❓How Do We Know If God Is Telling Us to Do Something in Our Life? 🤔

 The Simple Answer: Is it in the Bible? 📖

Let’s dig a bit deeper . . . 🚜

📜 God’s Law: God instructs us through His Word. If what you believe God is telling you goes against the Bible, it’s not from Him. (See Gal. 1:8)

🐺 Looks Can Be Deceiving: We can’t base the truth of something on how good it looks or sounds because Paul says that the devil disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14) 

💔 Feelings Can Mislead: We can’t rely on our emotions for truth, as Jesus says that evil things come from the heart. (Matt. 15:19)

❓ What about the “Messy Middle” where God seems quiet or unspecific? Questions like: Where should I go to college? Who should I marry? Where should I live?

🗣️ God Speaks to Us in Two Ways:

1️⃣ The Mediate Way – through means such as the Bible, church, or your pastor.

2️⃣ The Immediate Way – direct communication, like prophecies where God speaks directly (e.g., to Abraham).

📏 Testing the Validity of Immediate Prophecy:

>> 📜 Does it align with God’s Word?

>> ✨ Can the prophet perform a miracle? (In the Bible, genuine prophecy is often accompanied by miracles.)

⚠️ Note: The devil can do miracles, but he cannot teach in accordance with God’s will.  

🔍 Reasons Someone Might Misinterpret God’s Voice:

>> 🛍️ It’s something they deeply desire.

>> 🙈 They want to avoid responsibility for their actions.

>> 📜 They’re seeking justification for something they want to do.

💡 Remember: God’s will for us always aligns with His Word, not just our wishes.

Contributor Amelia is a college student and HT’s assistant webmaster.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran