listen to the promptings of their hearts to interpret his will in the existing circumstances. God’s plans, disguised as they are, reveal themselves to us through our intuition rather than through our reason. They disclose themselves in various ways: by chance or by what seems to be a compulsive thrust which allows no choice of action, by a sudden impulse, by some supernatural rapture, or very often by something which attracts or repels us. Now, if we judge all this superficially, it certainly seems that it is not very sensible to leave so important an affair to such uncertainty. Judging by ordinary standards, there is no order and indeed no sense, in this way of going on. Nevertheless, to obey this apparent disorder is to have reached the summit of virtue, and it is one we do not reach without long years of effort.

And . . .

Such a soul realizes that it can do nothing better than deal with whatever crops up without all the careful thought it formerly used to need. It must act at random, following those promptings of grace which cannot lead it astray.

And . . .

There are no rules, yet there is perfect organization; no proper arrangements, yet all is well ordered; no serious thinking, yet profound conclusions; no effort, yet everything done well; no foresight, yet swift adaptation to every new happening.

This book is immensely practical and is specifically designed to lead the reader how to proceed from the first set of quotes I gave to the second.

Sorry for the long-winded reply but I hope this helps some . . .
Dave.

 

[mommyof4]

7 Ways that God Communicates His Will to Us

We learn what God’s will is through a variety of ways, which work together. None of the following by themselves are reliable, but in unity with each other, they become God’s voice.

1. Inner peace: The Holy Spirit always comes in a whisper and in peace. Any time you feel a compulsion to make a decision a certain way, it’s time to stop and ask, “What’s going on? Who is this speaking? Who’s pushing me into this?” The driving force may seem perfectly logical, the people recommending it may sound perfectly rational, but compulsion means distraction from God.

On the other hand, when God speaks, there is peace. If the peace isn’t there, or if it’s not very strong, it’s time to pray and seek more discernment.

Listen to your heart. Listen to the uneasiness. Hear what the lack of inner peace is trying to warn you about. It’s only when we’re doing God’s will that we have peace inside of us.

Even when it seems scary or too challenging to follow God’s plans, go for it! God will never allow us to get in over our heads. God will lead us into excitement and fulfillment and successes that we never dreamed possible.

1. Right priorities: Feeling peace is not the same as feeling good about an idea. It’s the easiest thing in the world to feel good about something when our human desires are saying “I want to do this!” Many people run here and there, going to this meeting and that meeting, serving God this way and that way – all on the same day! They think they’re doing God’s will, because each activity is a “good thing.”

But a “good” idea is not always God’s idea. God does not want to use us where we would be distracted from a greater work that He has planned for us. And if any of our activities are putting our priorities out of whack, they are definitely activities of which God does not approve.

When something goes wrong in keeping our priorities straight, it always goes back to poor communication with God. We haven’t really checked it out with Him. We’ve decided on our own that we need this activity or that ministry in our lives – or out of our lives. Then we have to look at why. Are we running away from something? Are we hiding behind our busy-ness?

1. Audible voice of God: Some people have heard God speaking to them with their physical ears. They may be alone in a room, doing housework or working at their job, and they hear their name being called. It’s very clear, and they turn around expecting to see a person standing nearby. But no one is there. However, this form of communication is rare and should never be expected, waited for, or trusted by itself.
2. Direct voice of the Holy Spirit: Most of us, when we hear the direct voice of God, hear Him speak in our minds, in words that are as clear as our own thoughts. In many places in Scripture, we read that “God said–” or “God spoke–”. How did that happen? God communicated to people with clarity. And since God is unchanging, He still communicates this way today.

It’s possible to carry on normal conversations with God. In fact, this should be everyday Christian living for us. God desires it. But to experience this, we have to let go of our doubts and our mistaken beliefs that God is too high and mighty to speak to us this way or that only the holiest people hear God’s direct voice.

