How Can I Know That It's Actually God's Voice?

Summary

Father Mike Schmitz discusses discerning the voice of God amidst the cacophony of worldly, fleshly, and demonic voices. He outlines a four-step process: checking if the voice contradicts scripture, aligns with the Church's teachings, resembles trustworthy individuals, and finally, taking action to see if it bears fruit. He shares a story of Father Scott, who followed a perceived divine nudge, leading to a meaningful encounter, illustrating the importance of acting on spiritual promptings to discern God's will.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Father Mike Schmitz discusses discerning the voice of God from other voices like the world, the flesh, and the devil.
• 📜 The first step to discern God's voice is to check if it contradicts anything in scripture.
• ⛪ The second step is to ensure the voice does not contradict the teachings of the Catholic Church, which is the legitimate interpreter of scripture.
• 👤 The third step involves evaluating if the voice resembles someone untrustworthy or someone who has hurt you in the past.
• 🎶 Father Mike references the band Smashmouth to emphasize that one will never know if it's God's voice unless they act on it.
• 🍎 The fourth step is to act on the perceived voice and then assess the fruits of that action to determine if it was God's guidance.
• 🛠 Father Scott's story illustrates how acting on a perceived voice led to a fruitful encounter, even if it didn't initially seem to align with his intentions.
• 🌱 The concept of 'fruit' in discernment refers to the positive outcomes, such as increased life, joy, peace, and holiness, that result from following the perceived voice.
• 🚪 Father Mike encourages listeners to be bold in asking God for guidance and then to take a step forward to see if the door opens or if it's a wall.
• 🎥 The video concludes with an invitation to trust in God's guidance and to remember that discernment is an active process of listening and responding.

Q & A

How can one discern if a voice they hear is the voice of God?

One should first check if the voice contradicts anything in scripture. The voice should not go against the teachings of the Church, which is the legitimate interpreter of scripture. Additionally, it should not sound like someone unreliable or someone who has hurt them in the past. Finally, one will only know if it's God's voice by acting on it and assessing the fruits of that action.

What role does the Holy Spirit play in discerning God's voice?

The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and helps us interpret scripture. It's through the Holy Spirit that the Church, established by Jesus Christ, has the authority to interpret scripture and guide believers.

Why is it important to consider whether the voice contradicts scripture?

Scripture is the word of God, and any voice claiming to be from God should align with it. Contradictions indicate that the voice may not be from God, as God's word is consistent.

How does the Church's authority relate to discerning God's voice?

The Church, as established by Jesus Christ, has the authority to interpret scripture and guide believers in discerning God's voice. If a voice contradicts the Church's teachings, it is less likely to be from God.

What is the significance of the question 'Who does the voice sound like' in discernment?

This question helps to identify if the voice resembles someone who has been hurtful or unreliable in the past. If it does, it's a sign that the voice may not be from God, as God's voice is not meant to wound but to heal.

Why is it suggested to ask the Holy Spirit for clarity when discerning voices?

The Holy Spirit provides guidance and clarity in spiritual matters. Asking for the Holy Spirit's help can assist in discerning whether a voice is from God or not.

What is the role of action in discerning if a voice is God's?

Action is essential because it allows one to test the voice against the outcomes it leads to. If the action leads to more life, joy, peace, and holiness, it may be an indication that the voice was from God.

What is the story of Father Scott and the hinge, and what does it illustrate about discernment?

Father Scott prayed for guidance on whether to go to Home Depot or Menards for a hinge. He chose Home Depot, where he couldn't find the hinge but met a man in need of spiritual guidance. This story illustrates that discerning God's voice involves taking action and looking for the fruit of that action, even if it doesn't initially seem to fulfill the original intention.

How does the story of Father Scott demonstrate the importance of obedience in discernment?

Father Scott's obedience to what he believed was God's guidance, even though it didn't lead to finding the hinge, ultimately led him to help someone in a time of crisis. This shows that obedience to perceived divine guidance can lead to unexpected but meaningful outcomes.

What is the significance of the phrase 'you'll never know if you don't go' in the context of discerning God's voice?

This phrase emphasizes that without taking action, one cannot truly discern if a voice is from God. It's through action and its consequences that one can better understand the source of the voice.