There are polls that suggest that roughly half the world's people believe that they have had divine encounters at various points in their lives. Though most skeptics will mock the very idea as something that is completely detached from reason and scientific proof, actual scientists will admit that their instruments and methods have revealed but little of the universe and that there is much they do not know. If you're among the many who believe that you've had spiritual experiences with God, you need to learn how to confirm the fact.
That begins by understanding that the Creator is not the only spirit that contacts man. The West's three primary faiths all agree that there is some level of evil supernatural activity working against man's interests. As a result, it is quite possible that you may have encountered a dark spirit that intended to bring harm to your life and your spiritual walk.
It is critically important, therefore, to examine the nature of any such encounter. If a spirit's presence leaves you questioning your own worth or thinking evil thoughts, that is generally a sign that you've encountered one of those darker forces. After all, faithful people understand that God's intent is to add to the love we feel for others, promote goodness, and console us in times of need.
For those who lack faith, however, the reverse holds true. God will speak to such people and sear their consciences so that they repent of their sinful ways and seek His path. For those people, voices and feelings that urge them to make excuses for sinfulness are surely not from the Creator, since such excuses continue to separate those people from Him.
Ignatius was a scholar who aptly described the fundamental issue that must be addressed for such discernment. To succeed, the person must first know himself and recognize where he is at in his own spiritual journey. When you are actively seeking God and trying to live by faith, His presence will leave you feeling loved and consoled, and not separated from Him in any way.
It is critically important to compare the nature of such encounters to what the Scriptures say. Often times, people claim to have experienced the Divine presence, and then begin to relate prophetic utterances or commands that run counter to God's own Word. Scripture should inform believers about such encounters, since no real divinely inspired interaction would ever run contrary to the Creator's revealed Word.
People who have such encounters should be aware of critics who doubt their accounts. Those critics will call them delusional or members of mythological cults, but those words are no substitute for evidence. The truth is that science confirms that we know almost nothing about our universe when compared to that which remains unknown.
Remember also that even the most experienced believers find this discernment challenging at times. However, if you remain aware of your own level of faith, examine the actual encounter, and search the Scriptures for guidance, you can invariably determine if you have truly been blessed by contact from God.
That begins by understanding that the Creator is not the only spirit that contacts man. The West's three primary faiths all agree that there is some level of evil supernatural activity working against man's interests. As a result, it is quite possible that you may have encountered a dark spirit that intended to bring harm to your life and your spiritual walk.
It is critically important, therefore, to examine the nature of any such encounter. If a spirit's presence leaves you questioning your own worth or thinking evil thoughts, that is generally a sign that you've encountered one of those darker forces. After all, faithful people understand that God's intent is to add to the love we feel for others, promote goodness, and console us in times of need.
For those who lack faith, however, the reverse holds true. God will speak to such people and sear their consciences so that they repent of their sinful ways and seek His path. For those people, voices and feelings that urge them to make excuses for sinfulness are surely not from the Creator, since such excuses continue to separate those people from Him.
Ignatius was a scholar who aptly described the fundamental issue that must be addressed for such discernment. To succeed, the person must first know himself and recognize where he is at in his own spiritual journey. When you are actively seeking God and trying to live by faith, His presence will leave you feeling loved and consoled, and not separated from Him in any way.
It is critically important to compare the nature of such encounters to what the Scriptures say. Often times, people claim to have experienced the Divine presence, and then begin to relate prophetic utterances or commands that run counter to God's own Word. Scripture should inform believers about such encounters, since no real divinely inspired interaction would ever run contrary to the Creator's revealed Word.
People who have such encounters should be aware of critics who doubt their accounts. Those critics will call them delusional or members of mythological cults, but those words are no substitute for evidence. The truth is that science confirms that we know almost nothing about our universe when compared to that which remains unknown.
Remember also that even the most experienced believers find this discernment challenging at times. However, if you remain aware of your own level of faith, examine the actual encounter, and search the Scriptures for guidance, you can invariably determine if you have truly been blessed by contact from God.
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