1. Scripture: Everything we hear from the Lord has to be 100% in agreement with the Bible. God will never, ever speak against His own Word. We test all of our discernment and inner voices by studying scriptures. But if we take verses out of context, we can use them to prove anything, so it’s important that we get to know the Bible and its message as a whole.
2. Circumstances: When one thing after another occurs in a pattern, or “coincidences” keep happening, we need to stop and ask, “Lord, what is it that You’re trying to speak to me about?” When God calls us to follow Him, and we proceed to obey, God prepares the way and everything generally falls into place. On the other hand, when we keep hitting walls – circumstances that feel like closed doors – that’s usually a clue that God has not opened this door and we should move in another direction.
3. Signs: Scripture says that if we are living according to the will of God, signs and wonders will follow. Notice: they follow. It’s not wise to ask God to prove that we are hearing Him correctly through some sort of miraculous sign before we obey His leadings. Yes, there are rare times when it’s necessary. The problem is, Satan can interfere when we ask for signs. He can throw in a misleading sign and send us off in the wrong direction. The true signs are those that bear good fruit after we have said yes to God and have begun to go where we think He wants us to go.

 

[ncjohn]

Inspiration from the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a much more common occurance . . . in fact, it happens in souls all the time. If this is what you have in mind, then I’d highly recomend “Abandonment to Divine Providence” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. This book is designed to teach the reader how to live in the present moment, discern God’s will in all circumstances and follow one’s own intuition and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This book is a classic of Catholic spirituality.

Excellent recommendation Dave, and probably more practical to what the OP is looking for. I don’t know why I forgot that one…perhaps the mental hard drive is corrupting with age.

1. Inner peace:

While I agree that the inner peace is almost always a sign of God speaking, I have also found that the lack of it does not mean that it isn’t God.

Often we are being called out of our comfort zone, or being “convicted” on some direction we’ve either taken or are contemplating. When that happens I’ve found that at least initially there is great turmoil rather than a sense of peace, especially if the options seem morally neutral, or possibly one actually seemingly “better”. Thinking of Moses being called to confront Pharaoh, or Jonah being called to Nineveh, or the calling of Jeremiah. Nearly all, if not all, the prophets were “reluctant” and I doubt that they were feeling a great sense of peace over what they were feeling called to.

I had to smile though at your point about “circumstances” and “coincidences” since I have experienced that very often, where I’ll keep running into the same point from different directions until I finally chuckle and turn my eyes to heaven with a “Ok, I get it already!”

Peace,

 

[contramundum7]

Hi Sam509 -

Maybe you could clarify . . . are you asking about locutions or inspiration? If it’s locutions, then NCJohn gave you some very good advice about St. Teresa’s “Interior Castle.” I might also add to that “The Ascent of Mt. Carmel” by St. John of the Cross. Locutions, though, like visions and revelations are extraordinary mystical experiences that occur in the height of contemplative prayer. So in the scheme of things, these are probably pretty rare events.

Inspiration from the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a much more common occurance . . . in fact, it happens in souls all the time. If this is what you have in mind, then I’d highly recomend “Abandonment to Divine Providence” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. This book is designed to teach the reader how to live in the present moment, discern God’s will in all circumstances and follow one’s own intuition and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This book is a classic of Catholic spirituality.

Here’s a sampling of what Fr. de Caussade has to say about following inspiration for souls first starting out . . .

Notice, now, the completely “free-form” relationship the soul has with the Holy Spirit after many years of practice . . .

This book is immensely practical and is specifically designed to lead the reader how to proceed from the first set of quotes I gave to the second.

Sorry for the long-winded reply but I hope this helps some . . .
Dave.

Sometimes long winded is good. I am glad u took the time to say all this and refer me to the writings of saints…
I had a very weird experience yesterday involving words i heard in answer 2 questions i directed @ Jesus… I need 2 write the experience down because writing always clarifies things… and i am still very confused as to whether the words are from God or not…
When acting on certain things u hear while in prayer… If both good and not so good come from that… How is one to know if it is God or the devil?? I read somewhere that its virtually impossible to tell the voice ofthe devil from the voice of God a lot of the time… That definitely seems true in my world…
Thanks.

 

[DBT]

Sometimes long winded is good. I am glad u took the time to say all this and refer me to the writings of saints…
I had a very weird experience yesterday involving words i heard in answer 2 questions i directed @ Jesus… I need 2 write the experience down because writing always clarifies things… and i am still very confused as to whether the words are from God or not…
When acting on certain things u hear while in prayer… If both good and not so good come from that… How is one to know if it is God or the devil?? I read somewhere that its virtually impossible to tell the voice ofthe devil from the voice of God a lot of the time… That definitely seems true in my world…
Thanks.

Hi contramundum -

Without knowing anything about your situation and heeding my own hesitancy to offer any “specific” advice (knowing my own lack of ability in that area), I would say this: If you’re “hearing voices in prayer” you should talk to a priest right away.

