Who has *conversations* with God?

[BobCatholic]

I’m talking about a two way conversation.

Where God actually talks back in response to prayer.

I don’t have that, and think I’ll never have that, so I need to find someone who does.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I’m talking about a two way conversation.

Where God actually talks back in response to prayer.

I don’t have that, and think I’ll never have that, so I need to find someone who does.

I’ve had conversations with the Virgin Mary. I needed to listen very carefully, but my questions got answered. I just knew what I thought was true.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

As the person who allegedly was trying to get you to join the left wingers on another post, I think I could say I’ve had a fair number of spiritual experiences of one sort or another.

However the person who had the closest thing to a “hot line” to God that I’ve experienced was my first Protestant pastor. If he said something was likely to happen, then I found it almost invariably would. And the reason I am quite sure was that God was telling him what was going to happen. The devil can’t tell the future if Fr. Vincent Serpa is correct, so I’m told, so it had to be God.

He had a reputation for wisdom and integrity.

But before you get jealous, he had his own crosses to bear -

1. He fell off a horse when he was about 13, and dislocated his hip. The doctors thought he was shirking, but he wasn’t. That leg lost about a foot in length due to wear and tear over the years, but either around the time I met him or shortly before he had an operation for an artificial hip. He still wore a built up heel when I knew him, but he was in a LOT of pain for a LOT of years before that.
2. His eldest son got manic-depression when he was about 15 and committed suicide some years later when he was in one of his down moods.
3. He brought up a family of a wife and six sons, very successfully, on less than the minimum wage, and in his own words, “nearly starved”.
4. He switched churches back in the 1970’s due to ideological differences, and in doing so, lost his superannuation accrued over 30 years or so.
5. When he did die, the devil got into his church via the replacement pastor, and wrecked it within a few months. He predicted this to me incidentally - one of his accurate prophecies.

Yes, he did have a hotline to God. But he paid a high price to get it.

The fact is you won’t get a hotline to God without some suffering.

 

[DebChris]

Remember that what God tells you will line up with Scripture and the magisterium.
This is how you will know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. [1John 4:2-3]

 

[Bernward]

I’m talking about a two way conversation.

Where God actually talks back in response to prayer.

I don’t have that, and think I’ll never have that, so I need to find someone who does.

God’s Kingdom is not of this world - so looking for some modern world chatline is not normally a fruitful exercise. We must first put ourselves into God’s hands, in His world, and this requires practice to attain increasing levels of humility. Anyone can have that if they want it - it’s that simple - and you can obtain it through prayer, fasting, meditation & good works - so it takes a little time, and maybe some lifestyle changes. The point is God is already speaking to you, and has been for some years, but you won’t necessarily hear Him if you never make an effort to tune in.

So what does God sound and feel like when He speaks to us ? I’m sure many people will have many different experiences to bring in at this point, but my own senses are that God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit - a sense of well-being, joy excitement even (sometimes) - also other times a very clear new understanding (a Wow moment) about a sentence or situation that has been pondered many times, without clear outcomes. This feels like diving into a pool of the purest water, at body temperature, like in some exotic, isolated environment - very beautiful. These kinds of feelings and emotions vary according to whether you are offering prayer, fasting, meditation or good works - so these feelings also represent the award of graces that can be earned.

Hope this helps,

God bless

 

[mgpm]

God speaks to me. I don’t know why, and it’s not often, like an every day thing.

But sometimes when I pray I will get a “message” that is clearly not of my own thought.

For example: a few months ago, my church was having a “forty hours” devotion. I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament and in particular I was praying for my eldest child. She’s 21, somewhat estranged from me and living with a man I’ve never met, but I’ve seen pictures of him on the computer. He doesn’t look promising to me, and I don’t like how she’s living with him, etc. So I was praying for her…and God sent me a message. “Be in prayer for the boy.” I’d never prayed FOR him before…I’d prayed that she’d get away from him…but never for him. So I’ve started praying for this boy, for him to be good for my daughter.

Another example: My father is agnostic, and he’s very frail right now. I’ve been praying for him and for his conversion. I was very worried at one point and I was in a Mass and heard the reading about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I got a message then, “Your father is safe with Me, I will raise him also.” And from that moment I’ve had peace about my dad.

I just trust these messages. I don’t have “evidence” always that whatever is being told to me is true…but I have faith that God is guiding me. I think God speaks to us all in ways we can hear if we listen with an open heart.

 

[TomFromMD]

I think I’ve had a strong calling to do something maybe 5 times in my life. It’s never been a “parting of the skies” thing, or hearing a voice. Rather, an idea planted in my head that “you need to do this”, and the idea doesn’t go away, and all kinds of things in life start reminding me of it, until it’s done.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I think I’ve had a strong calling to do something maybe 5 times in my life. It’s never been a “parting of the skies” thing, or hearing a voice. Rather, an idea planted in my head that “you need to do this”, and the idea doesn’t go away, and all kinds of things in life start reminding me of it, until it’s done.

This has also happened to me a couple of times in my life, most recently in April. Each time it’s about something God seems to want me to do but that I really don’t want to do. In the beginning, I don’t understand why these things are being asked of me. I try praying it away each time and fail. Once I obey, the blessings start to flow.

Emphasis below is mine.

I’m talking about a two way conversation.

Where God actually talks back in response to prayer.

I don’t have that, and think I’ll never have that, so I need to find someone who does.

May I ask why?

