Episode 5
05 | Is It God? How to Recognize His Voice Amidst the Noise?
Are you struggling to tell if that whisper in your heart is God's voice or just your own thoughts playing tricks on you? I've got your back!
This episode dives deep into the gentle art of discernment, focusing on how to recognize that calming, peaceful voice of God amidst all the noise in our lives. We’ll chat about the importance of quiet reflection and how rushing into decisions can lead us astray, often influenced by our own anxieties or even, yikes, satanic trickery. Plus, get ready to jot down some solid strategies to help you differentiate between divine guidance and those pesky self-doubts. So grab your notebook, cozy up, and let’s embark on this journey to uncover the unique purpose God has for each of us, all while having a bit of fun along the way!
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
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02 | Quiet Moments with God: Simple Steps to Hear His Voice
Transcript
God's voice is calming do you have a sense of rush when you're making this decision?
Speaker A:Are you at peace?
Speaker A:God's voice he'll give you a sense of peace.
Speaker A:In the first book of the Kings, chapter 19, verses 11 and 12, we are reminded that God's voice is found in the quiet.
Speaker A:Are you rushing into something?
Speaker A:This is not from God.
Speaker A:The key point I want you to remember is God's voice brings you a sense of calm, peace and assurance.
Speaker A:If you feel rushed, anxious or unsettled, it may be your own thoughts or emotions influence the decision.
Speaker A:Or it can be Satan.
Speaker A:God leads us in in peace, even at times of uncertainty.
Speaker A:That plus so much more in today's episode as I'll be sharing how to differentiate between God's voice and other influences, whether they come from our own thoughts, desires or other resources not from God.
Speaker A:Be sure to grab your pen and notebook for this episode.
Speaker A:You'll want to take notes if you're.
Speaker B:Ready to break free from stuck, gain clarity and take steps towards discerning your unique purpose, all while following God's guidance to become the person he created you to be.
Speaker B:If so, you're in the right place.
Speaker B:Hello, I'm Michelle, a Catholic discernment mentor and spiritual coach who went from lost and questioning my purpose to confident in my unique calling using a Catholic based strategy that places God and the Catholic faith at the center.
Speaker B:Are you ready to dive in, grab your pen and notebook and get comfy, Open your heart and mind and invite God in as we get ready to become who God created you to be.
Speaker B:Let's do this.
Speaker A:Is this God's voice or is it my voice?
Speaker A:You're not alone asking yourself this question.
Speaker A:This actually is a common question.
Speaker A:I see this question asked a lot and I even asked this question myself.
Speaker A:I feel this is like an important topic to discuss to help you out when you're discerning anything with God, especially when it comes to discerning your unique purpose.
Speaker A:In this episode, I'll be sharing how to differentiate between God's voice and other influences, whether they come from your own thoughts, desires or other resources, not from God.
Speaker A:During my process of discerning my own unique purpose, I spent time reading or hearing God's voice.
Speaker A:I would read a verse or more and have a thought pop up and wonder if this is God's voice or mine.
Speaker A:As a lifelong learner, I had turned to the Internet for guidance on hearing God's voice and made sure to rely on credible Catholic sources.
Speaker A:I did not want to be misguided One thing you'll come to learn about me is that I prioritize seeking information from trusted Catholic priests or well known Catholic theologians when it comes to the matters of the faith as I search for answers that have come across during my life.
Speaker A:So for gathering the information, this is the approach that I take when I'm determining if this is God's voice or my own.
Speaker A:That's worked for me.
Speaker A:All right, let's break down the framework to help you navigate through these moments of doubt or confusion when trying to determine whether an inner prompting is truly from God or is it just your own thoughts and desires.
Speaker A:I want to make a preference to this something to be aware of that this may not be God's voice, nor your own voice when you're discerning God's voice and guidance for the plans and the path and unique purpose he has for you.
Speaker A:Instead, I hate to say it, it may be Satan's voice.
Speaker A:I don't want to scare you, but he can trick you and deceive you.
Speaker A:He does not want you to grow in holiness, grow closer to God, and especially does not want you to keep from joining God in heaven.
Speaker A:It's sad, but that's the reality.
Speaker A:So one of the questions you can ask while you're reflecting on which voice am I hearing is?
Speaker A:You can ask yourself, what is the tone of the voice you hear?
Speaker A:God's voice is calming.
Speaker A:Do you have a sense of rush when making this decision?
Speaker A:Are you at peace?
Speaker A:God's voice will give you a sense of peace.
Speaker A:In the first book of Kings, chapter 19, verses 11 and 12, we are reminded that God's voice is found in the quiet.
Speaker A:Are you rushing into something?
Speaker A:Then this is not from God.