The saints teach locutions can come from 3 sources: our imagination, the devil or God. 2 out of 3 of these are bad so the “general” rule of advice given by the saints regarding any extraordinary event (visions, locutions, revelations etc) is to ignore it.

It is often beyond our ability to discern on our own where these voices come from without a competent guide. And if they’re from God, don’t worry, He won’t be offended if you turn away from them . . . He’ll simply make known to you what you need to know through some other means.

Dave.

PS - If you’re not talking about locutions but inspirations, you might want to take a look at MommyOf4’s post for a good checklist you can apply to your situation prior to reading some of the books mentioned in this thread . . .

 

[DBT]

. . . continuing this thought; following is a good summary of St. Teresa and St. John’s teaching as presented by Fr. Dubay in “Fire Within” from his chapter on Visions and Locutions.

First, Fr. Dubay illustrates what our attitudes should be toward extraordinary events like locutions:

1. The first principle is that divine interventions are normal gifts given whenever God sees fit to give them.
2. The second principle is that illusion and deception are common.
3. The third principle is the logical consequence of the first two: the need for objective ecclesial discernment.
4. The fourth principle is that private divine communications are relatively unimportant and are not an indication of holiness in of themselves.

Fr. Dubay then proceeds to outline a number of signs by which one can “test” the authenticity of the locution. Divine communication will have the following traits; false ones will not:

1. The locution bears a sense of power and authority both in itself and in its effects (ie, growth in the virtues of love, humility and obedience).
2. The message is in accord with Catholic faith and morals.
3. A word from God brings calm and peace.
4. It prompts the recipient to break forth in praise.
5. The message remains long in the memory (often they are never forgotten by souls who receive them).
6. When the locution is concerned with a coming event, the words often bring an unshakable certitude with them that things will come out as they indicate.
7. Genuine words from a divine source are clear, not confused as our own ideas often are.
8. The word often comes unexpectedly and frequently it is contrary to what one knew, desired or wished.
9. One single word contains a world of meaning (as if a lifetime of understanding was gained in a single moment).
10. An authentic locution brings humility to the recipient
11. The word spoken by the indwelling Spirit inhibits all other thought and compels attention

Again, I hope this helps some . . .

Dave.

PS - Locutions, as opposed to inspiration, are primarily experienced in very deep contemplative prayer. Locutions are not “rambling discourses” but are brief and to the point; often a single word. A true locution will leave no doubt in the soul and the individual will perceive instantly how this experience is vastly different for normal, everyday inspiration.

 

[contramundum7]

Hi contramundum -

Without knowing anything about your situation and heeding my own hesitancy to offer any “specific” advice (knowing my own lack of ability in that area), I would say this: If you’re “hearing voices in prayer” you should talk to a priest right away.

The saints teach locutions can come from 3 sources: our imagination, the devil or God. 2 out of 3 of these are bad so the “general” rule of advice given by the saints regarding any extraordinary event (visions, locutions, revelations etc) is to ignore it.

It is often beyond our ability to discern on our own where these voices come from without a competent guide. And if they’re from God, don’t worry, He won’t be offended if you turn away from them . . . He’ll simply make known to you what you need to know through some other means.

Dave.

PS - If you’re not talking about locutions but inspirations, you might want to take a look at MommyOf4’s post for a good checklist you can apply to your situation prior to reading some of the books mentioned in this thread . . .

Thank u so much… Its odd but i had kind of come 2 this same conclusion on my own…
While a lot of “good” has been coming from these words i hear, a LOT of bad has too (confusion, feeling “crazy”, feeling stressed, feeling misunderstood, etc…). I frankly feel that the bad outweighs the good… but even saying that confuses me because then i think about the “good” that has come from it uch: … In any case, i said a prayer within myself the other day that i’m sure the devil could not hear… It was directed only at God, through Christ (and St. Jude and all the holy ones in Heaven)… I know that only God can read my mind, so i told him that i would only consider the words as being from Him if (thus and so were the case…). So far, i have not had “thus and so” happen…
The St. Jude Novena was INCREDIBLY helpful in this whole thing… I usually have to read it over and over and over b4 i get anywhere (becaue my mind is SO cluttered…so “wordly-oriented”) but it was/is worth it…
Again, thank you very much for the “confirmation”… God bless you…