How do you tell if God is trying to tell you something?

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You all have helped me before, So here goes, I study prophecy, and I love it. And feel we are in for lots of trouble, Well I have had the thoughts, over and over again, everyday,Will not go away. That I should start canning [ of all things meat] not veg's. And then old lazy butt me, says wow that is a lot of work.And I try to convince myself, Its all in my head. But it won"t go away. So I did take the left over soup[ about 2 quarts and put in freezer till I get enough differant meat things, to fill 7 quarts in the pressure canner.I really don"t know for sure if this is the Lord speaking to me, or just me, How do you tell? I have ofter wondered about this on differant things. God Bless Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), January 05, 2002

Answers

I don't know for sure Irene, but if a voice in your head, just won't be quiet, that is probably a good sign you should listen to it!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 05, 2002.

Hi Irene

The bible says to test this prophecy in God's Spirit.

We bought 25 pounds each of wheat kernels and rice, and canned this summer for the first time in 20 years. Home canning is bound to be better for you than commercially canned products, and I really do fear our food distribution system may become disrupted this year, somehow.

Store as much food as you can. Collect as much water as you can, if you are on a municipal water system, or rely on power company electricity to pump your water.

-- Rick (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.


Irene, this is something I have struggled with too, wondering if something is "just a feeling" or if it is from God, or worse yet, if it is from the devil. A few months ago I heard Charles Stanley preach on this subject on the radio and I wrote down his things to check. Here it is and I hope it might help you: One: Is it consistent with the word of God? Two: Does it conflict with human reason? It usually will if it is of God. Three: Does it clash with my fleshly nature. Four: Will this challenge my faith? God uses challenges to help us grow. Five: Does this call for courage? It usually will if it is from God. Six: Does it cause you to think of the effects on other people. God never talks about "our rights". Seven: Does it caution you to be patient? God will never tell you to rush into something. Eight: Will it consider the future consequences? "you only live once, why worry about tomorrow" is of the world. Nine: Check out the lifestyle of person giving you advice. Do not go to a person of the world for advice. Ten: Does it contribute to your spiritual growth? Eleven: Does it give you a clamness in spirit? It won't always at first but peace will be there if it is from God. If we are full of the spirit, we will know it is God.

Apparently I'm not full of the spirit because I am always wondering if something is from God. I have the urge to stock up too but then I also did for Y2K. I have also heard a lot of other people say they have the urge too. Then I hear people say "don't worry, God will provide." I do feel God provides but I also feel He expects us to do things too not just sit back and wait for Him to take care of everything. He told Noah to prepare. He told Joseph to prepare. Can He be telling us to prepare also? I think He can, is HE? I'm not sure. I hope this might help you. Let me know what you decide to do.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 05, 2002.


Very good answer Barb, worth printing out and referring to whenever any decision must be made!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 05, 2002.

Irene, this is hardly a religious answer or solution for you, but I'll offer it up for your consideration anyhow. If you do go ahead and do the canning, what's the worst that will happen as a result? You'll have some canned food you can go to in good times or bad. If it's a voice from on high, great. If it's just your own nagging insecurities about the future, so what? You'll still sleep better with it done.

As far as how you tell which it is, unless it's a voice from a burning bush, it's probably a pretty tough call. ;o) Take care. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 05, 2002.



Just to add my humble 2cents worth, seek confirmation from Biblical sources and other believers. The Bible definitely teaches us to be aware of what's happening and be ready to answer the call. Other believers have encouraged you here. Your own spirit has been touched by the Holy Spirit to do it. And as one said, God or not, it's just good common sense and you'll have good quality food on the shelf. Just remember to give God the credit. I'm studying Moses' teachings to the Hebrew children just before they entered the Promised Land. He admonishes them to never forget from whence came all the good things they are going to enjoy; those houses they didn't build, those crops they didn't have to plant, those trees they didn't have to cultivate, those years of provision in the wilderness. So, when you're eating that canned meat you were prompted to put up, don't forget to thank God that he gave you the idea and the ability to do it.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.

Irene, I think many/most of us struggle with knowing if it's from God or just our own idea. Can't give you any hard and fast answers, but I know that the more I read the Word and the more time I spend in prayer, the easier it is for me to hear his voice. For me, it's been a long process, rather than all of a sudden realizing I can tell the difference. If I'm not sure, I spend lots more time in prayer before I act, especially if it's something with real consequences and/or affects others.

