Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your minds,
so that you may discern what is the will of God
—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
We have not ceased praying for you and asking
that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Col 1:9
but be transformed by the renewing of your minds,
so that you may discern what is the will of God
—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
We have not ceased praying for you and asking
that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Col 1:9
Surprised by God
I remember it like it was yesterday. We had recently moved to Phoenix, and were attending Our Lady of Joy Catholic Church in Carefree. I was raised Protestant, and although I had completed the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process and been brought into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil fifteen years earlier in Texas, in my mind I had never actually committed to becoming a Catholic. Instead, I was a Christian attending a Catholic Church, just as previously I had been a Christian attending various Protestant churches.
One day as I was driving home from church, I suddenly “heard” God say to me, “Jay - I’m not calling you to attend a Catholic Church; I’m calling you to the Catholic Church!” Just as St. Theresa indicates, to this day I can actually hear the words in my memory (even the slightly exasperated "hands on His hips” tone), and the emphasis on the word “the”) just as I heard it that day. It was a totally unexpected message—I was happy to attend a Catholic Church, but I had never considered actually becoming a Catholic. Along with the spoken message, I received the clear understanding that this course was “coming with me” and was to be shared with the Catholic Church when it was in a time of crisis. God had prepared me by leading me to complete the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and get an annulment for my first marriage, so at that moment I became a Catholic.
Catching Fire
There is nothing more exciting than being in God’s will, led by the Holy Spirit through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ! These lessons will help you “catch the fire” of the Holy Spirit, leading to a growing sense of enthusiasm for God and His Church, and a deep desire to seek God’s guidance and rely on the Holy Spirit in all that you do.
How God Guides Us
In order to do this, it is important to understand how God communicates with us. God can speak to whoever He wants to speak to, however and whenever He desires to do so. That being said, there are a number of ways that God typically uses to communicate with His people to guide them in following His will, and God tells us how to be ready and receptive to hear Him.
Before Christ
Speaking through Isaiah, God tells His people, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'” (Is 30:21)
How did God speak to people before Christ was born?
Directly (Adam, Eve, Moses) Through an angel (Mary)
In dreams (Joseph) Even through a donkey! (Balaam)
After Christ
Jesus makes it plain in John 16:7 that in some miraculous way His death, resurrection and ascension were the key to God sending the Holy Spirit to us. Things are very different now that God has provided the Holy Spirit to actually live within each baptized Christian. I am not aware of anyone who has literally heard the voice of God speaking as Moses did, or has had an angel (or a donkey) directly relate instructions from God. Let’s take a look at how God typically speaks to us today.
Scripture – General
The simplest and most straightforward way God speaks to us today is through His Word. One way is through a general revelation. While there are many mysteries in the Bible, and some passages are difficult to understand, much of what is written in the Bible is very clear in its meaning. For example, 1 John 4:21 says, “And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Even though the word “brother” usually refers to a male sibling, most people understand that in this verse God is commanding us to love other people, male and female, whether we are related to them or not. So, one of the easiest ways to learn God’s will for us is to read and meditate on scripture. We can then agree with God in prayer that we desire to be conformed to His will, and ask Him to bring about the necessary changes in us so that everything we think and do is in conformance with His will for us.
Scripture – Specific
Sometimes God uses a passage of scripture to provide a very personal message to us relating to a specific situation in our lives. God might lead us to the verse at the appropriate time, or He might inspire someone else to give the verse to us. I experienced this at a point in my life when I was harboring considerable resentment towards my brother. God used 1 John 4:21 to make clear to me that I needed to forgive him and love him regardless of how he had treated me.
Sense of Comfort vs. Uneasiness
God can make us aware of His will for us by making us uncomfortable when we are starting down the wrong path, or confident when we are headed in the right direction. I use this approach when I am facing a difficult decision. As I picture going down one path in my mind, and then imagine taking the other path, I will often get a clear sense of uneasiness with one path, and a sense of comfort with the other path. If I don't get a clear sense of which way to go, then if possible, I wait until I do. This approach should be used with caution, as it can easily be misused by someone who wants to go a certain direction, and therefore decides that God is telling them that is the way to go. I have learned from experience that this typically leads to a growing sense of discomfort until we return to the path God has for us.
