How do you know if it's God

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For those reading the post about angels I have flagged

I. THE ANGELS

The existence of angels - a truth of faith

328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.

Who are they?

329 St. Augustine says: "‘Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.’"188 With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word”.189

330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.190

Christ “with all his angels”

331 Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. . "191 They belong to him because they were created through and for him: "for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him."192 They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?"193

332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples.194 Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.195

The angels in the life of the Church

334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.201

335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy’s In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .[“May the angels lead you into Paradise. . .”]). Moreover, in the “Cherubic Hymn” of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).

336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life."203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p5.htm
 
I think sometimes when we ask for something to happen, an opportunity, or at least the right conditions for that thing to happen or be possible present themselves.

I struggle with hearing God’s voice too. I don’t think he is going to speak to us like we might expect him to. He doesn’t generally “speak” to us in the way that another human speaks to us in a conversation.

I think that God can speak to us through our own thoughts, though, at times when we are praying or after. My priest said something like this a while back ago.
 
John 10:27-28Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

27 My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me.
28 And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand.

You need to know His voice, study the Gospels. It’s how a lot of non-Catholics who believe in the Bible eventually come to the true faith. Jesus is the Word of God.
 
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Hi, Lea!

…my example demonstrated how my thoughts could be wrong… when I put the incident under the scope (analyzed it) I was able to determine that it was not God’s doing because He would not want me to get into a situation that would hurt me or hurt another person.

This means that when we hear what we think it is God’s Answer it must fall under the very Salvific Plan criteria: a) is the outcome good (productive)? b) does it lead me closer to God? c) does it contribute to the wellness of the Body (the Church)? d) do both Believers and non-Believers gain Benefit from it?

ie: a friend would get into situations with who ever came along; she thought that she needed to be part of the “club.” Her personal dignity and her spiritual life suffered. She was not a believer in the actual sense of the word; but I brought her to understand that she had and intrinsic value which only she herself could exercise in the form of self-respect. Unless she respected herself and demanded that others would respect her she would forever be caught in that situation (floor mat).

She may not have realized that she was seeking God’s advice; but she got an answer through me–in a format that she could accept.

God’s Answers may not come to us in portents and wonders… but they always respond to our need and our personal and communal growth.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
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Hi, Lea!

Could it be that you are seeking “proof” to Believe or the 'grant me “xyz” so I can accept you, Fellowship?"

We cannot test God.

I once prayed for a lady in a coma; I prayed that the Holy Spirit, through my Scriptural reading, would Touch her mind, heart, and spirit so that she could give herself to Christ. While I was still praying the lady awoke from the coma–I was quickly ushered out by her family members (they wanted time alone with her).

Was that God’s answer to their prayer or their requests or their angst or was it a Reply to my Prayer (her Salvation)?

I left the hospital and did not receive any contact from the family until a few days later–the lady had lapsed back into a coma and soon died.

I believe that the family’s asking me to go and pray for her was God’s Answer to their plight: she needed to hear the Word of God!

The passage I read was all about Salvation!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Sometimes, I think people say “then God spoke to me” when they received a good outcome, and mean that “God saved me from a mistake, or he remedied a situation for me”.

I’ve only ever heard a voice, like a real, man’s voice, once in my life, and it was about a year ago. I distinctly heard ( I was wide awake ) the words “I WILL HELP YOU”.

Never again, never before.
Was it God? Maybe my guardian angel was frustrated with me, I don’t know.
I DO know, that often when people seek too hard for an answer, everything seems like an answer, or nothing seems like an answer.
Just study your faith, try your level best to be a compassionate, merciful and just person, and things will work out. Remember the prince of lies loves it when we doubt. All he wants to do is separate you from God. Don’t fall prey to that
God bless,
Clare
 
God is capable of inspiring you yourself to think a certain thought. He doesn’t always speak in your head like a booming voice saying, “Lea, do this or that”. He inspires YOU to have an idea. He enables a pathway to something, or puts a bunch of obstacles in the pathway of something.

A few months ago I was really upset over hearing that a friend was missing and possibly dead in a very tragic way and I prayed to God that he send me some message that my friend was OK (i.e. either alive, or if dead, was saved). I don’t go asking God for a sign or a message very often, but this was a big deal. I said, “God I’m going to open up this Missal” (I was in church) “and you just point me to something you want me to read.” I do this fairly often, usually without dramatic results, but this time the reading was spot on, and it was also for a day far removed in the future on the calendar so it was a reading I had not yet heard this year and was not aware was in the book.