 

[bscastro]

I’ve never experienced what I think you’re talking about, and haven’t really sought it out. However, I do think God “communicates” with us all the time, so I’m trying to listen better.

I’m trying to be more reflective in what is happening in my daily life, as well as specifically spending more time in silent prayer including in Eucharistic Adoration.

God bless,
Bryan

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

I have had a few two-way dialogues with the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary. My SD thinks I’m being called to mystical prayer

In my own life, I find that God prefers to show - in His own time - rather than tell

 

[Dorothy]

I’m talking about a two way conversation.

Where God actually talks back in response to prayer.

I don’t have that, and think I’ll never have that, so I need to find someone who does.

When we pray and desire an answer of what kind of decision to make about something in particular, we may not get the guidance right away. I know I do not hear an audible voice with the answer then and there!

If we keep praying for the same thing and humble ourselves to do God’s will, then the answer will come. Sometimes it is convicting of wrong thinking, and many times it is gentle guidance to step out in faith and trust Him more.

 

[Rejoice_Always]

Since God is usually silent, we usually converse when I am silent too.

 

[Dorothy]

Since God is usually silent, we usually converse when I am silent too.

So true. Silence is God’s first language.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Indeed. The few times God approached me to have a word, He always did so in silence. If that makes any sense. It’s hard to explain.

 

[Dorothy]

Just like Elijah, who heard God speak to him in the soft breeze, (not in the earthquake, or crushing of rocks.)

 

[TheRealJuliane]

When I hear God speak, I am usually so shocked that I don’t think to question or have a “conversation,” and it’s not like He says, “So, TRJ, what’s up with you today?” He gives me a statement at times, a feeling or impression at others. Sometimes it’s when I am quiet, other times he simply overrides whatever emotional state I am in. It doesn’t happen often.

The most immediate “conversations” I have had were in adoration. And it’s not a conversation in words or even thoughts. He speaks to my heart and soul, directly and without passing through my conscious mind. I know it because I am changed as I sit there, open to Him. I cannot tell you how powerful Adoration can be.

I advise everyone to do adoration as often as possible. To be in Christ’s presence is a gift of our faith.

 

[Lady_Love]

God is always speaking but He doesn’t always use words. I have been fortunate in my life to have been blessed with many forms of dialogue. It is almost continuous but I don’t always have ears to hear. Here are some ways I’ve learned to hear him:

1. In every single moment God is saying something to me through events, circumstances, movements of my heart.
2. Through my meditations and reflections. There might be a recurring theme. A statement that keeps appearing over and over again. Like once I was begging for help and I heard in my heart, “Let me do it.” Then after that statement came into my mind I would hear it over again through the people around me like a child was saying to his mother, “Let me do it!”
3. I have heard Him speak. One time, I was debating whether or not I should receive communion and I heard Him say clearly in my head, “I am your Judge, what are you afraid of?”
4. One time when I was feeling abandoned by God and fearful of sinning and being “cast off” and a little boy in church saw me standing and singing in church and leaned toward his mother and said, “If she falls, I will catch her.” I immediately heard Jesus’ voice. It brought me to tears and I felt loved.
5. Often I will hear someone speaking and it affects me differently then normal conversation. It seems to penetrate the heart.
6. Another time I went to church and the scripture began, “Lady.” This one word felt directed right to my heart. Later that day, I went to my boyfriends house and it was dark out. A man was outside calling and waving a blue lighted flashlight. I looked out the window to see what was all the commotion. The man shone the light directly into my face and yelled, “Lady, Come!” I heard the voice of Jesus, immediately got up and went home.
7. I have had dreams that communicate messages.
8. I have thought thoughts like, “I would love to see some coral roses.” and minutes later coral roses appeared.
9. I was celebrating my anniversary of my first Holy Communion and I said to my friend, “I will get something (meaning a gift).” I was sent flowers by an anonymous sender with a card saying, “On the anniversary of your first Holy Communion.”
10. Most importantly though, Jesus can just look at me and I perceive Him looking at Me and He doesn’t have to say anything at all.
11. He has taken me on a roller coaster ride of sorts throughout my whole life leading me here and there externally and internally, through great joy and great sorrow, closeness and loneliness basically showing me there is no where I can go that He is not there.

So, I would consider that I have continuous open dialogue with the Lord.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Hi Bob,

It hasn’t happened yet, but if it does, do you want me ask him a particular question?

 

[BobCatholic]

So true. Silence is God’s first language.

Unfortunately, I haven’t taken a Berlitz course in silence, so I don’t understand that language. To me it sounds a lot like the word “no” or “I don’t care” or “I’m ignoring your prayers”

May I ask why?

Time is running out. I need to find out what to do to stop being punished temporally. I must be doing something wrong. Someone recommended lectio divina, good idea, but it hasn’t worked for me, time is running out.

 

[Rejoice_Always]

Unfortunately, I haven’t taken a Berlitz course in silence, so I don’t understand that language.

Don’t sweat it. Those Berlitz courses never work anyway.

To me it sounds a lot like the word “no” or “I don’t care” or “I’m ignoring your prayers”

Perhaps this can be of some help with silence?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=695063

Time is running out. I need to find out what to do to stop being punished temporally. I must be doing something wrong. Someone recommended lectio divina, good idea, but it hasn’t worked for me, time is running out.

It’s almost impossible to fathom why your time is running out, so prayers for you in your situation and a reading from Ecclesiates.

[BIBLEDRB]Ecclesiastes 3:1-8[/BIBLEDRB]