Is That You Dear Lord?

[kellygirl]

I am a deep believer in prayer and the closeness, comfort and guidance I get from it is something I could never live without. My question is this…When I pray and make sure I am in a quiet space where I can clear my head and focus solely on Jesus and our Blessed Mother.

For instance, when I ask for him to speak to me, I know that it won’t be an audible interaction, but rather his words speak to my heart and in my head. Sometimes I wonder if it is really just my own inner dialog and not God speaking to me at all? I actually and catch my self wondering if the messages I receive are from our Dear Father, or just from me and it frustrates and saddens me at times. Anyone go through this…anyone have advise on how to decipher the two?

Yours In Christ

 

[otjm]

1. Worry a lot less. God loves you more than enough to give you the guidance you need in the form he chooses. And generally part of His choice seems to be to pay attention to life as we live it. Are there a series of coincidences that point to a direction or answer? John Paul 2 said “There are no coincidences with God”. They are one of His means of guiding us.
2. Do you have a particular heart for something? As long as it is tested (does it make sense? Is it morally right, or at least morally neutral?), then you are fine following it. The inclinations to a morally good act or end are His guidance.

You are certainly not alone in your questioning. It takes time, patience, experience (which gives us hindsight, another word for wisdom) to see where God is leading us. And don’t stress. We may have a choice and not take it; He will most certainly give us other choices.

I have met people who stress a great degree over whether or not they have a specific vocation - marriage, professed life, etc., as if they would be committing some sort of sin if they didn’t get it right. God doesn’t give us one absolute path, and condemn us if we fail to follow that but rather choose another good path.

I have also met people who stress over much simpler decisons. At the bottom, there seems to be almost a lack of trust in God, and something that seems to border scrupulosity. It certainly comes across as a borderline psychological problem. A simple example: should I go out hiking with friends who have invited me, or go fishing by myself. Amazing how such a decision can send some people into a tail spin. God will honor either choice.

 

[rwoehmke]

Might I suggest you read Fr. John Powell’s little book, “He Touched Me.” I believe it is still in print or it might be available used. After reading it, pray for discernment.

 

[kellygirl]

Wonderful advice…thank you both. I sometimes feel like I am “off the path” and my mind goes 100 mph with thoughts of is this what i should be doing, or am i wasting precious spiritual time from my correct path? i guess i am a visual person by nature, i feel like i have to see progress, i have to see proof that i am doing Gods will…i guess that is where blind faith comes in

 

[setter]

Wonderful advice…thank you both. I sometimes feel like I am “off the path” and my mind goes 100 mph with thoughts of is this what i should be doing, or am i wasting precious spiritual time from my correct path? i guess i am a visual person by nature, i feel like i have to see progress, i have to see proof that i am doing Gods will…i guess that is where blind faith comes in

Anytime spent in prayer is not wasted time …in fact, God often wants us to “waste” our time in simply being present to Him in prayer. What you are referring to regarding listening to, hearing and knowing the voice of God in choosing the correct path is called discernment in prayer. Discernment itself is a bit of an art that grows out of knowledge and trust of God, our loving heavenly Father. It is good to seek out and have relationship with folks who are more mature in the ways of the Lord to assist you in figuring out what God is asking of you. God most often only asks us to take the next step, whether in big things (vocation, career, …) or in lesser things (daily habits, priorities, …). The fact that you want to please God and do His will is always the starting point and basis for ongoing discernment in our discipleship walk with Jesus.

 

[wjp984]

does it really matter either way? Either God is talking to you or God being omniscient knows what you are thinking and going to tell yourself by talking to yourself in your mind and allows for this to be so. If the prayer helps you or guides you a paticular way does it really make a difference how you came upon the decision as long as you are happy with your decision?

 

[siothrun]

eeshhh, it can be a struggle. i seem to be asking a whole lot of questions about what i’m here for & if he wants me to do something for him, why can’t he be a little more obvious…to be honest, when things haven’t changed for me over the last several years in terms of career etc, i start feeling like i’m doing a song & dance routine for someone who’s left the building without me noticing.