According to some polls, as many as half of all people alive today claim to have experienced some sort of interaction with the Divine during the course of their lives. While some may scoff and suggest that such things run contrary to logic or science, true scientists readily acknowledge that there is far more to the universe than their experiments and instruments can ever hope to understand. If you've ever felt that you've had spiritual experiences with God, there are ways to confirm it.
First of all, recognize that not every supernatural interaction is divinely inspired. Most people of faith understand that there are darker forces at work in the world as well, and that those forces offer nothing good for mankind. The three main faiths of the Western world all attest to the existence of tempting spirits that seek to lead people down the path to their own destruction.
That's why it is important to consider the nature of any encounter of this type. Many times, spirits such as this leave the human participants distraught, filled with hurtful thoughts, and feeling unloved and cast adrift. Those are good signs that the encounters were not from the Creator, since His goals are always those things that improve people and fill us with greater love for our fellow man.
When people are not walking in faith, however, spirit visits have different outcomes. Dark forces work to convince non-believers that their sinful nature is justified, and that they need no forgiveness or changes in their behavior. When God is presents, His Spirit works to convict the conscience so that the non-believer recognizes his own need for forgiveness and a real relationship with his Creator.
Ignatius once described perhaps the most important step to discerning spirits when he wrote about knowing and recognizing your own current state of spirituality. If you're a believer striving to please your Creator, no encounter of this kind will ever leave you feeling any separation from Him. Instead, His presence is always a consoling and reaffirming one that provides comfort and security in your life.
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.
Skeptics, of course, would have us believe that all of these claims are merely delusional rants from people who have become too invested in ancient mythologies. Those arguments fall flat for most believers, since they are never supported by objective evidence or anything remotely resembling rational consideration of those things that continue to remain unknown to science.
In the end, even ardent believers often struggle to discern the nature of supernatural encounters. Even so, those who focus on their own current spiritual state, the nature of the encounter in question, and how that encounter compares with God's written Word can usually determine for themselves whether they've actually been touched by the presence of God.
First of all, recognize that not every supernatural interaction is divinely inspired. Most people of faith understand that there are darker forces at work in the world as well, and that those forces offer nothing good for mankind. The three main faiths of the Western world all attest to the existence of tempting spirits that seek to lead people down the path to their own destruction.
That's why it is important to consider the nature of any encounter of this type. Many times, spirits such as this leave the human participants distraught, filled with hurtful thoughts, and feeling unloved and cast adrift. Those are good signs that the encounters were not from the Creator, since His goals are always those things that improve people and fill us with greater love for our fellow man.
When people are not walking in faith, however, spirit visits have different outcomes. Dark forces work to convince non-believers that their sinful nature is justified, and that they need no forgiveness or changes in their behavior. When God is presents, His Spirit works to convict the conscience so that the non-believer recognizes his own need for forgiveness and a real relationship with his Creator.
Ignatius once described perhaps the most important step to discerning spirits when he wrote about knowing and recognizing your own current state of spirituality. If you're a believer striving to please your Creator, no encounter of this kind will ever leave you feeling any separation from Him. Instead, His presence is always a consoling and reaffirming one that provides comfort and security in your life.
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.
Skeptics, of course, would have us believe that all of these claims are merely delusional rants from people who have become too invested in ancient mythologies. Those arguments fall flat for most believers, since they are never supported by objective evidence or anything remotely resembling rational consideration of those things that continue to remain unknown to science.
In the end, even ardent believers often struggle to discern the nature of supernatural encounters. Even so, those who focus on their own current spiritual state, the nature of the encounter in question, and how that encounter compares with God's written Word can usually determine for themselves whether they've actually been touched by the presence of God.
About the Author:
Our blog reveals the unique spiritual experiences with God that you should remember for life. See our recent posts right here at http://multifacetedblog.net.
No comments:
Post a Comment