I hope you don't mind if I answer. It's not like the movies; the sky doesn't open, the choir doesn't sing; there's no bright light. I've experienced God speaking through a person -- the kind of freaky conversation where the person could not possibly know that the words had meaning. And I've done it myself, like been compelled to walk up to a complete stranger and say something that made no sense to me at all (in one instance, it was, Mail the letter.). Or sometimes I'm grappling with something, and yes, I'll open the Bible or hear a sermon or have a conversation that confirms what I know to be true.^ this
(btw, I've never ever done the "this" thing before - and it just felt so good, so right)
Could I ask you both a couple of questions?
In my experience, this is how sane people (like yourselves) describe God "speaking" to them. It's a rare thing, and sometimes a life-changing thing. Defined in terms like these, my mother would say that God has "spoken" to her, as well.
My question is: what is it like, exactly? Do you hear an actual voice? Or is it just some kind of strong feeling, or intuition, or epiphany? Or do you receive some kind of sign or omen, like opening a Bible and finding a particularly compelling verse?
And finally: how do you know it's God? And not just your own intuition, or even a coincidence?
I won't debate or even question your answers. I really am just interested in hearing about your experiences.
But more often it's an impression of rightness. You know the feeling when you look at your SO, and you know exactly what he's/she's thinking and you're right there on the same page? It's not verbal or even body language. For me, that's how God speaks. How do I know it's not me? Because it happens when I've reached the end of myself. I'm not guessing, I'm not choosing between two equally plausible answers -- I just am empty. And God speaks, and it feels like: oh, that's the way.
I don't hear voices. I'm a reasonably intelligent person who can work my way through stuff and come to an answer. I know what that feels like, and I also know what it feels like when the answer doesn't come from me.
Not trying to change your mind...but how do you know this answer is independent of you when it comes from your own mind? Your own experiences? Your own chemical processes? Your own predispositions?
I find this sort of explanation you give far more truthful than people hearing voices. I just think many honest, intelligent and sincere people often mistake this sort of thing for their own culturally derived proclivities...and of course there are many untruthful, unbalanced people who ruin it for the others.
RAMA
