I believe one of the hardest things as a believer can be discerning God’s will. I believe it’s not easy because it causes us to rely on God and make all decisions as an act of faith. However, over the years I have created a rubric of sorts to help me better understand if it truly is God speaking to me. There are many ways God speaks to us. I have had God speak to me in verbal commands that left no doubt in me what He wanted, through prophets that have approached me, in visions,and through wise counsel from mentors and peers. Ultimately God chooses how and when to communicate with us. Although this is a tool, it’s just the start, and not a substitute for prayer and quiet time with God.
The rubric I have created over the years is if all three of these are present, it is most likely God speaking.
- More than two people have independently confirmed the ideas without me mentioning it or persuading them.
- I cannot stop thinking about something for more than 2 weeks.
- The puzzle pieces fit together too well to be from man.
I would say there is a fourth component that cannot be described but it’s an overwhelming sense or feeling that this is from God.
Let’s break these down.
More than two people have independently confirmed the ideas without me mentioning it or persuading them.
When I am thinking about an idea, or even I have not thought about an idea and someone has brought an idea to me, it starts to become compelling that God is calling me to do something when more than two (which means 3 or more) come to me in a separate and unrelated way to encourage me to do something. For example, this year I had more than 3 people independently approach me and encourage me to serve on a board. It was something that I had thought about and had as a long-term goal but was not something I thought was the right time. However, as each person approached me, without the others knowing and without being prompted, it became clear I needed to contemplate and spend time praying over this idea.
I cannot stop thinking about something for more than 2 weeks.
There is a saying in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) that visionaries have 20 ideas by the time they get out of the shower. My team likes to joke I have 20 before I get into the shower. With constant ideas, it can be hard to discern which are God ordained. I find that if it’s from God, it endures. Just like Jonah trying to not go to Nineveh, God has a way of making his intentions known. So, a good rule of thumb is if I am obsessing over an idea for a period longer than 2 weeks, there is a higher probability it’s from God and that I should spend time praying over it. An example of the above with a board position is that I had 4 people “plant the seed,” which caused me to keep thinking about it daily for a period of about 3 weeks before I started to realize that I was not going to stop thinking about it.
The puzzle pieces fit together too good to be from man.
This one is more subjective than objective like the other two, but when you have this feeling it’s hard to not know it. This also seems to become clearer the more I pray and contemplate. It often starts with “whoa that’s a coincidence,” then moves to “wow that’s a lot of things coming into alignment,” to a full fledged “this has to be God because there are so many things from many parts and seasons of my life coming together at this very moment.” To put it through the lens of the board decision I mentioned, as I started praying and contemplating, I started to realize this was the right timing and there were about 15 separate timelines coming together that seemed it could not be something done by man or coincidence.
With my rubric, it does not always or have to incur the order I presented, although, I find for me it typically is in this order. It seems that God uses people to plant a seed, then I think about it and then it becomes clear. There are many times where God brings the idea to me and then it is confirmed by others.
Last, I would say there are times when none of the three are present, and God just speaks to me. There have also been times where all three of these are present, God has not spoken to me and I feel that it was not God’s will to make that decision. This is simply a pattern I have discovered as I attempt to discern God’s will in my life.
Have you noticed patterns to the way God speaks to you? I would love to hear how God speaks to you and God’s story he is telling through you. Please share your story with me.
Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.The opinions expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial.
13 Lessons I Learned From My Dad
My father was called home to be with God 13 years ago on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, 2011. Today would have been his 76th birthday. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of my dad. In his memory, I wanted to share the 13 most important lessons he taught me, one for each year he has not been with me.
