How Do I Know If It's God Speaking To Me?

Having spent some time focusing on what it might look like to live a life of integrity (living the life God has called you to, living out your values), we stumbled upon a really good question:

How do I know if it's God speaking to me?

This Youtube video of Pastor Rick Warren answers the question beautifully- but if you don't have an hour to sit and watch, here's what we covered in youth group:

We started with this provocative video by Bruxy Cavey- which right away gave us the question "So, if an angel/dream/prophetic voice doesn't tell you otherwise, you should just keep doing what you're doing?"

To answer that question, we read Romans 12:1-2

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

 Recognize that God made us into co-creators and decision makers as part of making us in His image. That allows us to make our own choices, which is part of God's plan to give us free choice. What He's most concerned with is the kind of person we are and who we are becoming- which plays a HUGE role in what kind of choices we make. Romans 12 reminds us to put everything, every part of our likes, our activities, our thoughts, before God- if we're searching after Him first, we won't have to worry about having an angel come down and give us guidance about what kind of movie we should watch. We will naturally seek out the things that are pleasing to God, because we're creating ourselves within his loving influence.

But what about the bigger questions? The ones where there are multiple good choices and we're not quite sure if God is calling us to one over the other? How do we know if God is truly calling us to become a missionary in South Sudan or if we're feeling pulled that way because it has a glamorous ring to it?

First, recognize that the more you seek out God's voice, the easier it is to recognize. Think about how your mom can pick out your voice in a crowd- she knows it immediately because she's spent a LOT of time listening for it. It's the same with you and God. But in the learning-His-tone stage (or in extra-specially-tough circumstances), there are 7 questions we can ask ourselves to determine if it's really God's voice we're hearing.

1. Does this agree with the bible/Is it specifically forbidden? God's word is true forever, and there are many things in there that you can very easily connect to your life today. But there are some things present today that aren't specifically mentioned in the bible (the internet, for example). So if you're really struggling to connect that "voice" with things mentioned in the bible, another good question to ask yourself is whether it's specifically forbidden. Online porn? Not specifically listed in the bible. Lusting after someone you're not married to? Definitely listed in the no-no category.

2. Does this make me more like Christ? Life is a good opportunity for us to practice who we’ll be in Heaven, and Christ is our number one role model for what that looks like. So how do we know if that voice is Christ-like?

• The answer is NO if: it’s motivated by bitterness or envy (trying to make others jealous or make you “above” others), it’s motivated by selfish ambition, it’s judgmental, accusatory, or harsh (it takes no intelligence to criticize, but it takes maturity and wisdom to see the beauty in other)

• The answer is YES if: it's pure, it's peace-loving (promotes harmony, reconciliation, smoothes conflict and division in families, small groups, and work/church), it's uplifting of others (not gossip or slander), it's considerate of others (asks "will it harm anyone else?"), it's submissive (humble, teachable, willing to have ideas checked by someone else), it's full of mercy (more forgiving of others, more gracious), and it's impartial and sincere (not used to manipulate others).

3. Does my church family confirm it? Ephesians 3:10 reminds us that we're not meant to live life alone. If you’re resistant to telling anyone else about the idea this "voice" is giving you, it’s not from God. And if mature believers whose faith you respect question it, you should, too. (Proverbs 11:9) But the key point to remember here is that you have to KNOW each other (have a relationship) in order for those believers to give you sound advice and in order for you to trust it (don't trust advice from people you don't feel are living a godly life!).

4. Is it consistent with how God has shaped me? Ephesians 2:10 tells us God created you to do good works, unique to you. God never gives you a talent He expects you to waste. Romans 12:6 tells us that we will have things we are good at AND things we aren't so good at. Just because we like to do it doesn't mean we're going to be good at it. God may be calling you to do something that you need to grow into, but you should have the basic abilities already in place. For example: You love to sing, but can't carry a tune. Go ahead and sing your heart out in the shower, barn, wherever. Make your joyful noise unto the Lord! But if you feel like God is calling you to become an award-winning singer, you're probably misreading that voice (or you're listening to the voice of your inner ego).

5. Does it concern my responsibility? Is that inner voice telling you to call someone out on something? Remember that everybody has direct access to God, if they want it. You don’t need to be the Holy Spirit for someone else. Focus on God’s directions to YOU, not to someone else. Remember Romans 14 (who are you to judge someone else’s servant?)- don’t try to assume God’s role in another’s life.

• That said, God CAN sometimes use individuals to speak to another person. How do you know if that's the case now?

