How do you discern between your own thoughts and divine inspiration?

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How do you discern between your own thoughts and divine inspiration?

I am always thinking, and sometimes thoughts suddenly come to mind. Sometimes they are right, and sometimes they are wrong. For example:
  1. I recently had the thought, “I better not set that [item borrowed from church] there; there will be an earthquake [and it would break]!” as if one would happen (Japan’s a frequent earthquake zone), and there wasn’t.
  2. Today I had possibly too much food to eat (I’d gotten more than usual), and a classmate came in and I overhead him complaining how he hadn’t eaten. The same ‘sudden’/pressing kind of thought came to mind that I should offer him some of my food, but I rejected it, “No, that’s me being silly (superstitious) and awkward as usual; he’ll just go buy lunch soon.” So dinner time rolls around, I’ve finished all my food, eaten a bit too much I think (this is Japan so we’re still at the office and it’s common to eat at the desk), and finally to check whether I ought to have acted on this thought earlier – I’d just finished reading Proverbs 14:21b, “mercy to the poor brings a blessing” (reflecting on how a priest often treats me to meals because I have unreasonable student loan debt to the US Dept of Ed): “Did you eat? Have you eaten?” “No.” “Why not? Do you have money?” “Yes, I was just lazy, I didn’t want to cook lunch at my apartment today.” I think the Japanese often tell “white lies”, so I don’t know whether he is being honest or if he’s seeking to avoid embarrassment.
So now I’m wondering if the prompting to offer him some of my food was indeed from the Holy Spirit, or “my guardian angel” (it isn’t clear to me that I definitely have one assigned to me – how do you know we do? and how do you tell whether it’s an idea from an angel or from the Holy Spirit?) … So I thought I’d come here to ask you.

I’ve often tried conversing with God, or seeking an answer from the Holy Spirit, and I cannot tell whether it is my own thinking or a thought coming from outside of me. I suppose I could say the same regarding negative thinking vs demonic temptations. Explanations I have seen (Christian apologetics) seem to be mere assumption, people trying to assign it from confirmation bias after the fact: “If it has a good outcome, attribute it to God; if it has a bad outcome, attribute it to the devil,” but I’m trying to be rational, not go on such blind faith, and this wouldn’t answer how to discern if it’s my own thought or not, anyway.

So can you help me to see how to rationally distinguish between my own thinking and ideas from other spiritual entities (God, angel, demon)? Do you have reading recommendations? (I have no money to buy anything.)

Or are we not supposed to be able to discern the difference, that it’s part of God having “blindfolded us to spiritual reality” until death? (I think most of us are agnostic Christians, that few of us really have any knowledge of spiritual reality, that the only ones who do are the mystics who have received private revelation.) I suppose that would explain the situation: “God wants you to listen to your guardian angel’s recommendation, i.e. act on possibly-good ideas, without knowing it’s from an angel: If you knew the advice was coming from someone far smarter than you, what glory would there be? It would be foolish not to. Blessed is he who has not seen yet believes; and the Old Testament and New Testament both have stories where people didn’t know they were interacting with an angel until after the fact.” Peter Kreeft reminds us in one of his lectures published on YouTube that angels are terrible creatures: When we encounter them, we fall on our faces in fright.

So this would be my answer: “You’re not supposed to be able to discern the difference, and you shouldn’t try to develop a relationship with your guardian angel – his role is to stay hidden. And all good things come from God, so whether it comes from an angel or from the Holy Spirit is a distinction without a difference. Moreover, if the Holy Spirit really wants to communicate something to you, it will be clear and unmistakable, either as in Acts when the Holy Spirit actually speaks, or, as the mechanism He’s put in place, through your well-formed conscience* making clear the right path or convicting you of sin.”

*(well-formed = paying attention at Mass on Sundays; reading Bible & Catechism and knowing what the Church teaches; reading encyclicals sometimes, too)
 
If there is knowledge you could not have naturally known, or a moral insight that convicts you (because we always justify our own sins); or, since you know your own head more than anybody, an insight completely counter to your own thought process; there is a chance that there has been a divine inspiration.

Either way, take it to a priest.

ICXC NIKA
 
God whispers. Only occasionally and rarely will He knock one over with blatant revelations. He whispers because we’re all here in the process of moving from rebellion against/distance from/suspicion and doubt about God-a state or disposition which was instituted for humanity by Adam-to knowing about, believing in, hoping in, and ultimately loving God.