Speaker A:The key point I want you to remember is God's voice brings a sense of calm, peace and assurance.
Speaker A:If you feel rushed, anxious, or you're unsettled, it may be your own thoughts or emotions influence the decision, or it can be Satan.
Speaker A:God leads us to peace even in times of uncertainty.
Speaker A:The next question to ask yourself and reflect on have you spent time in prayer?
Speaker A:Having a conversation?
Speaker A:Are you spending time with Him?
Speaker A:In scripture, you'll find his voice within his words guiding you.
Speaker A:Let me ask you when you want to hear someone's opinion or advice, do you just play it out in your mind?
Speaker A:What will they say?
Speaker A:Instead of actually asking them, we actually want to spend time with them to hear what they have to say.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Just like that scenario.
Speaker A:It is true with God.
Speaker A:We must spend time with him to hear his voice.
Speaker A:Just as you would make a major decision based solely on your own thoughts.
Speaker A:Spending time in prayer allows you to check if the voice you hear aligns with God's will.
Speaker A:It's a conversation, not just a monologue.
Speaker A:Another question you can ask yourself Is it true or lie based words?
Speaker A:God always speaks of truth and not lie based words.
Speaker A:Satan is deceitful and he'll speak of lies or twist the truth around.
Speaker A:We see that in the Garden of Eden in Genesis.
Speaker A:This is why it's important to spend time with God in His sacred Scripture so you know who he is and the truth about Him.
Speaker A:Remember that God speaks truth while our own voices or Satan's can lead to confusion or deceit.
Speaker A:So if the message contradicts truth or feels like a half truth or lies, it's a signal that it might not be from God.
Speaker A:It could just be our own voice.
Speaker A:Have you given him time to respond?
Speaker A:Sometimes God wants you to patiently wait for his voice and for his timing.
Speaker A:I used to think that God would respond right away, but actually for me, God will respond within a few days through reading and reflecting on a sacred scripture.
Speaker A:And sometimes it takes a while.
Speaker A:However, God may not respond right away and be silent.
Speaker A:He is always with you and hears you.
Speaker A:It just may be that he needs you to wait and not take action because he knows the time is not right for you.
Speaker A:God has been in the future and he knows the best time to respond to you and answer what you are seeking from Him.
Speaker A:Remember, he knows you better.
Speaker A:Better than you know yourself or anyone else that knows you.
Speaker A:Trust in the Lord.
Speaker A:He knows what he is doing.
Speaker A:God's voice isn't always immediate.
Speaker A:If you're hearing a voice urging you to act quickly, just pause and reflect.
Speaker A:God's answers often come after prayer, quiet reflection and waiting in patience.
Speaker A:Trust his timing over your impulse and have you spent time in silence in your conversation with him to allow him to guide you.
Speaker A:Sometimes God will respond to you in the silence, just as we see again in the first book of kings, chapter 19, verses 11 through 12.
Speaker A:I really want you to stop and take a moment to read that passage.
Speaker A:Write in your notebook this passage and spend some time with it.
Speaker A:After this episode, find a quiet time, a comfortable spot.
Speaker A:Grab your Bible and read that journal.
Speaker A:What comes up for you during that time.
Speaker A:Refer back to this when you need to be reminded of God's voice.
Speaker A:Next question you can ask yourself.
Speaker A:What is the voice telling you to do or not do?
Speaker A:Is it in line with the Roman Catholic Church?
Speaker A:Some questions to deep dive into would be Is that voice telling of good nature or evil?
Speaker A:Does it go against the Ten Commandments?
Speaker A:Does it go against the Roman Catholic Church?
Speaker A:To help answer these questions, it helps to know God and know the truth about Him.
Speaker A:We can learn about God and His truth through when we are spending time with him through Scripture.
Speaker A:An important point to remember is when you're discerning God's voice.
Speaker A:Check if the message aligns with the truth found in the Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Speaker A:God's guidance will never contradict his words or the moral teachings, and if it lines with love, truth and goodness, it's likely his voice.
Speaker A:Finally, are you asking God for guidance during reflective time of prayer while reading or hearing Scripture?
Speaker A:Are you telling God what you think he might be trying to tell you?
Speaker A:I do that all the time.
Speaker A:He later confirms it by hearing his voice through others.
Speaker A:That's how he communicates to me.
Speaker A:Like I said earlier, he may not respond right away, so do not give up.
Speaker A:If you do not hear him right away, there is a reason he may not be responding immediately.
Speaker A:He has his reasons and he knows what is best for you.
Speaker A:If you'd like some guidance on how to hear God's voice, then I encourage you to listen to episode number two, Quiet Moments with God Simple Steps to Hear His Voice after this episode, it will serve as a guide when spending time with God daily in His Word.