Another thing is that "nudging" that just won't go away - especially if it involves doing something I'm really not too excited about doing, or involves some self-sacrifice. If I try to ignore it, the thought just keeps coming back, sometimes even so that it wakes me up in the night. Then I usually will run across something in my Bible reading that confirms it, and maybe a line or two in some Christian music I'm listening to, and then one of my kids will mention something to me along the same line....by that time, I usually am saying, "Ok, Ok, I'm listening, Lord!"

As to the canning, I do believe the Lord will provide. I also believe that in ordinary circumstances he expects us to use the brains he gave us and be reasonably prepared for lean times, for others as well as for ourselves. Speaking as a parent, I don't want to see my children go hungry, but if they had the means and opportunity to prepare for tough times and did not do so, I would not be real happy with them. And by stocking up, we can take advantage of sales and save money which can be put to other uses (charity, etc.).

I think there is a difference between stocking up and hoarding, a lot of which has to do with attitude. Having gone through some lean times myself in the past, I went through a period of trying to "hoard", and got upset whenever my stock went down a little. Bad attitude - trusting in myself. Now I stock up because I think it's wise, and I don't worry because I believe I'm doing what I can and the Lord will take care of the rest. I believe one of the reasons we are to stock up is to share with others in need, putting our money where our mouth is and demonstrating Christ's love for others. I had opportunity this Christmas to share with a young woman who had to flee her abusive husband with 2 small kids. I hope it made their Christmas brighter, I know it did mine! It was such fun.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), January 05, 2002.


A good bible study to better understand God speaking to you,Experiencing God,by Henery Blackaby.Can be done alone but is better in a group.Can get it at most Christian book stores.Most every ChristianI know has done this study.

-- willa (goodall6@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.

Canning isnt a bad idea regardless of who told you to do it.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 05, 2002.

You've received some very good answers. There are many of us Christians who believe we heard God's voice to put up the bounty for lean times ahead. As Christians, we validate that God is telling you this as He is telling us, too.

I think it is wonderful that you are being called to put up meat. So many of us do not have the skills to do that. If it is a calling from God, He will provide the bounty and the resources, just keep tuned in to Him!

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.



1 Corinthians 13:8-10 2 Timothy 3:16,17

-- Kevin (kevinmail@eartlink.net), January 05, 2002.

I believe that God speaks to us even if we don't listen. Many times, I've had premonitions that I think was God's way of guiding me. There was a voice telling me to do a certain thing that was so strong that it woke me up! I wanted to say "All right, I will! Now lower the volume!" Oddly enough, two stronger experiences concerned dogs.

An old friend, many years ago was going to take a Greyhound bus for a trip. At the last minute, she felt that someone was telling her not to get on that bus. She didn't, and the bus crashed! I think God was talking to her.

Take care now and God bless.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.


All the answers are terrific! I would simple add that as far as putting up canned goods, why not? How could such an idea come from an evil source???? God is kind in that He gently keeps nudging me until I wake up and listen..a few time He has whacked me over the head to get my attention LOL...anyway, I for one, can not see any down side to putting food by...relax and know He is in charge..God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 06, 2002.

I did not mean to imply that canning is evil!!! Heavens, if that is the case then I've done a lot of evil things because my pantry is full of things I've canned. I was trying in my imperfect manner to tell what Charles Stanley said about deciding if something is from God or not. It has helped me and I had hoped that it might help others.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 06, 2002.

Irene, of course God will provide...and in fact She already has. You have the soup in the freezer already, don't you? God provides me with vegetables and fruits in my gardens every year. I do put those things up, but God still provided them.

I always do this debate. I'll tell you, hindsight is 20/20! I can see so clearly when God spoke to me and I listened. I'm not so clear on the times He spoke and I didn't listen, and I'm sure there are a lot more of that type than the other! I'm afraid I've not been a very good listener in my short lifetime.

I have reached the point where, if I have a nagging sense about something that will do no harm and may do good, I go with it. Canned soup is always good. And I have had this nagging sense that I really need a new pressure canner....hmmm....

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), January 06, 2002.



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