In order for us to do *our *part in overcoming aversion to God, in order for us to freely and without coercion come to turn to and embrace God fully, as He deserves, God will not overwhelm us. He seeks to draw us into relationship and generally speaking our own agendas are still somewhere in the way. As we walk in faith, without the benefit of sight, our wills increasingly aligning with His will, we are living in accord with justice, and so our own justice is increased. That’s my take on it FWIW. It’s a struggle:

**"409 This dramatic situation of "the whole world [which] is in the power of the evil one"makes man’s life a battle:

The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity."**
 
In a way, you can’t really know for sure. Even things that prove to be true later could just be coincidence.

In my life, I just think about what that little voice in my head is telling me to do…I think about the costs and consequences, as well as the good that could come from it.

For example, with the religious item you were worried might be damaged if you placed it somewhere – just think: is it is large burden or inconvenience to place it somewhere else? If not, it’s no big deal to just bring it with you or put it in your car instead. Also think: will there be some moral consequence if I leave it where it is and an earthquake damages it? I would say “no”. It is a religious item, but it is just an item. If an earthquake damages it, you will not be held responsible (in this world or the next) I think. So…all in all…it doesn’t really matter.

In terms of offering food to someone you know is hungry. There is a real moral good that can come of that. Perhaps he is just complaining and will buy lunch soon – but still by offering food you are being nice, and extending mercy. Feeding the hungry is one of the acts of mercy. Even if he declines, your good intentions will show. It is a virtue. The consequences or benefits of NOT offering food are none. So in that case, I would follow that urge and offer the food, in case it is from God. Only good can come of it. And if somehow bad will come of it? You can’t be blamed for trying to be good. No risk, all reward (in a spiritual sense).

I will give another example – sometimes I feel the inspiration/urge to remind my wife to pray. She is an adult…why do I need to remind her? She probably already knows. At the same time, what good benefit can come of it? A lot. So I follow that urge. The intention is holy and Godly. The downsides of not following the urge are significant (she may go for a long time without prayer). The potential rewards of following the urge are great. Therefore, I conclude the source of the idea is Godly, perhaps even a prompting of the Holy Spirit. So I try to follow it.

All good things come from God! We are capable of nothing good without Him. So, if it is good, or a virtue, go for it! No one can blame you for trying to be good.

Just be careful not to get superstitious. “Does God want me to walk on this side of the street or the other? Is God prompting me to wear the red shirt or the blue one?” These are not moral choices, and I’d say things like that really do not matter.

I hope my personal perspective helps!
 
I only count 4 instances as divinely inspired. And at lesser degrees.

One was material visibility shared by another human… much credence.

One was while obliterated drunk… meh… much less credit.

One was a instant epiphany accompanied by full body response (goosebumps and feeling of peace etc…) … partial credence and although the specific situation didnt turn out great in a sense it led to:

One was a vision or mental image of super vivid character ans hit with the force of emotion beyond all else…much credence.

The rest I chalk up to my own thoughts or whispers that still need general thought. If it is not of grand intesity there is always just following good thought practice. Ie: perhaps the Earthquake thought was just a thought. It did not hurt to be safe? Okay big deal.

To feed a hungry person and show thought and kindness maybe just a thought… a thought fully inline with what we know to be good… so why not? 🤷 why does that need to be the word of God crammed into your brain?

Oh edit note: the third didn’t work persay… but I also didn’t actually follow it all the way :confused: lol humans are silly.
 
I think is a phenomenal question. I wonder this often. Wishful thinking or a genuine call from God?
 
ethereality said:
How do you discern between your own thoughts and divine inspiration?
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No one I know can, in all circumstances, distinguish their own thoughts from divine inspiration without third-party assistance. I don’t deny that such people might exist. I only state that I have never met any of them.
ethereality said:
So can you help me to see how to rationally distinguish between my own thinking and ideas from other spiritual entities (God, angel, demon)?
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I have a spiritual director who helps me with these things. Perhaps you would also benefit from such a relationship. Given that I can’t discern these matters for myself without external (name removed by moderator)ut, I’m certainly in no position to aid anyone else in doing so. :o
 
Hey, Ethereality,
On reading your post, it occurred to me that maybe it doesn’t matter? If you have a thought/inspiration to do something that will not cause problems, do it! whatever the source. Just always remember to maintain the duties of your state of life, which are very important!

And I got over my concern about doing something nice for others by realizing that someone would have to be kind of weird to have a problem with my doing or offering to do something *nice! *Think about it… (I think my guardian angel sent me that idea, as I would never have had it on my own ;))

As to how we know we each have a guardian angel: 1st, the Church teaches that we do, and 2nd, Christ said our angels pray for us in Heaven.
 
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