1. Be patient and pray. Make sure you heard correctly, and give God the chance to speak to them first. Pray that they will be receptive, and you may not even need to say anything.
2. Realize that God usually uses people to confirm what he’s already said to someone: “You know, I’ve been feeling that lately."
3. Remember that God usually uses you without you being conscious of it. Tread VERY carefully when you're trying to be the voice of God. You're usually most effective when you're not trying.

6. Is it convicting, rather than condemning? Conviction is making you aware of things that should change in order to be better. Condemnation is “I’m a jerk, I’m worthless, etc.;” it's that vague cloud of guilt. Romans 8:1 tells us that God never attacks our value. He’ll point out your sin, but never devalue you; He let his Son die on a cross because he values you so much. If you're feeling guilty, if that voice in your head is telling you something is wrong, that feeling of guilt should only last until you repent of your wrongdoing. After that, the condemnation is not from God. (Revelations 3:19)

7.  Do I sense God’s peace about it? Overwhelmed, anxious, pressured, or confused- you’re caught up in yourself, not God. When God is calling you to something, He gives a sense of rightness to go along with it. You can be terrified of the decision you're making and still feel God's peace at the same time- it's hard to explain until you've felt it, but once you have, you know what I'm talking about. God's peace is when you're confident you're on the right path, even when you don't have it all figured out, and even when it isn't obviously in your "best interest." 

So those are the 7 questions. You don't need to go through them for every decision you make (Should I eat Mac N Cheese tonight? Better break out the questions!), but when you DO feel you need them, you need to ask all seven. You need a "yes" for all 7 of them to be sure that it's God's voice. If you can only cover 5 out of 7, you probably aren't hearing God. And finally, remember what we said at the start- God is concerned most with the kind of person you are. And He is continually working to draw you closer to Him, to make you into the kind of person who seeks Him out- no matter how many times you've ignored Him in the past, no matter how obstinately you've fought against Him. Whenever and wherever you are, as soon as you start trying to align your life with His will, He's right there. If you're truly interested in figuring out what He wants from you, ask Him.

 

5 Minutes of God Time Song: Touch the Sky by Hillsong

Individuals of Integrity

Last week, we heard from two of our wonderful congregation members as to how they work to make their faith an integral part of their lives. I found it wonderful to hear how Michael has struggled through his addictions to make God a priority in his life, spending this upcoming winter in Guatemala in order to serve at a Christian orphanage, as well as how Jammin' Jenny has made tough life choices in order to make her life fit her faith (rather than the other way around). They are just two examples out of many within our congregation, and I wish we had more time to talk with more people. But since we need to keep moving along, today we're covering examples of people we DON'T know, but who are doing things that fit with THEIR calling.

I'll preface these examples by reminding you that these are not meant to be your life plan. They are examples, meant to give you the courage to do things that might be considered "odd" by your friends and family. To show you that people can and do decide to put God first, and fit everything else around Him. You might be called to something completely different, and there is a whole lot of good in that, too!

The following examples are doing things "big" enough that they've made the news, but they are still individuals who face some of the same questions and needs as you. What do I wear today? What will I eat? How should I interact with my friends and family? How will I travel around? Where will I live? How do I make sense of the things I see/experience/hear/read? Where does God fit into all of this and what does He want of me?

First up, we have the couple who was recently in the news for giving away half their salaries. Now keep in mind, this couple lives in Boston, which means their cost of living is higher than it is here in Wisconsin. But even with that, they made the decision to put generosity before raising their standard of living (which is truly an example of loving your neighbor as yourself!).

Then we watched a short clip on Katie Davis (who we've talked about previously), a young woman who moved to Uganda (originally short term) and realized God was calling her to stay there. She started the organization Amazima Ministries, and is trying to live out her faith while raising 14(!) foster daughters. She's a great example of someone whose calling from God didn't line up with what her family expected of her- and how they managed to work that out.

Our final clip of the day was on Dr. Tom Catena, the Catholic missionary doctor working in the Nuban mountains (South Sudan). The link above goes to a short story on him. The following link is the one we watched parts of during youth group. I think it is very worth watching, but because I can't skip around the video for you in this format, I will offer the same warning I gave during youth group: it may be very, very hard to watch. There are graphic representations of the conflict and of his work, which you cannot unsee. Dr. Tom is doing amazing things because he feels his God asks it of him, and he is doing it in extraordinarily challenging circumstances.
 