Firm Conviction
Sometimes God goes beyond a sense of comfort or discomfort to give us a clear conviction of what we should or should not do. I often think of this as “a knowing”—I just know very clearly and without any doubt what God wants me to do.
Giving us a “Nudge”
Even if we have a clear conviction of what God wants us to do, we may be hesitant to step out in faith, leading God to take the next step in communicating with us. A nudge is a gentle push like we might give to a child who needs to move forward in a line. This nudge may come through a series of events, or getting the same message from multiple people.
Ask anyone who is fully surrendered to God if they ever experienced a nudge, and then sit back as they share many amazing stories about having a clear and insistent sense that they needed to do something, accompanied by multiple confirmations from a variety of sources. If the person doesn’t comply, the nudge will get stronger, and if necessary, God has been known to use a 2 x 4 to get our attention. That is why I prefer to be a feather on God’s breath, ready to comply at the slightest touch!
"Locutions" – Hearing Actual Words
God can also “speak” to us in our minds, or in a dream. While we do not hear anything with our ears, we receive a very specific and detailed message from God. It may be only a few words commanding us to “stop” or “turn” or “sit next to that person,” or it can be several sentences. St. Teresa of Avila refers to this as a “locution.”
Is It God or Is It Me?
The big risk in seeking God’s will is that it is very easy to imagine God is saying what we want Him to say, or leading us in the direction we want to go. How can we be sure we are really hearing God and not just imagining what we want to hear?
1. Typically, God will lead us in a direction we didn’t anticipate or don’t want to go. Be very cautious if God seems to be leading you the way you want to go. On the other hand, if you find yourself arguing with God, it is very likely you are actually receiving a message or guidance from God, for as He tells us in Isaiah 55:8, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”.
2. God will not tell us to do anything that contradicts His commands in the Bible or through the Church. You can be very sure that if you think God is telling you to steal, lie, cheat on your spouse, etc., it is not God who is speaking to you! On the other hand, even if something is fully in agreement with Scripture and Church teaching, God may hold us back because He has a different path for us. Paul mentions several examples of this that happened to him.
3. St. Teresa gives five specific signs that a locution is from God:
a. It is so clear that you remember every syllable and the style in which it is spoken for the rest of your life.
b. It comes unexpectedly about things that you have not previously thought about.
c. It comes complete, rather than gradually as if it were composed by your mind.
d. The words are very different and not something you would say.
e. There is often much more understanding beyond the actual words that are heard.
"Eyes on God!"
As St. Thérèse of Lisieux liked to say, keep your "Eyes on God!”. God is faithful—if you sincerely seek to be fully surrendered to Him, you can rest assured that the sovereign God who created the universe will make clear what He wants you to do, when He wants you to do it, and how He wants you to accomplish it. He will also give you the clear assurance that He is speaking to you or guiding you, so you will have no question that God is directing you. If you don't have a clear sense of God's guidance when facing an important decision, it is better to wait until you do. One common way God builds our faith is by waiting until the last minute, or even the last second, before providing His guidance or solution, so as it says in Psalm 37 – "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him", and be prepared for some close calls!
Consider/Discuss
1. Has God ever spoken to you or provided clear guidance on a decision?
2. Have you ever prayed to know God’s will, but then did what you wanted to do?
3. What are some examples in the Bible of people arguing with God about His path for them?
Scripture Memory Verse
Each lesson has a suggested memory verse.
Hiding God's Word in Your Heart has some tips on why and how to memorize scripture.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Is 30:21
Let's Pray! - Putting God in the Driver’s Seat
If God is your copilot, you are in the wrong seat! We can't be guided by the Spirit of God if we don’t put God in the driver’s seat—however, many people have a hard time letting someone else drive. Pray our first Morning Prayer (Greeting God in the Morning -Waking Up With God) when you wake up each day to put God in the driver's seat throughout the day: Guide me throughout this day Lord; Guide me every step of the way!
