is it true that...

[Monica4316]

Do you think it is true that God speaks to our hearts while the devil speaks to our minds? I heard someone say this once and I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

 

[Monica4316]

I noticed that when I was converting to Catholicism, I just felt drawn to it, and I felt a lot of peace about it in my soul… but whenever I get doubts, it’s more in my mind - sometimes it’s very strong, almost convincing, but it feels different somehow. I don’t know if this is a valid way to discern and that’s not my primary way of discerning, at all. But it’s just one thing that I noticed. But I’m also discerning a religious vocation, and with that, I’ve had different experiences. In the end I think it’s best to not rely on feelings but to just keep on praying, and God will make things clear in time But Im just wondering if anyone else noticed this too.

 

[HyeDetroit]

I would say that God speaks to both our heart and mind.
In my heart I feel a strong desire for God. In my mind I want his will to become a reality.
God is the most powerfull being in the entire universe.
To say he could only speak to our heart, and not our mind would, in my opinion, seriously underestimate his power.

I would say Satan tries to appeal to our heart and mind as well.
He is trying to decieve us, afterall.
He appeals to our heart by tempting us with our desires.
He appeals to our mind by distorting the truth, effecting our good judgement.

It’s a difficult journey, but with determination, you can prevail-

 

[Bailey2]

Now that you mention it, that’s been my experience also. In addition to praying, distracting myself from worrisome, doubting, or sinful thoughts by doing something… even grocery shopping, helps. Also, having friends in the faith helps. I find if I am active with people I feel better in the heart and in the mind.

 

[LilyM]

I would say God influences the higher parts of both our minds and our hearts (by which I take you to mean our emotions and feelings), whereas the Devil influences the baser parts of both.

Take Luther, for example - you can see plenty of both intellectual and emotional deviltry at work in his stance on the Catholic Church.

 

[Hiskid1973]

My dearest sister Monica, I have been walking with Christ for almost 40 years…I’ve made mistakes and I learned something…Feelings are something Gods has created…His kingdom is not meat or drink but righteousness, peace and joy…Peace and joy are feelings…Many times I sought God for an answer, made a decision and felt His peace…I’ve also made wrong decisions or sinned and felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit…Your right feelings can also be deceptive…We do our best and just have to trust Him…One of my all time favorites verses is:

I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
and
He who began a good work in me will complete it in that day

The scriptures contain so much to strengthen and encourage us…A major soure of guidance is the word that we hide in our heart and the Holy Spirit uses that to direct us…God speaks in the still small voice…You lean as you mature to recognize it and heed it…He uses impressions that keep working on us…He is uplifting, encourages us in blessing and sensitivity moving in the Spirit’s call where satan gets us to respond in the flesh…It’s all part of growing and learning in our walk…May the Lord bless and draw you closed in these last day…

 

[graceandglory]

Do you think it is true that God speaks to our hearts while the devil speaks to our minds? I heard someone say this once and I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

I would suggest that it’s completely untrue. Jesus gave us the greatest commandment: “Thou shall love the Lord your God with all you HEART, all your soul, all your MIND, and all your strength.” If one is loving the Lord with all his heart and all his mind, then the devil just isn’t gonna be messing with you.

 

[Hiskid1973]

I would suggest that it’s completely untrue. Jesus gave us the greatest commandment: “Thou shall love the Lord your God with all you HEART, all your soul, all your MIND, and all your strength.” If one is loving the Lord with all his heart and all his mind, then the devil just isn’t gonna be messing with you.

You comment brought a complimenting scripture to me…Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee…All benefited by walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh…peace to you dear brother in Christ…

 

[fhansen]

Do you think it is true that God speaks to our hearts while the devil speaks to our minds? I heard someone say this once and I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

I think that’s not a bad way to put it. Sometimes it seems as if satan screams, though, rather than just speaks, while God steadily whispers the language of truth, reason, and love. One’s outside of us, really, while the other is an innate ally that the first is always trying to drown out.

 

[GEddie]

Do you think it is true that God speaks to our hearts while the devil speaks to our minds? I heard someone say this once and I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

I don’t accept that, not for one second. We are made to live life using our mind, and our mind is part of our “eternal soul.”

If the Devil gets you to doubt your mind, which makes you human (we share heart and feelings with the other creatures), then he has crippled you as a human being. He will then, of course, get to work on your feelings.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Do you think it is true that God speaks to our hearts while the devil speaks to our minds? I heard someone say this once and I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

The devil can interfere with our feelings, our perceptions of the heart and our minds. We are fallible and untrustworthy, a dirty window through which God’s sunlight is filtered. We can’t depend on our feelings. Trusting one’s own heart is a route to self-deception.

That said, we do get many things right and God does speak to us through our hearts, minds and feelings at times.

The Church and her saints have given us many sublime teachings on how to live holiness, how to be one with God. The Church has taught us what is true and how to be perfect, so we don’t need to follow the faulty impressions of our hearts. Rather, we should always seek and pray that our hearts may follow God . And above all, resist worry when it comes to you. If what your mind, feelings and heart are telling you is good and in unity with the Church, great! If it is not, spurn them. We have an infallible light to follow, one that can protect us from all self-deception if we heed it with simple and determined faith.

God bless you, my friend!

~Lief

 

[StrawberryJam]

Do you think it is true that God speaks to our hearts while the devil speaks to our minds? I heard someone say this once and I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

Can’t be true.

Your faith as a catholic, makes the claim it is compatible with reason “Faith and Reason”

that is what I am told, and if I take that as truth, the unvarnished truth, then your comments can’t be valid based on what I am told here.

However, I am sure this is only one of many contradictions I find. Who knows really?

I only replied because I love the Saint Monica mother of Augustine.

She was so hopeful. She never blamed the devil for her son not believing. Far as I know.
She just kept praying. And look what happened.