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How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 9:17:14 AM
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linarette
Posts: 43
Joined: 5/2/2007
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Hello,
I have a rather unusual question: How often does the Lord speak to you?
This is why I am asking: Lately, everytime I open my bible, God shows me a passage or verse that applies to my life or that of people around me/ or someone I have been praying for...No, please before anyone jumps on me about claims of prophecy,  ...please just understand that I want to know if this is uncommon to most christians or not...
Here is my background: Led to Christ at a very young age (5) by a saved relative, but grew up struggling spiritually in a non-christian home. Throughout college and after that (I am 24 now), I was placing more emphasis on being a "good girl" and having good morals, yet did not have a real relationship with Christ. Got broken about 2 years ago, and finally surrendered to Christ entirely, and found out what my spiritual gifts were: Encouragement, Prayer, Help, Mercy...and I started writing, and some people on this forum told me then they could read through my writings that I had the gift of prophecy (I know, that word again  ). Fast forward to jan 2008, I realized I had become a lukewarm christian, and God took me through an intensive process of conviction... ...He asked me to get back to things like Tithing, ministering to the poor, using my gifts of encouragement, faithfully studying His Word that I had slacked on...He showed me sins like pride I had to deal with...And I obeyed. I "cleaned" my life, removing all distractions and turned back to God entirely...I felt such a thirst for Him and His Word...That is when the messages started pouring in...
I had a few dreams that sent me rushing to my bible, and each time the scriptures were right on point regarding an spect of my life. Now, He speaks mostly through the Word...Not a day passes without a strong message for me or someone else...He impressed upon my heart to intercede for others in prayer and fast regularly, which I have been doing faithfully, and in the process, He has been giving me verse words to minister to friends in difficulty (before they even contact me to submit a problem)...He has sent me on several occasion to deliver things to people right when they needed them...He has informed me of stuff like the death of someone I had been praying for, and in one case I could physically feel the ache of a loved one I was praying for...Verses from the bible keep pouring out...I always highlight them, whether I get the right meaning instantly or not...When it is mine, I know right away..When it is for someone else, i usually find out after the person contacts me and I realize that is what God prepared me to share...
Now one hard part is conviction of sins and "tough" messages...When I receive a message that deals with my own sin, I make sure that I obey it...But I have gotten the first warning message for a dear friend, and it is hard..but I know I have to share it....
Please I hope I did not violate any TOS here...
Your point of view? And please I do not claim anything, I just want to understand if this experience is uncommon or if most christians have it....
Blessings
ETA: spell check... 
< Message edited by linarette -- 2/13/2008 9:23:24 AM >
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 9:27:10 AM
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kmangel
Posts: 520
Joined: 4/12/2005
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No, I don't have experiences like you do--that I'm conscious of, anyway. I don't get any heads up feelings. Recently I had a co-worker of mine come up to me. Her husband told her she needed to talk to me about something I had said the week before to her. My husband and I sometimes listen to a devotion over the computer and later that morning my co-worker had related some concerns she had about God and His love for her. She was feeling that God plays favorites. The words I spoke in response to her comments--the three sentences I spoke--were what her husband told her to speak to me about. I had related three sentences to her that her very own husband had also related to her that very same morning--verbatim. God was speaking to her not only through her husband but through me, too. I hadn't a clue. Unlike you who seem to know up front what God wants you to say, I was responding to her distress but had no clue God was speaking. I just spoke. Later she shared how what I said gave her comfort.
It was encouraging to me to know God was working through me and her telling me allowed me to know He was at work. Sometimes I wonder if I am any blessing to others at all.
_____________________________
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 2:39:42 PM
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linarette
Posts: 43
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Thanks kmalgel and Cloak, for sharing....
anyone else???
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 5:51:06 PM
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crh737
Posts: 661
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Clearly
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 5:59:18 PM
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joy2give2u
Posts: 4347
Joined: 9/19/2006
From: Indiana
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quote:
I have a rather unusual question: How often does the Lord speak to you? Each and every time I open my ears to hear and eyes to see.
Your experiences are not unusual but unfortunately they may be uncommon.....I believe it is God's heart for hearing His voice to become more common, an every day normal occurrence, in each of our lives.
_____________________________
It is better to communicate the Spirit of what the Word says then the actual words read
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 7:12:37 PM
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Frank1096
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This question came up 2 weeks ago and I'm glad.... I hope the father in heaven does'nt play favorites. My pastor asked this at a weekly bible study and I was rebuked for saying I thought the father does play favorites. I've asked and pleaded for the father in eternity to speak to me audibly and it has never happened. You who hear from him daily are very, very, blessed. In the days of the boy, prohpet Sameul yes God spoke audibly but today I'm not so sure!!!!!!
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 7:40:56 PM
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HisCovenant
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It's never been audible for me. It is so clear to me sometimes that I think it's audible, but it's not.
Mostly, it's just nuggets of truth found in His word for all to see. But you have to read and study to find them.
Sometimes it's a burning in me to say something on His behalf. In that case, it's very hard to discern when it's me wanting to speak or when it's God wanting to speak through me. Knowing His word helps a lot in discerning when it's that quiet voice.
_____________________________
-HisCovenant/ Zipporah
My friends call me Zippy!
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 8:35:34 PM
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Newine59
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I've heard God speak to me audibly once in a vision and many times in other ways like through His word, through songs, other people, dreams, etc.... One caution through, please verify through His word. He will NEVER contradict Himself, if you still can't be sure, seek out someone you have confidence in, someone who is reliable, not a kook, a solid, senior Christian, who can be honest with you.
I always feel so awed when God speaks to me and am reminded of that song of "Who am I" I feel sorry for those Christians who are content to sit back on their salvation experience and wait to die to have a relationship with their savior when they can have one now!