Speaker A:With a nice format.
Speaker A:You'll want to grab a notebook and pen for that episode as well to take notes.
Speaker A:Here are the key takeaways from this episode to help you navigate through these moments of doubt or confusion when you're trying to determine whether an inner prompting is truly from God, Satan, or or just your own desires in your own Voice Number one.
Speaker A:You want to recognize that the voice you hear may not always be God's or your own.
Speaker A:It could be Satan's voice, which he can deceive you.
Speaker A:Satan doesn't want you to grow closer to God, so just be careful.
Speaker A:Next thing God's voice is calming and peaceful.
Speaker A:His voice will bring peace.
Speaker A:If you feel rush or anxious, it may not be his voice.
Speaker A:Take time to reflect on whether you feel peace in your decision making.
Speaker A:God often speaks in the quiet, as shown in the first book of Kings, chapter 19, verses 11 and 12.
Speaker A:When you're rushing or overwhelmed, it's harder to hear him, so spend some quiet, reflective time with him to truly listen to Him.
Speaker A:Next takeaway is you'd want to spend time with God, just as you wouldn't want to make decisions based on someone's opinion without hearing them directly.
Speaker A:You must spend quality time with God through prayer and Scripture to understand his guidance.
Speaker A:The next takeaway I want to remind you is God speaks truth while Satan twists the truth.
Speaker A:So to recognize God's voice, spend time in Scripture to know his truth.
Speaker A:This helps discern whether the guidance you're receiving is aligned with God's will.
Speaker A:The next takeaway is Be patient in God's timing.
Speaker A:God may not respond immediately.
Speaker A:He may be waiting for the right time to guide you.
Speaker A:Trust his timing and know that he knows what is best for you.
Speaker A:I know that may be hard to do, but you've got this Silence is powerful as the next takeaway.
Speaker A:Sometimes God speaks through the silence.
Speaker A:It's essential that we create space for him to guide you even if you don't hear an immediate response.
Speaker A:Next takeaway is aligning with the Catholic Church teachings.
Speaker A:When discerning God's voice, ask yourself if the guidance aligns with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Ten Commandments and Moral teachings.
Speaker A:Lastly, I want to leave you with is to ask God for guidance in prayer.
Speaker A:Be sure to ask God for guidance and reflect on what he might be trying to tell you.
Speaker A:Sometimes his response comes through others and his voice might take time to surface.
Speaker A:Just be patient.
Speaker A:Let us pray in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, God.
Speaker A:Please send the Holy Spirit that is dwelling in this beautiful soul to hear your voice.
Speaker A:She is seeking to hear your voice with clarity and wants to follow the plans and path you have for her.
Speaker A:Please provide her with clarity as she seeks to hear your knowledge and the steps you want her to take on her journey.
Speaker A:Help her to remember that it is in the silence that you are still in her presence and she is not alone.
Speaker A:She may not hear you, but that does not mean that you do not care about her.
Speaker A:Instead, your love is so great for her that you are waiting for the best time to answer her and guide her forward.
Speaker A:Please remind her Father, we make this pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Knowledge is power and it's essential for creating lasting change.
Speaker A:However, true power lies not only in understanding but also in taking action daily to transform that knowledge into forward progression of growing into who God created you to be.
Speaker A:This is what I want you to implement.
Speaker A:If you are currently wondering if it's God's voice you are hearing, then grab a pen and reflect upon these questions to help guide you.
Speaker A:You may need to re listen to this again and that's perfectly fine.
Speaker A:And if you're not in the stage of questioning whether you're hearing God's voice or not, then just be sure to save this episode for reference in the future and you can take notes.
Speaker A:I hope you were during this episode so you can revisit.
Speaker A:If not take the time re listen again and write those notes down so when it does come up, it's a quick reference for you to refer to.
Speaker A:And I invite you to please share this inside the Facebook group community.
Speaker A:If there was a question that really helped you in discerning God's voice, I'm really curious what question like really stood out.
Speaker A:Remember, my beautiful sister in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker B:Thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker B:I pray that today's episode blesses and encourages you.
Speaker B:If so, would you please share it with someone you know that would be blessed by it?
Speaker B:If you felt inspired or learned something Today, please take 30 seconds to leave.
Speaker A:A written review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:This is the number one way to.
Speaker B:Let me know that you are liking the show and for me to reach other Catholic women like yourself.
Speaker B:If you're feeling uncertain or lost on your discernment journey, you're not alone.
Speaker B:Join us over in the free Facebook community where Catholic women just like you are sharing, supporting and growing together in faith.
Speaker B:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker B:God Bless.