I remember it like it was yesterday. We had recently moved to Phoenix, and were attending Our Lady of Joy Catholic Church in Carefree. I was raised Protestant, and although I had completed the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process and been brought into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil fifteen years earlier in Texas, in my mind I had never actually committed to becoming a Catholic. Instead, I was a Christian attending a Catholic Church, just as previously I had been a Christian attending various Protestant churches.
One day as I was driving home from church, I suddenly “heard” God say to me, “Jay - I’m not calling you to attend a Catholic Church; I’m calling you to the Catholic Church!” Just as St. Theresa indicates, to this day I can actually hear the words in my memory (even the slightly exasperated "hands on His hips” tone), and the emphasis on the word “the”) just as I heard it that day. It was a totally unexpected message—I was happy to attend a Catholic Church, but I had never considered actually becoming a Catholic. Along with the spoken message, I received the clear understanding that this course was “coming with me” and was to be shared with the Catholic Church when it was in a time of crisis. God had prepared me by leading me to complete the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and get an annulment for my first marriage, so at that moment I became a Catholic.
Catching Fire
There is nothing more exciting than being in God’s will, led by the Holy Spirit through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ! These lessons will help you “catch the fire” of the Holy Spirit, leading to a growing sense of enthusiasm for God and His Church, and a deep desire to seek God’s guidance and rely on the Holy Spirit in all that you do.
How God Guides Us
In order to do this, it is important to understand how God communicates with us. God can speak to whoever He wants to speak to, however and whenever He desires to do so. That being said, there are a number of ways that God typically uses to communicate with His people to guide them in following His will, and God tells us how to be ready and receptive to hear Him.
Before Christ
Speaking through Isaiah, God tells His people, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'” (Is 30:21)
How did God speak to people before Christ was born?
Directly (Adam, Eve, Moses) Through an angel (Mary)
In dreams (Joseph) Even through a donkey! (Balaam)
After Christ
Jesus makes it plain in John 16:7 that in some miraculous way His death, resurrection and ascension were the key to God sending the Holy Spirit to us. Things are very different now that God has provided the Holy Spirit to actually live within each baptized Christian. I am not aware of anyone who has literally heard the voice of God speaking as Moses did, or has had an angel (or a donkey) directly relate instructions from God. Let’s take a look at how God typically speaks to us today.
Scripture – General
The simplest and most straightforward way God speaks to us today is through His Word. One way is through a general revelation. While there are many mysteries in the Bible, and some passages are difficult to understand, much of what is written in the Bible is very clear in its meaning. For example, 1 John 4:21 says, “And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Even though the word “brother” usually refers to a male sibling, most people understand that in this verse God is commanding us to love other people, male and female, whether we are related to them or not. So, one of the easiest ways to learn God’s will for us is to read and meditate on scripture. We can then agree with God in prayer that we desire to be conformed to His will, and ask Him to bring about the necessary changes in us so that everything we think and do is in conformance with His will for us.
Scripture – Specific
Sometimes God uses a passage of scripture to provide a very personal message to us relating to a specific situation in our lives. God might lead us to the verse at the appropriate time, or He might inspire someone else to give the verse to us. I experienced this at a point in my life when I was harboring considerable resentment towards my brother. God used 1 John 4:21 to make clear to me that I needed to forgive him and love him regardless of how he had treated me.
Sense of Comfort vs. Uneasiness
God can make us aware of His will for us by making us uncomfortable when we are starting down the wrong path, or confident when we are headed in the right direction. I use this approach when I am facing a difficult decision. As I picture going down one path in my mind, and then imagine taking the other path, I will often get a clear sense of uneasiness with one path, and a sense of comfort with the other path. If I don't get a clear sense of which way to go, then if possible, I wait until I do. This approach should be used with caution, as it can easily be misused by someone who wants to go a certain direction, and therefore decides that God is telling them that is the way to go. I have learned from experience that this typically leads to a growing sense of discomfort until we return to the path God has for us.