If you’re not sure if God is speaking to you, you can always pray and ask him to guide you or tell you more or tell you whether you’re doing the right thing. I remember the author of “Cross and the Switchblade” doing that all through the book and he seemed to get a lot of good answers, though not always the ones he wanted at the time. I was inspired by that book to do the same once in a while - not every day like he did, but then again, I’m not a preacher.
 
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Hi!

So you’ve been sold on the science can explain things, huh?

Can science measure love, happiness, dignity, pride, evil, goodness, sorrow, hate, envy, ignorance, justice, truth or the Truth?

…so nothing exists since science cannot measure it?

Don’t be fooled (another thing science can’t measure) by pride and arrogance.

Submit yourself to God and He will set you free!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Hi, Clare!

Once I was in a game arcade; this was a huge place with all sorts of video machines; loud, as it was and filled with people an elderly woman walked into the place, made her way to my machine, greeted me, and said: ‘you, know that you are not suppose to be here.’

I was making myself late for work.

Out of the dozens of people in the place why would this unknown woman single me out and address me in such a way?

There are many other ways in which God communicates with us; we simply choose to ignore Him or we want and end of the world type of event to be manifested right in front of our distrusting eyes.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
The strongest probability, for someone with this question, is “it’s your own thoughts.” It is important to grow in faith - through faithfulness to the graces given through the Church in the sacraments, through faithfulness in pondering and praying Holy Scripture, and through diligent study of the teachings of the Church. With this intention and effort, knowledge of what is true - what is true in the mind and heart of God - will more and more be received and made firm in the soul.

Through such work of becoming a disciple of Jesus, one grows in understanding of what could be of God, and what could not be of God.

And through such work of becoming a disciple of Jesus, one becomes more and more a fitting home for the Holy Spirit - the Paraclete sent by Jesus to lead and guide into all the truth. When one can be taught and led by the Holy Spirit, then one knows what is from God, and of God, in the inner man.

If there is a short cut, I don’t know of it. Of course, God can make a “cut” as short as He chooses!
 
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These circumstances of which you speak - by the supplement of Lectio Divina the reader obtains reference points in which denote the voice of God in the life of his or her soul.
 
That could be a sign of blessedness. I don’t know if you enjoy spiritual reading, but you might want to read the Song of Solomon, in the Bible:


And then follow up with the explanation by St. John of the Cross:

http://www.jesus-passion.com/SPIRITUAL_CANTICLE_PART_2.htm

That says part 2, but it’s actually where it begins. You can go to part 1, that’s an intro.

In essence, what St. John is saying, is that God hides from us because He delights in our searching for Him:

bible.usccb.org

Psalms, PSALM 42

Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
bible.usccb.org bible.usccb.org
 
I’m not really seeking for proof, but more for help to understand something usually. I don’t feel anything or at least I don’t think I do. Others usually talk about how they felt God comforting them or telling them something ‘in their heart’ but couldn’t it just be them?
 
It is hard to determine if God has spoken to us. I think when we are new to listening to God, we first see how He spoke to us in hindsight. Just as prophecy is often not understood until after it’s been fulfilled. For me, it took a tragedy that brought me to my knees and crying out to God. I knew He had been calling me out of Protestantism to the True Church…but ignored Him. I knew what it would do to my “marriage”. Anyway, during my pain and crying out to God I clearly “heard” Him and He asked me, “Where are you with My pain for putting My Son on that Cross for you?” That was it. I stopped crying immediately. Went to a priest, joined RCIA and entered the Church Easter 2015. But then I always wondered if it was my imagination I “heard”…and not God. I knew of course that Him calling me to the Church was correct and in line with what He would do. But still…I would question if I really “heard” from Him. Just recently I read an article and the guy wrote that when you read or mentally talk to yourself…it’s in your own voice. But when you hear from God…it’s not your voice. I was so overcome with emotion reading that…because I realized, that time I heard from God, it was not my voice. I’m female. And this was a male voice and It made me immediately stop sobbing. Now in hindsight, I can see how God has been “talking” to me for years. Subtly, yet persistent. God is so very merciful and good.
 
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It’s different for each person how God speaks. Sometimes it is in a very tangible way as the person above has described. For most, however, most of the time I think this is not the case.