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 10:27:44 PM
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HisCovenant
Posts: 4689
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Newine59
One caution through, please verify through His word. He will NEVER contradict Himself, if you still can't be sure, seek out someone you have confidence in, someone who is reliable, not a kook, a solid, senior Christian, who can be honest with you.
Very true. I would add my voice to yours in declaring this.
_____________________________
-HisCovenant/ Zipporah
My friends call me Zippy!
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 10:39:42 PM
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sunshine4God
Posts: 5799
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Sterling Ct.
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Not as often as I'd like.Than again I gotta learn to be silent before God and let him speak to me,and haven't got the hang of that yet.
_____________________________
Matthew 5:16.
"Let your light so shine before men that they will see
your good deeds and glorify your Lord".
Its me!
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 10:59:24 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1355
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quote:
How often does the Lord speak to you?
All the time. This is what relationship is all about...hearing, speaking, listening, responding, loving. . .
It is the 'what to do with it' that is the question. I think you know He speaks. But it is the responsibility that you are really questioning. Correct me if I'm wrong please.
Usually His words are for me. They are to aid me in intercession, in being a friend, in knowing 'what' and 'how' in regard to the things He shows me. Seeing into other people's lives is generally for intercession.
That does not mean that He never gives me a word to speak to someone. But my experience has been that generally when I am being used of God, I am oblivious to it. That keeps my flesh out of it and I can't mess it up.
I think it was J. Oswald Sanders in his book on spiritual leadership that said something to this effect...if you think you're being used by God, you probably aren't. I have taken his counsel to heart.
Now that does not mean that He has never given me something I was to share with someone. He has. And I have. And mostly the consequences have been other than pleasant. Speaking God's word and thoughts into peoples lives is NOT what most want to hear---even if they profess to love and follow Him. Usually they turn on you, the bearer of the message. Yes, look at the prophets in scripture and you will begin to understand how 'popular' speaking God thoughts makes you.
So I would say proceed with great caution. We have a God who hears and who speaks. A great book on this topic is Dallas Willard's, Hearing God. But living in relationship with God is not for sissies. That is why Jesus says that to follow Him requires great cost, taking up our cross daily. We learn obedience through suffering.
It is absolutely wonderful to live as His beloved. But you walk alone. I think it was Tozer who said the saints walk alone. It is true.
But it is worth it. He is worth it! Bless you!
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 11:07:39 PM
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linarette
Posts: 43
Joined: 5/2/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Liveloved
quote:
How often does the Lord speak to you?
Now that does not mean that He has never given me something I was to share with someone. He has. And I have. And mostly the consequences have been other than pleasant. Speaking God's word and thoughts into peoples lives is NOT what most want to hear---even if they profess to love and follow Him. Usually they turn on you, the bearer of the message. Yes, look at the prophets in scripture and you will begin to understand how 'popular' speaking God thoughts makes you.
So I would say proceed with great caution. We have a God who hears and who
True, True, True....It's hard to please both men and God...
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 11:08:52 PM
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linarette
Posts: 43
Joined: 5/2/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: HisCovenant
quote:
ORIGINAL: Newine59
One caution through, please verify through His word. He will NEVER contradict Himself, if you still can't be sure, seek out someone you have confidence in, someone who is reliable, not a kook, a solid, senior Christian, who can be honest with you.
Very true. I would add my voice to yours in declaring this.
I also add my voice here...  ...
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 2/13/2008 11:10:32 PM
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linarette
Posts: 43
Joined: 5/2/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: HisCovenant
God speaks to me constantly...when I listen for Him, I recognize His voice. The more my heart is turned towards Him & the "cleaner" I am, the hungrier I am to listen to Him... both through His Word and through actually hearing Him. So, the short answer is that he speaks daily, and when I am faithful to Him I hear Him.
I have the gift of Prophecy, too.
I have noticed that He tends to get silent when I doubt or do not follow through something He asked me to do...
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 7/7/2008 12:02:25 AM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 580
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
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God speaks to me often...
However, when I was not walking in His fullness.. I did not hear from like I do today. He speaks to me through visions, dreams, audibly (many times) through His Word, in my spirit, etc. He has spoken to me through my children often, and through others.
I do want to ad... when we stop hearing from God frequently, it isn't always because we have sin in our lives or that we're not listening. There have been many times when God has been silent in order for me to draw closer, or to dig deeper in the Word... or other reasons.
All to often people think they need to follow some formula, or their not doing something right... and that's not it at all.
Frank1096... God doesn't play favorites. He will speak to you... when the time is right. When I look back over my years as a Christian... I believe that God was speaking to me in different ways, and I just didn't realize it. Pray for God to reveal Himself to you... ask Him to give you dreams and visions... ask Him to speak to you. There is nothing wrong with that. Tell God that you want to have that kind of close relationship wit Him. And if He doesn't answer right away, don't give up! Be like Jacob... wrestle with God, asking Him to give you a glimpse of His glory. Eventually, when God's timing is right... He will.
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 7/7/2008 12:45:14 AM
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blueshadow
Posts: 46
Joined: 7/5/2008
From: Texas
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I've never heard an audible voice. But God has spoken to me through what other people have said to me and through His Word. I've had verses jump out at me while flipping through my Bible - and then found them on the wrong side of the page from where I was looking. I've also known I was supposed to say something to someone, or pray for someone - can't really explain that one, I think, but it wasn't an audible voice.
There's a lot to the idea that if we're open to God's direction, He will direct us. Reading the Bible presents a multitude of verses which we can apply to our lives, no matter where we are.
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 7/7/2008 4:52:58 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3618
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
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I have always wondered...for those who have heard an audible voice from God, does He sound like Charlton Heston?
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: How often does the Lord speak to you? - 
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