Great mens b'fast this morning. Thanks to Kevin and Steve for putting it together. We discussed Amos 7, which is always cool.
I've been reading a book by E. Stanley Jones called A Song of Ascents. Jones was an influential Methodist missionary back in the 1940's-50's. He was close to Gandhi and generally considered a spiritual giant to Evangelical Christians.
At one point he goes off on divine guidance; how God leads us. He calls the chapter "An Adventure in Failure". I found his words helpful, you might too.
Jones says that God leads us in five ways:
1. Through the life, character, and teaching of Jesus Christ.
"we must be Christlike.....suspect and reject any supposed guidance that doesn't fit in with
the character and teachings of Jesus. A very good first choice.
2. Through the counsel of good people.
"the way is often clear, but not final. We cannot take the judgment of others as final."
3. Through opening providence.
I (me, pjim) would call this "open doors"
4. Through "heightened moral intelligence"
He points out Gods call to love Him with all our minds. He also points to Jesus saying "can
you not judge for yourselves that which is right?" I (me, pjim) wonder if sometimes we ask
God to guide us about something and He replies to the tune of, "you can figure that one out
yourself."
5. Through the inner voice.
Same thing as the Holy Spirit, only less spiritual sounding. He talks about distinguishing
between the voice of God and our own subconscious voice/desires. "The inner voice of
the subconscious argues with you, tries to convince you; but the inner voice of God does not
argue, does not try to convince you. It just speaks and is self-authenticating. It has the feel
of the voice of God within it. "The sheep follow him: for they know his voice."
Regarding the inner voice he says that he does not use the inner voice largely or exclusively as his method of guidance. He says that if you rely on the inner voice too much, you are likely to "manufacture that voice from the subconscious and call it the voice of God." "So I put up my question marks when someone persistently and continuously says, "God said to me...". It is too slick, too glib." After these comments, he goes on to tell a few stories about times when he thought he was hearing the voice of God, but it turned out to be his own desires, pretending to be God.
.......
Interesting.
grace & blessings
pjim
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Thanks for sharing the 5 ways that God leads...good stuff!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to comment on this for a while… I finally have a chance. Yah! This is a great blog Pjim. I believe GOD does speak to us through all of these areas and I also believe that each of us hear in different ways as we each learn in different ways. Some take subtle hints some take a brick upside the head too. For me personally I have found the more I have learned about Christ and have become conscious of what is right and wrong the more I want to do what is right and live my life by the principles HE has set forth. As a saved Christian I have CHRIST’s love in my heart, soul and mind and I do my best to live that way. Some how I have put points #1 and #4 in the same category. If I am suspect of any guidance I am receiving from others I should have a sense of whether it fits or doesn’t. Although, I am a sinful human being who need much counsel. I also have the ultimate tool, the final word of discernment, the bible. I also need help from people and this is my favorite. I really believe GOD speaks to me through other people, #2. You are who you hang around with they say; “stick with the winners.” That’s what I try to do. There have been many times (more often than not) when I have left a meeting or a small group rejoicing because I heard something I absolutely needed to hear and knew it was GOD speaking through someone else. That is just the way it works and it is an awesome feeling to feel that connected to GOD. One comment on #3, is divine guidance not only comes through open doors but closed doors as well. Lastly, one of my devotional readings from the other night by Oswald Chambers speaks and relates to divine guidance. It comes from Matthew 10:27, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.” What Oswald was talking about was that GOD will sometimes put us in the dark to teach us to listen and obey. If we are talking to others while we are in the dark we can’t hear him. If we are reading other things to try and figure out why we are in the dark we can’t hear him. Close your mouth and listen! Darkness is the time to LISTEN and hear from GOD, for he has a special message for us and this message is not only for us but it is for us to share with everyone else when we are back in the light. I just loved that and had to share that with you. GOD bless!! Love, Heather
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