And while Dr. Tom is a great example to end on, I'd like to add the two following examples that we didn't get to during "class:"

Shane Claiborne who helped found what amounts to an inner-city commune. More information on what they do can be found here: http://www.thesimpleway.org/about/faq/

Meg Hunter-Kilmer, a young woman here in the U.S. who felt called to be a transient missionary-speaker-preacher. She lives out of her car while traveling around spreading the love of Christ. She also blogs, and her posts are well worth checking out.

Our 5 Minutes of God Time song: This Is Your Fight Song by The Piano Guys

Sheep and Goats (aka Christian Integrity)

After a few weeks traveling through our organist Marlene's Holy Land experience, we're back to talk about Christian integrity. Specifically, what it means to be a sheep, rather than a goat. How do we live our lives trying to match our actions and ideas with what Jesus actually said? And if we're given the free gift of grace and could technically just repent on our deathbed, why should we really even care?

Let's start with that second question: why should we care? There are 3 easy (and somewhat selfish) reasons:

1.It reduces cognitive dissonance. Whether we realize it or not, it makes us mentally uncomfortable when we say we believe something (and hopefully really do believe it!), and then we act in ways that don't confirm those beliefs. It's like a little itch in the back of your brain- and your brain is always working to reduce that discomfort. And when it relieves your concern by telling you that the thing you SAY you believe isn't really that important- or it twists the definition into something easier- you slowly become less able to follow your beliefs. This slow slide into mushy values often continues until/unless something big jolts you out of it.

2. It reduces the harm we cause others. We're familiar with the phrase "Going to church on Sunday doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car," and we can all list hypocritical "Christians" we wish wouldn't claim the name (Westboro Baptist Church, anyone?). But as extreme as the WBC is, we can cause just as much of a stumbling block to others when we don't take Jesus' teachings seriously. It makes others question whether the things God asks are really that good- how can God be wonderful when even His followers don't want to follow what He says?

3. It increases our "God Moments." The more your life draws closer to the ideal Jesus presents, the more likely you are to REALLY see God in the workings of your life. You get to see some of the "hows" and "whys" that other people might miss. You get to start to understand your purpose here. Those moments are better than Christmas morning. Think about all of the uncertainty you have in your life- then think about how great it would be to know, rather than just guess.

Before we go any further, though, it's important to mention one thing: we will always have work to do before our ideals match our actions. We will never reach perfection this side of heaven- and that's OK. Really it's a good thing- it means that there is still something greater and better than anything we've experienced, which I think is a very hopeful thing. And if we could reach perfection on our own, there would be no need for Jesus. You're in good company, even when you're falling short of your own goals. We can be people of integrity AND hypocrites at the same time- it's about the heart and which side has the greater weight in our lives.

Now, as we explore how we give precedence to the goal of integrity, let's keep the following things in mind:

1. You need to actually WANT to follow Jesus. Bruxy Cavey has a great analogy for this one; John Owen (the puritanical preacher) said it this way:

Why do you think you want to be in heaven forever if you don’t even want to spend time with God here on earth? (paraphrased)

2. We will fail miserably at following Christ if we don’t have a clear idea of what he’s actually asking of us. This might require some study, but at the very least it requires some time set aside for reflection.

3. We are all called to the same goals in Christ, but the way that plays out can be different for each of us; there will be things that are the same for all of us (we can all agree that loving our neighbor probably means we don't torture them, but it might mean becoming a nurse for one person and becoming a philanthropic business person for another).

4. We are called to follow Christ, not other Christians; Christians don’t always get it right 100% of the time, so their actions have to be examined in light of the original call. That said, other Christians can also be really helpful examples to guide us in that walk.

5. Your life might be the only bible a person ever reads. You hold a very powerful position when you decide to become the hands and feet of God. It demands that you take your responsibility as a representative of Christ seriously. Just as your coach might require you to wear a shirt and tie on game days instead of your normal sweatpants (to be a positive representative of your school), Jesus requires that you subordinate some of your personal wishes/freedom in order to be an emblem of HIS team. The apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans 14 (talking about not letting food get in the way of love):

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. ²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. ²¹ It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

  

Romans 14 goes on to nicely conclude our topic of the day:

^22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.

In the coming weeks, we'll look at how certain people are living out their beliefs- both locally and globally, in big ways and in small ways. I hope they'll provide some inspiration as to how God is calling YOU to live out your faith!


5 Minutes of God Time Song: Nearer My God To Thee by The Piano Guys