Firm Conviction
Sometimes God goes beyond a sense of comfort or discomfort to give us a clear conviction of what we should or should not do. I often think of this as “a knowing”—I just know very clearly and without any doubt what God wants me to do.
Giving us a “Nudge”
Even if we have a clear conviction of what God wants us to do, we may be hesitant to step out in faith, leading God to take the next step in communicating with us. A nudge is a gentle push like we might give to a child who needs to move forward in a line. This nudge may come through a series of events, or getting the same message from multiple people.
Ask anyone who is fully surrendered to God if they ever experienced a nudge, and then sit back as they share many amazing stories about having a clear and insistent sense that they needed to do something, accompanied by multiple confirmations from a variety of sources. If the person doesn’t comply, the nudge will get stronger, and if necessary, God has been known to use a 2 x 4 to get our attention. That is why I prefer to be a feather on God’s breath, ready to comply at the slightest touch!
"Locutions" – Hearing Actual Words
God can also “speak” to us in our minds, or in a dream. While we do not hear anything with our ears, we receive a very specific and detailed message from God. It may be only a few words commanding us to “stop” or “turn” or “sit next to that person,” or it can be several sentences. St. Teresa of Avila refers to this as a “locution.”
Is It God or Is It Me?
The big risk in seeking God’s will is that it is very easy to imagine God is saying what we want Him to say, or leading us in the direction we want to go. How can we be sure we are really hearing God and not just imagining what we want to hear?
1. Typically, God will lead us in a direction we didn’t anticipate or don’t want to go. Be very cautious if God seems to be leading you the way you want to go. On the other hand, if you find yourself arguing with God, it is very likely you are actually receiving a message or guidance from God, for as He tells us in Isaiah 55:8, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”.
2. God will not tell us to do anything that contradicts His commands in the Bible or through the Church. You can be very sure that if you think God is telling you to steal, lie, cheat on your spouse, etc., it is not God who is speaking to you! On the other hand, even if something is fully in agreement with Scripture and Church teaching, God may hold us back because He has a different path for us. Paul mentions several examples of this that happened to him.
3. St. Teresa gives five specific signs that a locution is from God:
a. It is so clear that you remember every syllable and the style in which it is spoken for the rest of your life.
b. It comes unexpectedly about things that you have not previously thought about.
c. It comes complete, rather than gradually as if it were composed by your mind.
d. The words are very different and not something you would say.
e. There is often much more understanding beyond the actual words that are heard.
"Eyes on God!"
As St. Thérèse of Lisieux liked to say, keep your "Eyes on God!”. God is faithful—if you sincerely seek to be fully surrendered to Him, you can rest assured that the sovereign God who created the universe will make clear what He wants you to do, when He wants you to do it, and how He wants you to accomplish it. He will also give you the clear assurance that He is speaking to you or guiding you, so you will have no question that God is directing you. If you don't have a clear sense of God's guidance when facing an important decision, it is better to wait until you do. One common way God builds our faith is by waiting until the last minute, or even the last second, before providing His guidance or solution, so as it says in Psalm 37 – "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him", and be prepared for some close calls!
Consider/Discuss
1. Has God ever spoken to you or provided clear guidance on a decision?
2. Have you ever prayed to know God’s will, but then did what you wanted to do?
3. What are some examples in the Bible of people arguing with God about His path for them?
Scripture Memory Verse
Each lesson has a suggested memory verse.
Hiding God's Word in Your Heart has some tips on why and how to memorize scripture.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Is 30:21
Let's Pray! - Putting God in the Driver’s Seat
If God is your copilot, you are in the wrong seat! We can't be guided by the Spirit of God if we don’t put God in the driver’s seat—however, many people have a hard time letting someone else drive. Pray our first Morning Prayer (Greeting God in the Morning -Waking Up With God) when you wake up each day to put God in the driver's seat throughout the day: Guide me throughout this day Lord; Guide me every step of the way!