One good thing to look at on this question of yours is Rules for Discernment of Spirits by Ignatius Loyola. I will find a link a bit later unless someone finds a good link before I come back to this thread.
 
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Yes I’m sold on science. As I currently understand what science is and applied is the current best philosophical process for coming to tentative justified conclusions about reality. What ever question about reality you want to know, there is a branch of scientific thought that is looking at that problem. Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy are all sciences as well as physics, biology, etc. Also, my post was to offer actual studies of religious thought as data to the question presented. You just dismissed an actual study with nothing at all and just asserted your points. Actual studies about reality will always supersede personal assertions to me. That’s how we actually come to understand reality instead of living in our own fantasy world of how we wish it would be.
I believe you are making a category mistake with “measure emotions”. Just because you can make a grammatically correct question does not mean that question is actually correct; aka Can you measure the smell of yellow? Emotions are observed as expressions and they are subjective to the individual and the observer. One person may claim that they are expressing love to someone but the receiver believes they’re being violated. AKA the catholic organization with its list of human rights violations according to the UN Council. However we can study brain scans to see that psychopaths believe that raping children places the psychopaths in a loving state of mind and we can study the intensity of that mind state to measure how intense it is to a base line. So Yes I guess we can “measure” emotions in that sense. But since there is not a universal 0 point of reference for everyone, everyone’s baseline to reference emotional intensity would be different.
Submitting is not in the bone for me as they say. I’m not one to believe that being someone’s subject is ever something to respect or live up to. How am I not free already? What do I need to be set free from? If I don’t believe your man made cultural stories are any different than the story of Harry Potter, why would I worry about not being able to use magic to better the world or live in fear of voldemort or of goblins or elves or the one ring of power?
 
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Hi, Lea!

This is where Mystery comes into play.

Recall the reading from 1 Kings; the prophet of Yahweh God was moved by the Holy Spirit to understand that God was Revealed by the slight motion of the air not the powerful signs that came before it.

Why does God seem to communicate with one person and not another? There are many reasons–the most important it that it is God’s Choice.

Here’s a little though… have you ever noticed how our bodies get accustomed to the environment around us (hot/cold/noisy/quiet/aromatic)?

There’s a commercial that plays on this (air freshener)–'this is how you see it; this is how they see it…"

Slowdown. Quiet yourself. Let the Holy Spirit be the one to set the barometer.

Consider (at least it’s been my experience) that God’s answers what is needed and what is edifying. If you come across a thought that God has oked your destruction of “xyz” that is not from God. If you want to cheat on your diet and a friend offers you a lunch/dinner date to an expensive/notable restaurant, all expenses paid–know that God does not tempt anyone, so God is not using this opportunity to breakdown your efforts… the formula is this:
1:17 it is all that is good, everything that is perfect, which is given us from above; it comes down from the Father of all light; with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow of a change. (St. James)
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Maran atha!

Angel
 
Russell_SA said:
But since there is not a universal 0 point of reference for everyone, everyone’s baseline to reference emotional intensity would be different.

Submitting is not in the bone for me as they say. I’m not one to believe that being someone’s subject is ever something to respect or live up to. How am I not free already? What do I need to be set free from? If I don’t believe your man made cultural stories are any different than the story of Harry Potter, why would I worry about not being able to use magic to better the world or live in fear of voldemort or of goblins or elves or the one ring of power?
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Hi!

Actually you have made my point!

Science is able to verify things… to a point; yet, it is limited by the interpretation of the parameters that are set or desired (subject to human preconceptions and conditions).

An abstract cannot be measured/quantified by science as a pristine and fool-proof method of acquiring certainty.

As you have stated, your reality is set by your own personal boundaries… but that is only your perception of reality–not reality.

Science/tists claim that the sun will go nova/supernova/extinguish in about 2 billion years–this has harry potter written all over it because there’s no way that our tech/minds can account for everything that could happen in 2 billion years… we can’t even control/predict with 100% accuracy what will take place within our system in the next couple of years…

…as for the smell of yellow, really? It depends upon the shade, base, resin, and oils!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
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To be fair, I’m not really sure what’s so significant about this study. I’m a psych student so I did came across this before, but from what I see, it’s not that surprising. People like to act like their own thoughts is God’s, especially when it’s in their own interests…which can sadly help explain some actions. I don’t really see devout Christians debating this since I find they tend to make the same points
 
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